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Radiotherapy plays a significant role in the multidisciplinary approach to treating prostate cancer patients. However, some of these patients may develop severe adverse effects after receiving radiotherapy that negatively affect their quality of life. Radiotoxicity may manifest in the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract by damaging the rectum or bowel, or genitourinary (GU) tract, causing symptoms due to urethral, bladder or prostate damage. The probability of complications in normal tissue increases as the delivered radiation dose increases. However, there are patients with satisfactory dosimetric parameters who develop radiation toxicity and vice versa. Prediction models that take into account additional parameters to identify patients most susceptible to developing toxicity may serve as essential factors toward personalized radiotherapy. The main objectives are morbidity reduction and life-quality improvement. Changes in the cytokine levels could also be connected with the occurrence of acute gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity. Literature data indicate the association of numerous cytokines with the appearance of GI and GU toxicity. There is proof that TGF-b1 stimulates fibroblasts to generate extracellular matrix. According to the literature, IL-6 is regarded as one of the most important immune markers for predicting the radiotherapy-induced toxicity of normal tissues. Increased IL-6 concentrations in the serum during radiotherapy are significantly linked to a higher degree of acute genitourinary toxicity. The goal of this work is to summarize the results of contemporary research in which the connection between the occurrence of acute radiation toxicity and changes in the cytokines levels in the serum during radiotherapy were examined, considering the great future potential of the use of toxicity prediction factors in clinical practice. It can be concluded that radiation therapy, the development of an inflammatory process, and the occurrence of radiation toxicity are all related. However, further research with the aim of adequate stratification of patients for the development of an individualized approach to radiotherapy is required.

Miki Iwai,1 Koichi Nakaoji,1 Kazuhiko Hamada,1 Yutaka Inaba,2 Kyoko Muraoka,2 Emi Tohsuji,2 Masatoshi Jinnin2 1Central R&D Laboratory, Pias Corporation, Kobe, Japan; 2Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, JapanCorrespondence: Miki Iwai, Central R&D Laboratory, Pias Corporation, 1-3-1, Murotani, Nishi-ku, Kobe, 651-2241, Japan, Tel +81-78-992-6591, Fax +81-78-992-6556, Email miwai@pias.co.jpPurpose: In the skin of elderly people with dryness, the production of inflammatory cytokines tends to be induced under the influence of external stimuli. Therefore, there has been a hypothesis that the deterioration of skin conditions due to aging is linked to systemic inflammation. This study aimed to verify the possibility that the use of moisturizer improves skin condition and suppresses systemic inflammation.Methods: As an open study, the participants (n=75) were randomly assigned to either control group or moisturizer group. Participants in the moisturizer group used a moisturizer called Grafa Moisture Keep Milk MC at least twice a day for four weeks on the entire body below the neck. Objective skin conditions (overall dry skin score, water content of the stratum corneum, and transepidermal water loss) and serum cytokine levels (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) were evaluated before and after the study in both groups. Subjective skin condition (questionnaire evaluation) was also assessed in the moisturizer group after the study.Results: Serum IL-6 level was significantly reduced in the moisturizer group (n=16) compared with the control group (n=36). In addition, there was an inverse correlation between serum IL-5 and the subjective moisturizing effect in the questionnaire evaluation, suggesting that the moisturizer improved subjective symptoms of dryness by reducing IL-5 levels. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between IL-5 and IL-6, indicating that they are regulated by common upstream factors. A significant positive correlation of transepidermal water loss with serum IL-4 levels was also detected.Conclusion: The application of the moisturizer to the entire body not only improved subjective and objective skin condition, it may also reduce the levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines.Umin Clinical Trials Registry: Registration number: UMIN 000052024.Keywords: aging, cytokine, dryness, inflammation, skin care

Abstract Objective To assess a panel of cytokines and placental insufficiency with the risk of preterm delivery (PTD). Methods Nested case-control study into the BRISA birth cohort. Eighty-two mother-infant-placenta pairs were selected at 20+0 to 25+6 weeks. Circulating biomarker levels were performed using Luminex flowmetric xMAP technology. Cytokines classified as Th1, Th2 or Th17 and other biomarkers were selected. The ratio between birth weight and placental weight (BW/PW) was used as a proxy for placental efficiency. Spearman correlation, univariate analyses and logistic regression models were calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated using the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve. Results Mean gestational age was 250 days, 14,6% were small for gestational age, 4,8% large for gestational age and 13,4% stunted. Placental efficiency was higher for term newborns (p

