MIP-1a and MIP-1b in serum as potential markers of the severe course COVID-19

• Published in: International journal of infectious diseases Vol. 116; p. S44
• Main Authors: Grishaeva, A., Ponezheva, Z., Chanyshev, M., Ploskireva, A., Usenko, D., Tsvetkova, N., Omarova, K., Pshenichnaya, N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2022; Published by Elsevier Ltd; Elsevier
• ISSN: 1201-9712; 1878-3511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.12.105

Studying the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is necessary to developing of perspective predictors of severe course of disease and unfavorable prognosis. The macrophage activation syndrome observed in severe form of COVID-19 can potentially be used as a marker of poor prognosis, which makes it relevant to measure the levels of macrophage inflammatory proteins MIP-1a and MIP-1b.
Study included 80 patients (43 men and 37 women) aged 24 -90 years (mean = 58.3 years) with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 admitted Infectious Diseases Hospital in Moscow during April - August 2020. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 included patients with a moderate form (N = 30), group 2 (N = 50) included patients with a severe form of COVID-19. Serum levels of MIP-1a and MIP-1b were assessed by ELISA.
An increase of the MIP-1a level was observed in 3 patients in group 1 (10%) and in 42 patients in group 2 (84%). At the same time, the average concentration of MIP-1a was 3.71 pg/ml and 156.79 pg/ml in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.01).
MIP-1b level above baseline was detected in 11 patients in group 1 (36.7%) and in 48 patients in group 2 (96%). The mean MIP-1b concentrations were 7.53 pg/ml and 152.62 pg/ml in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Similarly with MIP-1a, the difference in mean MIP-1b concentrations between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.01).
A statistically significant correlation between the concentrations of MIP-1a and MIP-1b was observed for whole study population, the Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) is 0.756 (p < 0.01). At the same time, there were no statistically significant differences related to gender and age. Taken together, these data suggest the potential of serum concentrations of MIP-1a and MIP-1b as markers of the disease severity.
COVID-19 is accompanied by an increase in the level of macrophage inflammatory proteins. The severe disease in most cases was associated with significant increase in the concentrations of MIP-1a and MIP-1b in the blood serum, which makes it possible to consider these proteins as potential markers of the severe COVID-19.