Serum Levels of Chemokine Ligand-7 and Interferon-γ-induced Protein-10: Possible Severity and Prognostic Markers in Patients with COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) present as mildly, moderately, or severely and critically ill. Cytokine storm is responsible for fatal pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Interferon-1-induced protein-10 (IP-10) and chemokine ligand-7 (CCL-7) are chemokines that play a role in the chemotaxis of inflammatory cells and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we assessed the serum levels of IP-10 and CCL-7 chemokines in COVID-19 patients and their correlation with disease severity and prognosis. The serum levels of CCL-7 and IP-10 were assessed in 67 COVID-19 patients and 10 healthy controls. Serum samples were collected and examined for these two markers using direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were divided into two groups according to their disease severity. Serum levels of the test markers were compared between patients and controls, and between patients with different disease severities and correlated with other clinical and laboratory parameters. CCL-7 and IP-10 levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls and in severe than in mild/moderate cases. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the two markers showed better performance of the combined markers as predictors of disease severity (area under the curve = 0.792). The results of our study suggest a potential role of IP-10 and CCL-7 as predictors of COVID-19 severity. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pure & Applied Microbiology is the property of Dr. M. N. Khan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)