Around the world, preeclampsia (PE) influences five to eight percent of pregnancies and contributes significantly to maternal mortality. This study applies a scientific observational cross-sectional review to examine how TNF-α, TNF-R1, and TNF-R2 play their roles in normal pregnancy, preeclampsia, and preeclampsia associated with sepsis. Blood tests were gathered from subjects at a local medical clinic in Malang, Indonesia, and TNF-α, TNF-R1, and TNF-R2 levels were surveyed utilizing the Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) strategy. The results demonstrate raised TNF-α levels in both preeclampsia and preeclampsia with sepsis, along with expanded TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 receptor levels, signifying their association in these circumstances. Validation through bigger scope studies is basic, possibly situating TNF-α as an early indicative biomarker for sepsis. This study highlights the importance of TNF-α in pregnant mothers with preeclampsia and preeclampsia muddled by sepsis, uncovering possible analytic and remedial avenues.

ABSTRACT There is growing evidence suggesting an association between neurodegeneration and inflammation playing a role in the pathogenesis of age-associated diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to verify evidence on the diagnostic accuracy parameters of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Methods: A search of Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Web of Science and Science Direct databases was performed and nine observational studies associated with peripheral inflammatory biomarkers in MCI were identified. Mean (±standard deviation — SD) concentrations of these biomarkers and values of true positives, true negatives, false positives and false negatives for MCI and healthy controls (HC) were extracted from these studies. Results: Significantly higher levels of IL-10 were observed in subjects in the MCI group and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were lower compared to HC. For the other investigations, no differences were found between the groups. Our meta-analysis for the TNF-α biomarker revealed high heterogeneity between studies in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: These findings do not support the involvement of inflammatory biomarkers for detection of MCI, although significant heterogeneity was observed. More studies are needed to evaluate the role of these cytokines in MCI, as well as in other stages of cognitive decline and all-cause dementias.

Da-Li Xu,1 Xiao-Mei Zhang,2 Xue-Ying Tian,2 Xian-Jun Wang,2 Lin Zhao,1 Meng-Ying Gao,1 Lian-Feng Li,1 Jia-Qi Zhao,1 Wu-Chun Cao,1,3,&ast; Shu-Jun Ding2,&ast; 1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong UniversityJinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 2Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China; 3State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shu-Jun Ding, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 16992 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 531 82679587, Email dsj_jn@126.com Wu-Chun Cao, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 20 Dong-da Street, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Email caowuchun@126.comPurpose: To characterize the cytokine profile of patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in relation to disease severity.Patients and Methods: 60 laboratory-confirmed SFTS patients and 12 healthy individuals from multi-centers in Shandong Province of China were included, and all patients were divided into fatal patients (9) and recovered patients (51) due to their final outcomes. Multiplex-microbead immunoassays were conducted to estimate levels of 27 cytokines in the sera of patients and controls.Results: The results showed that levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-15, IL-1RA, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, TNF-α, basic FGF, PDGF-BB, RANTES, IP-10, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MCP-1, and Eotaxin differed significantly among the SFTS fatal patients, recovered patients, and the healthy controls (all p< 0.05). Compared to the healthy controls, the fatal patients and recovered patients had reduced levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, PDGF-BB, RANTES, and Eotaxin, while the levels of PDGF-BB and RANTES were significantly lower in fatal patients compared to recovered patients. The increasing levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, IL-1RA, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, TNF-α, basic FGF, IP-10, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and MCP-1 were observed in fatal patients (all p< 0.05), and the levels of IL-6, IP-10, MIP-1α, and MCP-1 were significantly higher than other two groups. The Spearman correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between platelet count and PDGF-BB levels (p< 0.05), while the white blood cell count had a negative correlation with MIP-1 level (p< 0.05).Conclusion: The research exhibited that the SFTS virus (SFTSV) caused an atypical manifestation of cytokines. The levels of IL-6, IP-10, MIP-1α, and MCP-1 had been observed a positive association with the severity of the illness.Keywords: SFTS, SFTSV, cytokines, fatal patients, correlation analysis

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), also known as National Institutes of Health (NIH) type III prostatitis, is a common disorder with an unclear etiology and no known curative treatments. Based on the presence or absence of leukocytes in expressed prostatic secretion (EPS), CP/CPPS is classified further into IIIa (inflammatory) and IIIb (noninflammatory) subtypes. However, the severity of symptoms is not entirely consistent with the white blood cell (WBC) count. Following the preliminary finding of a link between inflammatory cytokines and CP/CPPS, we performed this clinical study with the aim of identifying cytokines that are differentially expressed according to whether the prostatitis subtype is IIIa or IIIb. We found that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were significantly elevated and interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) levels were downregulated in the EPS of patients with type IIIa prostatitis. In a word, it is a meaningful study in which we investigate the levels of various cytokines in EPS according to whether prostatitis is the IIIa or IIIb subtype. The combination of G-CSF, IL-18, MCP-1, IP-10, and PDGF-BB expression levels could form a basis for classification, diagnosis, and therapeutic targets in clinical CP/CPPS.

