CHARACTERIZING THE TYPE OF INTERLEUKIN-6 SIGNALING IN SEVERE COVID-19

Abstract

Since the beginning of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic many efforts were made to explore the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in COVID-19. I used severe non-COVID-19 to better understand the IL-6 signaling in severe COVID-19. I assess plasma concentration of twenty-five biomarkers in severe COVID-19 patients and showed interaction of pro-inflammatory biomarkers with IL-6. I further investigate the interaction between IL-6 signaling components [IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) and soluble glycoprotein 130 (sgp130)] and explain the type of IL-6 signaling in severe COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. A prediction model was also applied to classify the disease group based on performance of IL-6 biomarkers individually and together. My data provide evidence of differential IL-6 signaling in two the different severe disease models. Notably, from this study, it is evident that severe COVID-19 is characterized by dysregulated IL-6 trans-signaling while severe non-COVID-19 followed a pattern of IL-6 classical-signaling.