Comparative study of IL- 2, IL- 6 levels for recovered COVID-19 patients and vaccinated participants

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 transmission and hospitalization can be reduced primarily by vaccination. BNT162b2-mRNA vaccine induced both humoral and cellular immune responses against spike proteins. The aim of this cross-sectional study conducted in Wasit Governorate/Iraq is to compare IL-2 and IL-6 levels for recovered COVID-19 patients and participants who were vaccinated with BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, we used systems serology to investigate the effects and benefit of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on the level of the immune response. A total of 160 male and female blood specimens were collected from the various hospitals and vaccination centers throughout the governorate and divided into four groups: 40 healthy control participants, 40 symptomatic recovered COVID-19 patients (after 1-3 months), 40 participants vaccinated with the 1st dose of BNT162b2 mRNA (after 21 days of 1st dose), and 40 participants vaccinated with the 2nd dose of BNT162b2 mRNA (after 20-30 days of 2nd dose), aged between (18-61) years old, serum cytokines levels were assayed by ELISA method. By comparing the levels of IL-2 and IL-6 in all our studied groups, our findings found that the groups vaccinated with two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccines was recorded the highest response level compared to the symptomatic recovered COVID-19 group.