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Gene & Protein in Disease Interleukins-1β, interleukin-8, and the SARS-CoV-2

IL-8, IP-10, and MCP-1 as well as with the period of emphasize the importance of mass vaccination against
onset of symptoms and clinical signs and analysis of these COVID-19 in containing the disease, resulting in changes
cytokines. 6,21 in the patterns of hospitalizations and deaths and leading
According to the results shown in Table 1, the mean to an overall reduction in the rate of hospitalizations and
interval between the onset of clinical signs and sample deaths, primarily in patients aged 60 – 69 years. 26,27
collection may influence the analysis of the gene expression The ND group showed the occurrence of all the
of ILs. The ND group showed the highest mean expression abovementioned comorbidities and conditions, in addition
of all ILs as well as a higher mean and standard deviation in to being the group with the highest reported mean age,
the interval between the onset of clinical signs and sample which might have contributed to a greater pre-disposition
collection of 5.22 (±2.38) days compared with those in the to comorbidities and a greater probability of aggravation
DVAC (3.92 [±1.48] days) and DNVAC (4.44 [±1.44] days) of COVID-19. The increased incidence of complications
groups. It is evident that this study was conducted at the and deaths is reported to be higher in individuals with
beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, respecting what risk factors and comorbidities, especially in those aged
was initially recommended by the Ministry of Health for the >60 years. 28
diagnosis of the disease by RT-PCR, because the literature Among the comorbidities and risk factors evaluated
we reviewed shows that such ILs tend to be significantly in our study, we observed a higher frequency of chronic
increased in longer varieties. 12,21 Wong et al. (2004) cardiovascular disease, asthma/chronic lung disease,
reported an increase in the levels of pro-inflammatory diabetes, obesity, cancer, and smoking in the analyzed
cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-12 after 5 – 12 days groups. Mercês et al. reported higher mortality from
29
from the onset of symptoms of SARS, whereas an increase COVID-19 in individuals aged 70 – 79 years with
in IL-8 levels was primarily observed after 9 – 14 days from comorbidities, primarily heart disease and diabetes. Tang
the onset of symptoms of the syndrome. 21
et al. found a higher occurrence of diabetes (20%),
30
As observed in this study, other studies 6,12,22,23 that hypertension and cardiovascular disease (15%), chronic
examined patients with COVID-19 reported that fever, obstructive pulmonary disease (2%), chronic liver disease
cough, fatigue, sore throat, headache, conjunctival (2%), and cancer (2%) in patients with COVID-19. Similar
congestion, and dyspnea were the most frequent clinical to our study, Das Mercês et al. found a higher incidence
signs and symptoms in patients with influenza syndrome of cardiopathies, diabetes, kidney disease, pneumopathy,
or SARS. However, these symptoms are non-specific, and immunosuppression, obesity, and asthma in individuals
therefore, it is difficult to differentiate them from those of with COVID-19. 29
other respiratory syndromes, as observed in the ND group The greater pre-disposition of individuals with chronic
of this study. Similarly, Chen et al. reported that 82% of comorbidities to progress into severe cases of COVID-19
23
patients with COVID-19 had fever and cough, 31% had is because these individuals tend to have greater expression
shortness of breath, 11% had muscle pain (myalgia), 8%
had headache, 5% had sore throat, 2% had diarrhea, and of ACE-2 genes, which are responsible for the synthesis of
1% had vomiting. Moreira described a symptomatology the ACE-2 surface protein that acts as the major receptor
24
for binding SARS-CoV-2 and establishing the infectious
similar to that observed in the present study, showing process. This phenomenon tends to occur primarily in
that the most common clinical signs and symptoms at the individuals with chronic cardiovascular disorders and
onset of the disease are fever, cough, and fatigue, and as 31
the disease develops and worsens, the symptoms include diabetes.
sputum production, headache, hemoptysis, diarrhea, and The results of this study indicate a statistical significance
dyspnea. for the comorbidity/risk factor cancer, which makes
patients more vulnerable to injury and lethality due to
In the present study, most clinical signs and symptoms
showed a reduced frequency in the DVAC group compared COVID-19, especially those with lung and hematologic
32
with that in the DNVAC group, indicating a possible neoplasia.
influence of vaccination against COVID-19 on the The need for hospitalizations and treatment in the
symptomatology of the disease. Data from the Butantan ICU raises concerns regarding the high mortality rate of
Institute show that older patients suffer a higher lethality these patients. This study showed that the ND group had
25
due to COVID-19 and that vaccinated individuals have higher gene expression of the investigated ILs and greater
a 40.4% lower lethality rate than unvaccinated patients severity of the clinical condition. De Sousa et al. found
33
because the vaccines can reduce the severity of the disease that hospitalized patients with COVID-19, primarily in
and consequently evolution to death. Other researchers the interior regions of Brazil, had higher lethality among

Volume 3 Issue 4 (2024) 6 doi: 10.36922/gpd.4076