Physical activity performance of patients during and after breast cancer treatment is common and is associated with increased toxicity from treatment, shorter time to tumor progression, and decreased survival. Exercise is a potential intervention to maintain or increase physical performance. We conducted a meta-analysis review of the 1-year tailored exercise training, according to cytokine levels and immune function with emphasis on IL-6 in breast cancer patients. A comprehensive search was performed in September 2022 for randomized controlled trials reporting the effects of structured exercise training on breast cancer effect with cytokine levels and immune function with an emphasis on IL-6 during or after cancer treatment. A random-effects meta-analysis was completed using the absolute net difference in the change between intervention and control groups as the outcome measure. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were also performed. Data from 18 studies involving 1833 breast cancer survivors were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, there was a significant benefit of exercise training compared with the control (I2 = 71.3%, 95% CI = 38.4% to 77.6%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed positive effects for resistance training and aerobic training and for exercise training conducted during or after cancer treatment. Compared with usual care, exercise training has a beneficial effect on in women with breast cancer, both during and after cancer treatment. Given the physiological and functional importance of women with breast cancer, oncologists should encourage their patients to engage in regular exercise training, with particular emphasis on resistance training.

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a mucocutaneous disease associated with the formation of symptomatic lesions in the mouth that are often refractory to treatment. An as-yet-unknown antigen triggers an inflammatory reaction in which various immune and non-immune cells release multiple cytokines that contribute to disease progression. The ability of photobiomodulation (PBM) to reduce the symptoms and signs of the disease has been shown, but little is known about its molecular and cellular effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and in histological findings in OLP patients treated with photobiomodulation therapy. Methods: Twenty OLP patients underwent PBM with diode laser (810 nm), (0.50 W, 30 s, 1.2 J/cm2), 3 times weekly for a month. Pain level and clinical scores of lesions were recorded before and after therapy. Salivary levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in OLP patients were measured before and after PBM and compared with those of 10 healthy controls. Biopsies were taken at the beginning and end of treatment to assess pathomorphological changes. Results: PBM significantly reduced the level of pain and clinical scores of the lesions. Salivary levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in OLP patients were significantly higher compared to those in healthy controls and decreased after therapy. 60% of the post-treatment OLP biopsies demonstrated histological improvement, characterized by inflammatory infiltrate reduction (50%), epithelial hyperplasia reduction (30%), epithelial thickening (15%), or epidermal-dermal attachment repair (5%). Conclusion: The effectiveness of PBM therapy in OLP patients was confirmed at the clinical, molecular, and histomorphological levels.

IntroductionMultiple Myeloma (MM), a prevalent hematological malignancy, poses significant treatment challenges due to varied patient responses and toxicities to chemotherapy. This study investigates the predictive value of pretreatment serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for chemotherapy-induced toxicities in newly diagnosed MM patients. We hypothesized that these cytokines, pivotal in the tumor microenvironment, might correlate with the incidence and severity of treatment-related adverse events.MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational study with 81 newly diagnosed MM patients, analyzing serum cytokine levels using the multiplex cytometric bead assay (CBA) flow cytometry method. The study used non-parametric and multivariate analysis to compare cytokine levels with treatment-induced toxicities, including lymphopenia, infections, polyneuropathy, and neutropenia.ResultsOur findings revealed significant associations between cytokine levels and specific toxicities. IL-8 levels were lower in patients with lymphopenia (p=0.0454) and higher in patients with infections (p=0.0009) or polyneuropathy (p=0.0333). VEGF concentrations were notably lower in patients with neutropenia (p=0.0343). IL-8 demonstrated an 81% sensitivity (AUC=0.69; p=0.0015) in identifying infection risk. IL-8 was an independent predictor of lymphopenia (Odds Ratio [OR]=0.26; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=0.07-0.78; p=0.0167) and infection (OR=4.76; 95% CI=0.07-0.62; p=0.0049). High VEGF levels correlated with a 4-fold increased risk of anemia (OR=4.13; p=0.0414).ConclusionsPre-treatment concentrations of IL-8 and VEGF in serum can predict hematological complications, infections, and polyneuropathy in patients with newly diagnosed MM undergoing chemotherapy. They may serve as simple yet effective biomarkers for detecting infections, lymphopenia, neutropenia, and treatment-related polyneuropathy, aiding in the personalization of chemotherapy regimens and the mitigation of treatment-related risks.

