Immune Response Dynamics and Biomarkers in COVID-19 Patients

Maral Ranjbar; Ruth P. Cusack; Christiane E. Whetstone; Danica L. Brister; Jennifer Wattie; Lesley Wiltshire; Nadia Alsaji; Jennifer Le Roux; Eric Cheng; Thivya Srinathan; Terence Ho; Roma Sehmi; Paul M. O’Byrne; Maryonne Snow-Smith; Michelle Makiya; Amy D. Klion; MyLinh Duong; Gail M. Gauvreau

doi:10.3390/ijms25126427

International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Jun 2024)

Immune Response Dynamics and Biomarkers in COVID-19 Patients

Maral Ranjbar,
Ruth P. Cusack,
Christiane E. Whetstone,
Danica L. Brister,
Jennifer Wattie,
Lesley Wiltshire,
Nadia Alsaji,
Jennifer Le Roux,
Eric Cheng,
Thivya Srinathan,
Terence Ho,
Roma Sehmi,
Paul M. O’Byrne,
Maryonne Snow-Smith,
Michelle Makiya,
Amy D. Klion,
MyLinh Duong,
Gail M. Gauvreau

Affiliations

Maral Ranjbar: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Ruth P. Cusack: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Christiane E. Whetstone: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Danica L. Brister: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Jennifer Wattie: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Lesley Wiltshire: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Nadia Alsaji: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Jennifer Le Roux: Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Eric Cheng: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
Thivya Srinathan: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
Terence Ho: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Roma Sehmi: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Paul M. O’Byrne: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Maryonne Snow-Smith: Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Michelle Makiya: Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Amy D. Klion: Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
MyLinh Duong: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Gail M. Gauvreau: Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25126427
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 25, no. 12
p. 6427

Abstract

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Background: The immune response dynamics in COVID-19 patients remain a subject of intense investigation due to their implications for disease severity and treatment outcomes. We examined changes in leukocyte levels, eosinophil activity, and cytokine profiles in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods: Serum samples were collected within the first 10 days of hospitalization/confirmed infection and analyzed for eosinophil granule proteins (EGP) and cytokines. Information from medical records including comorbidities, clinical symptoms, medications, and complete blood counts were collected at the time of admission, during hospitalization and at follow up approximately 3 months later. Results: Serum levels of eotaxin, type 1 and type 2 cytokines, and alarmin cytokines were elevated in COVID-19 patients, highlighting the heightened immune response (p p < 0.05). Leukocyte counts increased consistently from admission to follow-up, indicative of recovery. Conclusion: Attenuated eosinophil activity alongside elevated chemokine and cytokine levels during active infection, highlights the complex interplay of immune mediators in the pathogenesis COVID-19 and underscores the need for further investigation into immune biomarkers and treatment strategies.

Published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences

ISSN: 1661-6596 (Print); 1422-0067 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General); Science: Chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms

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