IL-6 and IL-10 as predictors of disease severity in COVID-19 patients: results from meta-analysis and regression

Abstract

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2, an infectious agent behind the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, induces high levels of cytokines in patients contributing to the disease patho-physiology. Nonetheless, exact association and contribution of particular cytokines towards COVID-19 pathology remains poorly understood. This study performed a comprehensive meta-analysis to establish association between induced cytokines and COVID-19 disease severity to help in prognosis and clinical management. Methods: Scientific literature was searched to identify 18 clinical studies. Standardized mean difference (SMD) for cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ between severe and non-severe COVID-19 patient groups were summarized using random effects model. A classifier was built using logistic regression model with cytokines having significant SMD as covariates. Results: Out of the 6 cytokines, IL-6 and IL-10 showed statistically significant SMD across the studies synthesized. Classifier with mean values of both IL-6 and IL-10 as covariates performed well with accuracy of ~ 92% that was significantly higher than accuracy reported in literature with IL-6 and IL-10 as individual covariates. Conclusions: Simple panel proposed by us with only two cytokine markers can be used as predictors for fast diagnosis of patients with higher risk of COVID-19 disease deterioration and thus can be managed well for a favourable prognosis.

Interplay between severities of COVID-19 and the gut microbiome: implications of bacterial co-infections?

“…correlate with increased anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine [39]. The cytokine marker IL-10 can possibly be used as a predictor for fast diagnosis of patients with higher risk of COVID-19 disease deterioration during the infection [40,41]. Several gut commensals with known immunomodulatory potential such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Eubacterium rectale and bifidobacteria were under represented in COVID-19 patients and remained low in samples collected up to 30 days after COVID-19 resolution [42].…”

Immune-Based Prediction of COVID-19 Severity and Chronicity Decoded Using Machine Learning

“…In order to predict severe cases, a score was generated considering IL-10, IL-6, IL-2, and IL-8 blood concentrations. In this classification, severe cases are characterized by high IL-6 and IL-10 levels, both cytokines previously attributed to increase the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19 and predictive value in severe cases (6, 8). In different settings, IL-6 has been associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and thrombogenesis (9-12) which are characteristic features of severe COVID-19 cases caused by excessive myeloid cell activation (13).…”

Electrochemical Biosensors for Cytokine Profiling: Recent Advancements and Possibilities in the Near Future

“…Recently, Dhar et al conducted a meta-analysis to understand the correlation between the cytokines overexpressed in COVID-19 patients and disease pathogenesis. The results suggested that two cytokines, IL-6 and IL-10, showed significantly raised levels and could be quantified to estimate the risk and severity of the disease [ 10 ].…”