Cytokine profile in multiple sclerosis patients with and without Covid-19.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To investigate the possible effect of COVID-19 disease on cytokine profile and some circulating growth factors in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: Serum cytokine levels as well as growth factors content were assessed be means of a solid phase enzyme linked­immunosorbent assay in 97 MS patients of which 41 had and 56 did not have confirmed COVID-19 in the past 4-6-month period, and 30 healthy individuals who were age­, and gender­matched. RESULTS: Results: Some proinflammatory cytokine (such as TNFα, IFNγ) levels were higher while anti-inflammatory cytokine, namely IL­4, was lower in MS patients compared to controls indicating Th1/Th2 imbalance. Our findings revealed that the imbalance of circulating Th1/Th2 cytokines in MS patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection became even more pronounced, thus, might be a reason for the disease deterioration. Furthermore, nuclear factor κB level in MS patients after COVID-19 was found significantly elevated from that with no history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and could be the cause of proinflammatory cytokines overexpression. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Our findings revealed that immunopathology of MS is associated with a Th1/Th2 imbalance, furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to the deterioration of this condition in MS patients, causing even more pronounced overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines and decrease in anti-inflammatory cytokines. Our results also indicated that studied growth factors can be involved in MS development but exact mechanism is not clearly understood and requires further research.

Coagulation Parameters in Post-Covid-19 Condition in Relation to Various Titers of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in Blood Plasma.

Background and Objectives: Post-COVID-19 condition is thought to affect 10-20% of people at least 3 months after a diagnosis of COVID-19 and two months of symptoms. Post-COVID-19 condition presents itself with many clinical effects with varying degrees of severity ranging from a mild cough to a life-threatening coagulopathy. Our study aimed to identify a relationship between the titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and anticoagulation parameters: antithrombin III (ATIII), protein C (PC) and thrombomodulin (TM). Materials and Methods: Blood plasma was collected from healthy donors aged 25-45 who had recovered from COVID-19 3-6 months ago and their titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and ATIII, PC, and TM were measured. Results: We found that concentrations and activities of key anticoagulation parameters (ATIII, PC, and TM) measured in donor plasma during the post-COVID-19 varied in relation to the titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. Conclusion: While we identified a dysfunction of anticoagulation parameters in patients with post-COVID-19, we aim to explore the subpopulation antibody IgG fraction directly using in vivo and in vitro experiments with the possibility to contribute to the development of treatment options for post-COVID-19 conditions.

A study of fibrinolytic system components in donor groups depending on various titers of circulating anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in the bloodstream.

The fibrinolytic system plays an important role in controlling blood coagulation at each stage, from thrombin generation to fibrin clot cleavage. Currently, long-term multiorgan dysfunction post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may include coagulation disorders. Little information is available about the potential causes of post-COVID-19 coagulopathy, but one of them may be subpopulation IgG produced by the immune system against SARS-CoV-2. This article describes the changes in the main parameters of the fibrinolytic system in donors with various titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, which is part of a complex study of the hemostasis system in these donor groups. We determined the most significant parameters of the fibrinolytic system, such as potential activity and amount of plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), amount of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), inhibitory potentials of α-2-antiplasmin, α-1-antitrypsin, α-2-macroglobulin in the blood plasma of donor groups. The obtained results represent the maximum and minimum values of measurement parameters among donor groups with titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG at least 10 ±â€Š3 Index (S/C), and their statistical differences from the reference point [donor group with titer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG 0 Index (S/C)]. We established the changes in fibrinolytic parameters depending on the titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. One conclusion can be drawn from this: anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG population may influence coagulation in the post-COVID-19 period. Further research in-vitro and in-vivo experimental models using selected and purified IgG may confirm our previous findings.

Characteristics of Products of Fibrinogen Origin in the Presence of Anti- SARS-CoV-2 IgG in the Bloodstream.

BACKGROUND: The hemostasis system has been extensively investigated in patients in the acute phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In contrast, the post-COVID syndrome is a poorly known entity, and there is a lack of information on the mechanisms underlying the hemostasis abnormalities in the post-COVID period. AIM: To analyze the potential changes in the parameters of the hemostasis system in the post- COVID period in the plasma of donors with different titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. METHODS: The plasma from 160 donors who had recovered from COVID infection was used in the study. Based on the results of the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG serological assay, all donors were divided into several groups: 5 ± 3 (n = 20); 55 ± 5 (n = 20); 65 ± 5 (n = 20); 75 ± 5 (n = 20); 85 ± 5 (n = 20); 95 ± 5 (n = 20); 125 ± 5 (n = 20); 175 ± 5 (n = 20) Index (S/C). A total of 20 healthy individuals without anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG constituted the control group. Key laboratory parameters, such as fibrinogen concentrations, soluble fibrin monomer complex (SFMCs), and Ddimer, were investigated. In addition, the qualitative composition of the fraction of SFMCs was analyzed. RESULTS: The slight increase in the concentration of fibrinogen, SFMCs, and D-dimers in some donor groups have been found, which could cause the development of hemostasis disorders. In the fraction of SFMCs, the increase in the number of protein fragments with a molecular weight of less than 250 kDa and an increase in the level of proteins with a molecular weight of more than 270 kDa was revealed. CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicated the relationship between the changes in the parameters of the hemostasis system and the titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in donors in the post-COVID period. It can be assumed that donors with higher titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG (>55 ± 5 Index (S/C)) are more prone to hemostasis abnormalities in the post-COVID period since a pronounced imbalance in the levels of SFMCs and D-dimer characterizes them. The appearance of protein fragments of different molecular weights in the fraction of SFMC points to uncontrolled activation of biochemical processes involving molecules of fibrinogenic origin. Additional studies are required to elucidate the role of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in the post-COVID period.