Inflammatory biomarkers and growth factors in patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease after coronavirus infection

Abstract

Objective: to study the level of inflammatory biomarkers and growth factors in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) and anamnesis of coronavirus infection COVID-19.Material and methods. The study included patients with CCVD (n=41), 26 of them had a documented anamnesis of coronavirus infection within 4 months before inclusion in the study, 15 people did not have COVID-19. The control group consisted of 20 apparently healthy individuals of the same age. Neuroimaging was performed using a Philips Achieva 1.5 T device. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined in blood serum – tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α ), interleukin 6 (IL6), IL18, interferon γ (IFN γ ); chemokines – monocytic chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), IL8; growth factors – vascular endothelial growth factor type A (VEGF-A), transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF β 1).Results. In patients with CCVD, compared with the control group, an increase in the level of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF α , IL6, IL18), chemokines (MCP1 and IL8), a decrease in the concentration of IFN γ , and divergent changes in the content of growth factors (VEGF-A and TGF β 1) were noted. Patients who recovered from COVID-19 showed an increase in the level of IL6 and a decrease in the level of IFN γ compared with those who had not been ill, which indicates a persistently high activity of immunoinflammatory processes and an insufficient humoral immune response.Conclusion. Postponed coronavirus infection COVID-19 aggravates the existing endothelial dysfunction and intravascular inflammation in patients with CCVD, which may probably require changes in their treatment and prevention strategies in the future.

Keywords

• coronavirus infection
• inflammatory biomarkers
• growth factors
• pro-inflammatory cytokines
• leukoaraiosis
• chronic cerebrovascular disease