Abstract
BackgroundAt the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus denominated SARS-CoV-2 rapidly spread through the world causing the pandemic coronavirus disease known as COVID-19. The difference in the inflammatory response against SARS-CoV-2 infection among people living at different altitudes is a variable not yet studied.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in two Peruvian cities at different altitudes for comparison: Lima and Huaraz. Five important proinflammatory cytokines were measured including: IL-6, IL-2, IL-10, IFN-γ and TNF-α using ELISA assays.ResultsA total of 35 COVID-19 patients and 10 healthy subjects were recruited from each study site. The mean levels of IL-6 (p < 0.03) and TNF-α (p < 0.01) were significantly different among the study groups. In the case of IL-6, patients from Lima had a mean level of 16.2 pg/ml (healthy) and 48.3 pg/ml (COVID-19), meanwhile, patients from Huaraz had levels of 67.3 pg/ml (healthy) and 97.9 pg/ml (COVID-19). Regarding TNF-α, patients from Lima had a mean level of 25.9 pg/ml (healthy) and 61.6 pg/ml (COVID-19), meanwhile, patients from Huaraz had levels of 89.0 pg/ml (healthy) and 120.6 pg/ml (COVID-19). The levels of IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-γ were not significantly different in the study groups.ConclusionPatients with COVID-19 residing at high-altitude tend to have higher levels of inflammatory cytokines compared to patients living at sea level, particularly IL-6 and TNF-α. A better understanding of the inflammatory response in different populations can contribute to the implementation of therapeutic and preventive approaches. Further studies evaluating more patients, a greater variety of cytokines and their clinical impact are required.
Highlights
At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus denominated SARS-CoV-2 rapidly spread through the world causing the pandemic coronavirus disease known as COVID-19
It can be observed that patients from Huaraz have greater means of IL-10 and Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) compared to patients from Lima, regardless of their health status
Our analysis show that the mean levels of Interleu‐ kin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were significantly different in the study groups, with higher levels in COVID-19 patients and those residing at high altitude
Summary
The difference in the inflammatory response against SARS-CoV-2 infection among people living at different altitudes is a variable not yet studied. At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus denominated SARS-CoV-2 rapidly spread through the world causing the pandemic coronavirus disease known as COVID-19 [1]. Critical and severe infection by SARSCoV-2, as well as previous coronaviruses, have been del Valle‐Mendoza et al BMC Infectious Diseases (2022) 22:96 linked to an exaggerated inflammatory process denominated “cytokine storm” [4,5,6,7]. A coordinated innate immune response is the first line of defense against viruses; a deregulated inflammatory process may cause injury on the host [5]. COVID-19 has been associated with an exuberant activation of the host immune system and the excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-γ, TNF-α, among others, which may cause tissue injury, on the lungs [5,6,7]
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