Evaluation of the relationship between serum interleukin-1ß levels and expression of inflammasome-related genes in patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Inflammasomes are a group of molecules that are strongly involved in causing inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of NLR family pyrin domain containing 1 (NLRP1), NLRP3, and Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) as well as their association with serum level of interleukin (IL)-1ß in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: Thirty COVID-19 patients and 30 healthy subjects (HS) were recruited. Peripheral blood specimens were collected from subjects to assess NLRP1, NLRP3, and ASC gene expression by Real time-PCR technique. Serum levels of IL-1ß were also measured via the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The findings showed no significant differences in serum IL-1ß level between COVID-19 patients and the HS group. mRNA expression of ASC (P = 0.008) and NLRP1 (P = 0.03) gene had a significant increase in COVID-19 patients compared to HS, while there was no significant increase in the expression of NLRP3 between the studied group. There were significant correlations between patient's data and expression levels of NLRP1, NLRP3, IL-1ß, and ACS. CONCLUSIONS: NLRP1 and ASC may have a more critical role in the generation of the active form of IL-1ß in COVID-19 patients compared to NLRP3. However, serum levels of IL-1ß in patients did not show a significant increase, which may be due to the patient's condition and the application of virus escape mechanisms through impaired NLRP3 expression and its malfunction.

Is there any relationship between serum zinc levels and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene expression in patients with coronavirus disease 2019?

BACKGROUND: The level of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression in different tissues is essential in the sensitivity, symptoms and consequences of COVID-19 infection. It seems that zinc is involved in the structure of the ACE2 enzyme has been identified; nonetheless, the relationship between ACE2 expression and zinc serum levels in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected patients is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of ACE2 in peripheral blood-derived immune cells of COVID-19 patients and its relationship with serum zinc levels. METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects and thirty patients with COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. The COVID-19 infection was confirmed by positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and radiological data. Peripheral blood samples were taken from healthy subjects and COVID-19 patients. Whole blood samples were also used to measure ACE2 gene expression by RT-PCR technique. The correlation matrix evaluated the relationship between ACE2 expression, serum zinc levels, and other related variables. RESULTS: The outcomes showed no considerable alteration in serum zinc levels between patients and the control group. Likewise, the ACE2 gene expression results showed a significant decrease in this receptor's expression in COVID-19 patients compared with the healthy subjects. A significant positive correlation was observed between serum zinc level and ACE2 gene expression in patients with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The immune system seems to reduce the mRNA expression of the ACE2 in the peripheral blood leukocytes following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, zinc deficiency can make patients more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Gender affects IL-23 serum levels in the hospitalized COVID-19 infected patients.

Cytokine storm is a main complication in the hospitalized patients, who are infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The pro-inflammatory cytokines are the main causes of the cytokine storm, however, the roles played by IL-17A, IL-23 and CCL3 are yet to be clarified completely. This prospective study was aimed to explore serum levels of these cytokines in the hospitalized patients infected by COVID-19. Serum levels of IL-17A, IL-23 and CCL3 were measured in 30 COVID-19 infected patients in parallel with 30 healthy controls using ELISA technique. Although serum levels of IL-17A, IL-23 and CCL3 did not alter in the patients in comparison to healthy controls, male patients had higher serum levels of IL-23 than women. Hypertension, type 2 diabetes, lung involvement and age did not affect serum levels of IL-17A, IL-23 and CCL3 in the patients. It appears that IL-17A, IL-23 and CCL3 do not participate in the pro-inflammatory responses in Iranian hospitalized COVID-19 infected patients. However, the gender can be considered as a risk factor for production of more IL-23, which needs to be explored further.

The relationship between serum levels of interleukin-2 and IL-8 with circulating microRNA-10b in patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The role of cytokine storm in the immunopathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been implicated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of microRNA (miRNA)-10b and serum levels of IL-2 and IL-8 in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 33 COVID-19 patients and 29 healthy subjects. After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the transcript level of miR-10b was determined by Real-time PCR. In addition, the serum levels of IL-2 and IL-8 were measured in subjects using ELISA. RESULTS: The patient group comprised of 33 patients with COVID-19 (62.4 ± 3.7 years old), 13 (39%) males and 20 (61%) females. In the control group, 29 subjects (56.6 ± 1.6 years old), 9 (31%) males and 20 (69%) females, were included. The expression of miR-10b was significantly downregulated in the peripheral blood of COVID-19 patients in comparison to the healthy controls (fold change= 0.12, P< 0.0001). The levels of IL-2 (P< 0.001) and IL-8 (P< 0.001) were significantly increased in the serum samples of COVID-19 patients compared to the healthy subjects. The expression level of miR-10b was correlated significantly with the serum levels of IL-2 and IL-8 as well as with the age of patients, ESR and CRP levels. CONCLUSIONS: miR-10b is downregulated in the COVID-19 patients and might result in increased levels of IL-2 and IL-8, hence contributing to cytokine storm.