Dynamics of soluble immune mediators in COVID-19 patients from an Argentinean cohort with moderate and severe symptoms

Abstract

The cytokine storm, a form of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, is one of the most dreadful complications that can occur during COVID-19. The severity of infection is associated at different levels of these immune mediators and many molecules are considered marker of COVID mortality. Because of its central role in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the cytokine storm have become a therapeutic target in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.In this work, we aimed at studying the concentration of different pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in a cohort of COVID-19 patients from Córdoba (Argentine). The immunological reaction triggered by infection with SARS-CoV-2 mobilizes numerous cytokines, mainly of proinflammatory character. Changes in their levels are associated with the presence of the disease and with a more severe prognosis. 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 in Argentine.