Unraveling Acute and Post-COVID Cytokine Patterns to Anticipate Future Challenges

Makhabbat Bekbossynova; Ainur Tauekelova; Aliya Sailybayeva; Samat Kozhakhmetov; Karakoz Mussabay; Laura Chulenbayeva; Alibek Kossumov; Zhanagul Khassenbekova; Elizaveta Vinogradova; Almagul Kushugulova

doi:10.3390/jcm12165224

Unraveling Acute and Post-COVID Cytokine Patterns to Anticipate Future Challenges

J Clin Med. 2023 Aug 11;12(16):5224. doi: 10.3390/jcm12165224.

Affiliations

¹ National Research Cardiac Surgery Center, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan.
² Center for Life Sciences, National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.
³ Department of Microbiology and Virology Named after Sh.I.Sarbasova, Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.
⁴ Department of General Pharmacology, Astana Medical University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.
⁵ Almagul Kushugulova, Laboratory of Microbiome, Center for Life Sciences, National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr Ave., 53, Block S1, Office 303, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to analyze cytokine profiles in patients with COVID-19, gain insights into the immune response during acute infection, identify cytokines associated with disease severity and post-COVID complications, and explore potential biomarkers for prognosis and therapeutic targets. Using a multiplex analysis, we studied the cytokine pattern in 294 acute COVID-19 and post-COVID patients with varying severities of infection. Our findings revealed that disease severity was associated with elevated levels of IL-15, IL-8, and fractalkine. Severe/extremely severe forms in comparison with mild/moderate disease were associated with MCP-1, IFNa2, IL-7, IL-15, EGF, IP-10, IL-8, Eotaxin, FGF-2, GROa, sCD40L, and IL-10. The key cytokines of post-COVID are FGF-2, VEGF-A, EGF, IL-12(p70), IL-13, and IL-6. By the sixth month after recovering from a coronavirus infection, regardless of disease severity, some patients may develop complications such as arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, glucose intolerance, thyrotoxicosis, atherosclerosis, and rapid progression of previously diagnosed conditions. Each complication is characterized by distinct cytokine profiles. Importantly, these complications can also be predicted during the acute phase of the coronavirus infection. Understanding cytokine patterns can aid in predicting disease progression, identifying high-risk patients, and developing targeted interventions to improve the outcomes of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; PASC; SARS-CoV-2; cytokines; post-COVID.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, BR10965164, Assessment of the influence of clinical, functional, immunological and genetic factors on the severity of the course of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection and post-COVID syndrome.