Detecting Severe COVID-19 Using Newly Discovered Biomarkers

What are the biomarkers for COVID-19? Underlying immunological mechanisms Increased levels of the cytokine IL-26 in their blood.

Patients with acute COVID-19 infection have increased levels of the immune cell cytokine IL-26 in their blood, according to researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The findings are presented in Frontiers in Immunology.

Moreover, high IL-26 levels correlate with an exaggerated inflammatory response that signifies severe cases of the disease. indicate that IL-26 is a potential biomarker for severe COVID-19.

Coronavirus
Coronaviruses infect animals, humans, and birds. Human coronaviruses, such as SARS, MERS, and 2019-nCoV cause respiratory distress and even death. The S protein is the infectious agent of the virus.

Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 have proved effective at reducing the number of cases of severe COVID-19. However, the emergence of new viral variants, limited distribution of the vaccine, and declining immunity are problems that drive scientists to find more efficacious treatments for the disease.

There is a need to understand more about underlying immunological mechanisms to find better treatments. There is also a need for improved diagnostics in COVID 19-patients.

Researchers have tried, for the first time, to ascertain whether immune signaling via the cytokine interleukin-26 (IL-26) is involved in severe COVID-19.

COVID in Children | Guidelines for Management of COVID-19 in Children
Covid-19 virus has affected many children during the second wave. Many factors play a role in COVID in children and the management of COVID in children. Therefore, it is highly essential for parents to know and understand the symptoms in children.

To study how the molecule is involved in COVID-19, the scientists recruited 49 patients who had been hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2-infection, 44 of whom had severe symptoms and needed oxygen therapy. The patients were recruited at a hospital in Stockholm from June 2020 to January 2021.

A control group of 27 healthy individuals was also recruited during the same period. The researchers then measured levels of IL-26 protein and other inflammatory compounds in the blood.

Cytokine IL-26: New biomarker for COVID-19

Researchers could also see that the increase was associated with the so-called cytokine storm – an excessive and dangerous inflammatory response that signifies severe cases of COVID-19.

Antibiotic Resistance - An Emerging Global Crisis
Antibiotic resistance refers to the adaption of bacteria that allows them to grow even in the presence of antibiotics. The infection by the resistant bacteria are difficult to treat.

This discovery gives us a potential biomarker for severe COVID-19, but given the antiviral effects of IL-26, we may also have identified a new therapeutic target. The results are promising but are preliminary and warrant further study with a larger patient cohort.

This can give more information on the clinical value of measuring IL-26 in COVID-19 patients, such as whether the levels reflect the severity of the disease.

Post-COVID Healthy Diwali 2021
With the festival of lights - Diwali around, this year, the celebration warrants safe and protective approach as we badge the global phase of the Post-COVID period.

Source-Eurekalert