Raghad Abbas Jabbar
Middle Technical University, Kut Technical Institute, Department of Medical Laboratories Techniques, Wasit, Iraq
Ahmed D. Jabbar
Wasit University, College of Science, Biology Department
Sagia Abbas Jabbar
Wasit University, College of Dentistry
ABSTRACT
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious respiratory illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since its emergence in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, COVID-19 has rapidly spread worldwide, leading to a global pandemic declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. The severity of COVID-19 symptoms varies, with individuals having chronic diseases experiencing a heightened inflammatory response, which may contribute to worse clinical outcomes. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), play a critical role in the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in COVID-19 patients with and without chronic diseases and compare them with control groups of healthy individuals with and without chronic diseases. Methods: A case-control study was conducted, measuring IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels in COVID-19 patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The study included COVID-19 patients with chronic diseases, COVID-19 patients without chronic diseases, and two control groups consisting of healthy individuals with and without chronic diseases. Results: IFN-γ levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients with chronic diseases compared to the control group with chronic diseases (p = 0.0005) and were also significantly elevated in COVID-19 patients with chronic diseases compared to those without chronic diseases (p = 0.036). IL-8 levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients with chronic diseases than in those without chronic diseases (p < 0.001) and were also elevated in COVID-19 patients with chronic diseases compared to the control group with chronic diseases (p < 0.01). Additionally, TNF-α levels were significantly increased in COVID-19 patients with chronic diseases compared to the control group with chronic diseases (p = 0.029). Conclusion: The findings indicate that COVID-19 patients with chronic diseases exhibit a heightened inflammatory response, characterized by elevated levels of IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. These cytokines may contribute to disease severity and poor outcomes in patients with underlying health conditions. Further studies are recommended to explore the potential of these inflammatory markers in predicting COVID-19 progression and guiding clinical management strategies.
Keywords: IL-8, TNF-α, IFN-γ, ELISA, Chronic Diseases.
