DYNAMICS OF SOLUBLE IMMUNE MEDIATORS IN COVID-19 PATIENTS FROM AN ARGENTINEAN COHORT WITH MODERATE AND SEVERE SYMPTOMS.

ALMADA, LAURA; ANGIOLINI, SOFIA; DHO, NICOLAS; DUTTO, JEREMIAS; GAZZONI, YAMILA; MANZONE, CLARISA; MARIN, CONSTANZA; ARROYO, DANIELA; MALETTO, BELKYS; ACOSTA RODRIGUEZ EVA; PONCE, NICOLAS; IRIBARREN PABLO; CERBAN, FABIO; MORON, GABRIEL; AMEZCUA-VESELY, CAROLINA; ANA, YAMILE; BOFELLI, LUCIA; BOSIO, SABRINA; CERVI, LAURA; CHIAPELLO, LAURA; FOZZATTI, LAURA; ICELY, PAULA; MACCIONI, MARIANA; MENA, CRISTIAN; MONTES, CAROLINA; MOTRAN, CLAUDIA; RODRIGUEZ GALAN, CECILIA; STEMPIN, CINTHIA; VIANO, ESTEFANIA; VOLPINI, XIMENA; ABIEGA, C; ESCUDERO, D; KAHN, A; CAEIRO, JUAN PABLO; GRUPPI, ADRIANA; SOTOMAYOR, CLAUDIA

Congreso; LXIX Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología.; 2021

SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE INMUNOLOGÍA (SAI)

The cytokine storm, a form of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, is one of the most dreadful complications that can occur during COVID-19. In this work, we aimed at studying the occurrence of a cytokine storm in a cohort of COVID-19 patients (Cpts) from Córdoba (Argentine). During first wave, we collected sera from individuals with RT-PCR+ for SARS-CoV2 hospitalized in Hospital Privado with moderate (MOD) and severe (SEV) disease (n=62, aged 21-80 years) as well as healthy controls (HC n=24, age matched), to determine the concentrations of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-28A/B, IL-29, TNF, IP-10, IFN, IFN, IFN and GM-CSF by LEGENDplexTM. Males represented 74% of MOD and 67% of SEV Cpts. Hypertension (HT, 48%), obesity (31%), dyslipidemia (DL, 24%), and diabetes (24%) were the most frequent comorbidities. All cytokines, except IL-28A/B, were significantly increased in total Cpts in comparison with HC (p<0.01). Elevated levels of IL-6 and CRP (p<0.01) between 4-7 day after hospitalization were found in all Cpts who died, but the cytokine profiles were different in deceased SEV than in MOD Cpts. Mortality in SEV group was associated with high levels of IL-6 (p<0.001), GM-CSF (p<0.01), IL-8, CRP, leukocytosis and decreased platelets (p<0.0001 for all). Comorbidities were linked to particular patterns of immune mediators on admission but not afterwards during infection, with HT Cpts exhibiting increased IP-10 levels but DL Cpts showing lower concentration of IL-1, GM-CSF and IL-10 compared to no-HT and no-DL Cpts, respectively (p<0.05). The frequency of Cpts who required O2 support was higher in HT (84%) vs DL (67%). Although our data have similarities with those in international reports, the complete profiling of different parameters (cytokine/chemokines, risk factors, epidemiological and clinical characteristics) in the local cases add value by identifying particularities that may be relevant for the management and prognosis during SARS-CoV2 infection.