Balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in young patients who passed active Immunization against SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

In 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic began and changed the world. Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has caused widespread illness and death around the world. In this regard, vaccination become the most important tool for creating herd immunity. Our study analyzed the dynamics of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in the blood serum of young patients before and after vaccination against COVID-19. The study group included 76 young men. Determination of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IFNγ, TNFα and IgM and IgG antibodies to COVID-19 in venous blood sera was carried out twice, by ELISA using the test systems of Vector-Best Company, Novosibirsk. The first blood samples were carried out before vaccination, the second — 1 month after vaccination against COVID-19. The results were processed using STATISTICA 8.0. The vaccinated people were monitored for 6 months after vaccination. Levels of indices before vaccination: IL-1β (5.6 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 3.1–14.2); IL-4 (1.02 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 0.75–1.28); IL-6 (27.8 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 7.1–59.9); IL-8 (29.9 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 19.51–32.14); IL-10 (4.47 pg/ ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 1.84–14.75); IL-17 (7.33 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 6.82–8.58); IFNγ (0.7 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 0.4–0.9); TNFα (3.9 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 2.2–6.4). Levels of indices after vaccination: IL-1β (1.6 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 1.4- 2.2); IL-4 (0.84 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 0.59–1.12); IL-6 (1.2 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 0.6–1.7); IL-8 (10.1 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 3.8–28.9); IL-10 (5.84 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 1–9.99); IFNγ (0.6 pg /ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 0.3–0.8); TNFα (0.6 pg/ml (Q₂₅–Q₇₅ = 0.3–1.9). Both before and after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, different distributions of cytokine levels were identified with a downward trend, but despite this, strong correlations were observed between many of them, which indicates an increase in the tension of the immune system in response to vaccination. When calculating the ratio of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, its two-fold decrease was revealed, which reflects a decrease in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines after vaccination. The level of IgG antibodies to COVID-19 exceeded the protective level: more than 14 times in 98% of subjects. Further research into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on innate immunity will allow us to reconsider the current vaccination strategy and determine the best approach to preventing COVID-19.