Frontiers in Immunology (Feb 2023)

Different cytokine and chemokine profiles in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during the first and second outbreaks from Argentina show no association with clinical comorbidities

  • Laura Almada,
  • Laura Almada,
  • Sofía Carla Angiolini,
  • Sofía Carla Angiolini,
  • Nicolás Daniel Dho,
  • Nicolás Daniel Dho,
  • Jeremías Dutto,
  • Jeremías Dutto,
  • Yamila Gazzoni,
  • Yamila Gazzoni,
  • Clarisa Manzone-Rodríguez,
  • Clarisa Manzone-Rodríguez,
  • Constanza Marín,
  • Constanza Marín,
  • Nicolás Eric Ponce,
  • Nicolás Eric Ponce,
  • Daniela Soledad Arroyo,
  • Daniela Soledad Arroyo,
  • Juan Nahuel Quiróz,
  • Juan Nahuel Quiróz,
  • Pablo Iribarren,
  • Pablo Iribarren,
  • Fabio Marcelo Cerbán,
  • Fabio Marcelo Cerbán,
  • Gabriel Morón,
  • Gabriel Morón,
  • María Carolina Amezcua Vesely,
  • María Carolina Amezcua Vesely,
  • Laura Cervi,
  • Laura Cervi,
  • Laura Silvina Chiapello,
  • Laura Silvina Chiapello,
  • Laura Fozzatti,
  • Laura Fozzatti,
  • Paula Alejandra Icely,
  • Paula Alejandra Icely,
  • Mariana Maccioni,
  • Mariana Maccioni,
  • Carolina Lucia Montes,
  • Carolina Lucia Montes,
  • Claudia Cristina Motrán,
  • Claudia Cristina Motrán,
  • María Cecilia Rodríguez-Galán,
  • María Cecilia Rodríguez-Galán,
  • Cinthia Carolina Stempin,
  • Cinthia Carolina Stempin,
  • María Estefanía Viano,
  • María Estefanía Viano,
  • Cristian Mena,
  • Cristian Mena,
  • Mariana Bertone,
  • Claudio Daniel Abiega,
  • Daiana Escudero,
  • Adrián Kahn,
  • Juan Pablo Caeiro,
  • Belkys Angélica Maletto,
  • Belkys Angélica Maletto,
  • Eva Virginia Acosta Rodríguez,
  • Eva Virginia Acosta Rodríguez,
  • Adriana Gruppi,
  • Adriana Gruppi,
  • Claudia Elena Sotomayor,
  • Claudia Elena Sotomayor

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1111797
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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BackgroundCOVID-19 severity has been linked to an increased production of inflammatory mediators called “cytokine storm”. Available data is mainly restricted to the first international outbreak and reports highly variable results. This study compares demographic and clinical features of patients with COVID-19 from Córdoba, Argentina, during the first two waves of the pandemic and analyzes association between comorbidities and disease outcome with the “cytokine storm”, offering added value to the field.MethodsWe investigated serum concentration of thirteen soluble mediators, including cytokines and chemokines, in hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19, without previous rheumatic and autoimmune diseases, from the central region of Argentina during the first and second infection waves. Samples from healthy controls were also assayed. Clinical and biochemical parameters were collected.ResultsComparison between the two first COVID-19 waves in Argentina highlighted that patients recruited during the second wave were younger and showed less concurrent comorbidities than those from the first outbreak. We also recognized particularities in the signatures of systemic cytokines and chemokines in patients from both infection waves. We determined that concurrent pre-existing comorbidities did not have contribution to serum concentration of systemic cytokines and chemokines in COVID-19 patients. We also identified immunological and biochemical parameters associated to inflammation which can be used as prognostic markers. Thus, IL-6 concentration, C reactive protein level and platelet count allowed to discriminate between death and discharge in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 only during the first but not the second wave.ConclusionsOur data provide information that deepens our understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis linking demographic features of a COVID-19 cohort with cytokines and chemokines systemic concentration, presence of comorbidities and different disease outcomes. Altogether, our findings provide information not only at local level by delineating inflammatory/anti-inflammatory response of patients but also at international level addressing the impact of comorbidities and the infection wave in the variability of cytokine and chemokine production upon SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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