Proinflammatory cytokine profiles of COVID-19 patients in Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Increase of cytokines is often associated with inflammatory condition during infections and in autoimmune diseases. A sudden increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines, also known as 'cytokine storm', can cause devastating damage on host cells as well as organs and has been frequently described in the recent COVID-19 infection. Objective(s) This study aimed to evaluate the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha and IL-1alpha) among COVID-19 patients in comparison with non-COVID-19 patients in Malaysia. Material(s) and Method(s) We retrospectively analysed the data of samples sent for cytokine panel test (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha and IL-1alpha) at Autoimmune Laboratory, Institute for Medical Research, Malaysia, from September 2021 until April 2022. A total of 58 samples were included in this study and were categorised into two groups COVID-19 (37 samples) and non-COVID-19 (21 samples). Levels of cytokines were determined by microfluidic immunoassay system. Result(s) and Conclusion(s) Majority of the samples (75.9%) were from patients aged 17 and below, with the overall median age of 8 years. Between the two groups, COVID-19 patients had significantly higher cytokines levels (median IL-6 25.2pg/ml;IL-8 64.8pg/ml and TNF-alpha 28.8pg/ml) compared with patients from non-COVID-19 (median IL-6 9.5pg/ml;IL-8 33.9pg/ml and TNF-alpha 18.9pg/ml). As for IL-1beta, the levels were comparable between the two groups. The results of this study showed that higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines were released during COVID-19 infection as compared with non-COVID-19 cases.