Introduction Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric disorder. It is considered that dysregulation of cytokine levels is related to the pathophysiological mechanism of OCD. However, the results of previous studies on cytokine levels in OCD are inconsistent. Objectives To perform a meta-analysis assessing cytokine levels in peripheral blood of OCD patients. Methods We searched in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase from inception to March 31, 2023 for eligible studies. We conducted multivariate meta-analysis in combined proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-1β, IL-2, tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], and interferon-γ [IFN-γ]) and combined anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and IL-4) respectively, and calculated the same meta-analysis in each cytokine. We also performed sensitivity analysis and publication bias tests, as well as subgroup analysis (i.e. different age groups, varied cytokine measurement methods, medication treated or naïve, and presence of psychiatric comorbidities) and meta-regression analysis (variables including patients’ sex ratio, age, age at symptom onset, illness duration, scores of Y-BOCS, family history of psychiatric disorders, and BMI). Results 17 original studies (13, 13, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2 studies for IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ, respectively), 573 patients (mean age, 25.2; 50.3% female) and 498 healthy controls (HC; mean age, 25.3; 51.4% female) were included. The results showed that the levels of combined pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines and each signle cytokine were not significantly different between OCD patients and HC (all P>0.05), with significant heterogeneities in all analyses (I 2 from 79.1% to 91.7%). We did not find between-group differences in cytokine levels in all subgroup analyses. Meta-regression analysis suggested that age at onset (P=0.0003) and family history (P=0.0062) might be the source of heterogeneity in TNF-α level. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that all results were stable, except for IL-4 where different cytokine measurement methods may be the contributing factor. Egger test did not find publication bias. Conclusions Our study showed no difference in cytokine levels between OCD patients and HC, but age at onset and family history may affect TNF-α level. Confounding factors such as age at onset, family history, and cytokine measurement methods should be controlled in future studies to further explore the immune mechanism of OCD. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction Schizophrenia, a multisystem chronic psychiatric disorder of unknown etiology, is associated with several immune dysfunctions, including abnormal levels of circulating cytokines. Exsisting evidence shows a potential causative role for cytokines in schizophrenia symptom development. Furthermore, disease duration, symptom severity, aggressive behavior, and cognitive deficits are correlated with levels of certain cytokines. Despite the development of new antipsychotics, the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia often do not respond adequately to pharmacotherapy. Objectives Research questions and hypotheses: 1. Can there be a cytokine or cytokines among the different cytokine levels detected in schizophrenia that can be used as biomarkers of treatment response? 2. Can changes in cytokine levels indicate the occurrence of psychotic relapse? 3. Can changes in the cytokine level play a role in predicting the prognosis of the disease? The secondary objectives of the planned research, in addition to the above, are to clarify the knowledge gathered so far about the relationship between cytokine level changes and the clinical symptoms associated with them. Methods We investigate cytokine levels, blood samples are taken on hospital admission. Based on the publications, we mainly focus on the Il-2, Il-4, Il-6 and Il-10 levels, which can serve as possible predictive biomarkers relating to treatment response. We will also assess the possible role of abnormal cytokine levels and their association with symptoms severity and their potential clinical implications. The severity of the symptoms is monitored with the PANSS. Results 15 schizophrenic patients who were hospitalized due to a psychotic relapse have been included. Blood samples were taken to measure cytokine levels, the PANSS scale was recorded during a psychotic relapse. We have included 9 healthy, age- and gender-matched healthy controls in the study, from whom blood samples were taken to measure cytokine levels. Preparation for measurement of cytokine levels is underway. Patient involvement is ongoing. Conclusions A better understanding of cytokine imbalance in schizophrenia patients can potentially help in early diagnosis, novel therapeutic target indentification and development, patient stratification for choosing the best therapeutic protocol, and predicting prognosis, relapse and treatment response. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that air pollution is a significant risk factor for age-related dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has been posited that traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) promotes AD neuropathology by exacerbating neuroinflammation. To test this hypothesis, serum and hippocampal cytokines were quantified in male and female TgF344-AD rats and wildtype (WT) Fischer 344 littermates exposed to TRAP or filtered air (FA) from 1 to 15 months of age. Luminex™ rat 23-cytokine panel assays were used to measure the levels of hippocampal and serum cytokines in 3-, 6-, 10-, and 15-month-old rats (corresponding to 2, 5, 9, and 14 months of exposure, respectively). Age had a pronounced effect on both serum and hippocampal cytokines; however, age-related changes in hippocampus were not mirrored in the serum and vice versa. Age-related changes in serum cytokine levels were not influenced by sex, genotype, or TRAP exposure. However, in the hippocampus, in 3-month-old TgF344-AD and WT animals, TRAP increased IL-1ß in females while increasing TNF ɑin males. In 6-month-old animals, TRAP increased hippocampal levels of M-CSF in TgF344-AD and WT females but had no significant effect in males. At 10 and 15 months of age, there were minimal effects of TRAP, genotype or sex on hippocampal cytokines. These observations demonstrate that TRAP triggers an early inflammatory response in the hippocampus that differs with sex and age and is not reflected in the serum cytokine profile. The relationship of TRAP effects on cytokines to disease progression remains to be determined.

