Myocardial infarction versus COVID-19 blood secretome

Abstract

Abstract Background Both myocardial infarction (MI) and COVID-19 are characterized by cytokine storm in blood. Purpose The objective of this study was to compare the concentration of 39 cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in blood sera of patients with MI, COVID-19 (COV), and healthy donors. Methods Patients' blood was collected within 1–2 days after hospitalization in the cardiovascular or COVID intensive care units. All COV patients were in a severe condition; all had increased C reactive protein, 86 and 95% had increased ferritin and D-dimers levels accordingly, 8–10 times decreased lymphocyte numbers. The analysis of the humoral factors in blood serum of MI (n=22), COV (n=23) and donors (n=27) was performed using a 39-plex cytometric analysis. Results Among all factors analyzed TGFa, IL-1b, 2, 3, 5, 9, 13, 17A were almost not detectable both in patient and donor sera. The concentrations of the other 31 humoral factors in normal sera differed significantly from 0 to 22000 pg/mL. We divided them into house-keeping factors HKF ranged from 1000 to 22000 pg/mL; sentinel innate immunity factors SIF (30–200 pg/mL), and acute phase factors APF (0–30 pg/mL). HKF were detected in all samples. Among SIF and APF IL-1a, G-CSF, IFNa2, IL-7, MIP-1a, IL-12, and IFNg were detected in 56–80% donor blood while IL-1RA, MCP-3, IL-2, 6, 10, 12, 15, FLT-3F, GM-CSF, TNF-b – only in 10–55%. At the same time all MI patients were 100% positive in all these factors showing extensive activation of blood secretome. Among low incidence APF cytokines in COV patients, percentage of IL-1RA, MCP-3, IFNa2, IL-6, 10, 15, FLT-3L negative sera decreased 3–5 times; and all sera were positive for MIP-1a and IL-12. At the same time TNF-a level decreased significantly from 0 in control to 85% of negative sera in COV patients. Summarized results are shown as the ratios of factor concentrations in MI or COV sera to normal control (Fig). Blood secretome of MI changed more significantly than of COV patients. The major factors (shown in red) in MI were IL-6, IL-12, IFNg, FLT-3L, GM-CSF, and IL-15, which increased 12, 9, 6, 6, 6, and 5 times accordingly. In COV sera IL-6, IL-10, IP-10, and MCP-3 increased by 28, 12, 10, and 9 times accordingly. Less expressed however significant increases are marked with asterisks. Conclusions Acute MI is characterized by severe disturbances in blood secretome with an increased level of 25 out of 39 factors studied. Contrary to it, in COV patients the levels of IL-6, 10, IP-10, and MCP-3 were more enhanced while only 15 out of 31 exceeded normal levels. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Public Institution