Purpose: Numerous studies have supported the role of the immune dysfunction in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, to our knowledge, no study has been conducted on plasma cytokine levels in children with ASD in South Korea. In this study, we aimed to analyze the immunological characteristics of Korean children with ASD through plasma cytokine analysis. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 94 ASD children (mean age 7.1; 81 males and 13 females) and 48 typically developing children (TDC) (mean age 7.3; 30 males and 18 females). Plasma was isolated from 1 mL of blood by clarifying with centrifugation at 8000 rpm at 4°C for 10 min. Cytokines in plasma were measured with LEGENDplex HU Th cytokine panel (BioLegend, 741028) and LEGENDplex HU cytokine panel 2 (BioLegend, 740102). Results: Among 25 cytokines, innate immune cytokine [interleukin (IL)-33] was significantly decreased in ASD children compared with TDC. In acute phase proteins, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) was significantly increased, while IL-6, another inflammation marker, was decreased in ASD children compared with TDC. The cytokines from T cell subsets, including interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-17f, were significantly decreased in ASD children compared to TDC. IL-10, a major anti-inflammatory cytokine, and IL-9, which modulates immune cell growth and proliferation, were also significantly decreased in ASD children compared to TDC. Conclusion: We confirmed that Korean children with ASD showed altered immune function and unique cytokine expression patterns distinct from TDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundPrenatal immune development may play an important role in the etiology of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).MethodsSeven cytokines, IL1β, IL4, IL6, IL8, GM-CSF, TNFα, and VEGF, were analyzed in blood spots collected at birth from 1,020 ALL cases and 1,003 controls participating in the California Childhood Leukemia Study. ORs and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) associated with an interquartile range increment in cytokine levels were calculated using logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographic and birth characteristics.ResultsWe found that patients with ALL were born with higher levels of a group of correlated cytokines than controls [IL1β: OR of 1.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.35); IL8: 1.19 (1.03-1.38); TNFα: 1.15 (1.01-1.30); VEGF: 1.16 (1.01-1.33)], especially among children of Latina mothers (ORs from 1.31 to 1.40) and for ALL with high hyperdiploidy (ORs as high as 1.27). We found that neonatal cytokine levels were correlated with neonatal levels of endogenous metabolites which had been previously associated with ALL risk; however, there was no evidence that the cytokines were mediating the relationship between these metabolites and ALL risk.ConclusionsWe posit that children born with altered cytokine levels are set on a trajectory towards an increased risk for subsequent aberrant immune reactions that can initiate ALL.ImpactThis is the first study to evaluate the interplay between levels of immunomodulatory cytokines at birth, prenatal exposures, and the risk of childhood ALL.

Abstract Background: The severity of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been proposed to be associated with cytokine dysregulation. A significant number of patients become serious and need intensive care in hospitals. Methods: The concentrations of cytokines interleukin (IL-6, IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples of 60 adult patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 along with 50 healthy controls of the same age. The mean age of the subjects was 50-52 years and included an equal number of males and females. The patients were further grouped as severe (38 patients) and non-severe cases (22 patients). Results: The mean serum cytokine levels were significantly higher in the COVID-19 patients than in the healthy controls. IL-6 was excessively elevated in comparison to IL-10 and TNF. Comparative analysis of severe versus non-severe cases revealed only slight alterations in the cytokine levels: IL-6 being the most elevated in severe cases. The concentration of the liver enzyme ALT was higher than AST in both severe and non-severe cases. The mean concentration of serum electrolytes (Na, K, and Ca) did not vary much between the patients and healthy controls. Conclusion: There was a significant positive correlation between the levels of cytokines serum biomarkers in COVID-19 patients. It may be suggested that early detection of cytokines, especially IL-6 and serum biomarkers can help predict disease prognosis and severity in COVID-19 patients.