Immunological and virological aspects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and hepatitis C virus

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can generate a systemic inflammatory response, characterized by a cytokine storm and associated with an exaggerated release of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-17, all of which can affect the liver. Here, we aimed to evaluate the cytokine profiles of patients suffering from coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 and/or hepatitis. We subjected 87 patients to serology and/or polymerase chain reaction analysis for the hepatitis C virus. They were also tested for TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17 using commercial immunoassay kits. The test results of the COVID-19/hepatitis C patients (n = 8) were compared with that of the negative controls (n = 28), hepatitis C patients (n = 29), and COVID-19 patients (n = 22). All COVID-19 patients (mono- and coinfected) expressed high levels of cytokines. The COVID-19/hepatitis patients exhibited higher levels of IL-6 (6.33 ± 3.9 pg/ml) and IL-17 (102.23 ± 2.7 pg/ml); however, TNF-α values were lower (68.08 ± 15.88 pg/ml), as compared with that of the hepatitis patients (p < 0.001), and lower than that of the COVID-19 patients and exceptionally for TNF-α (p < 0.05). These data highlight the importance of monitoring patients with hepatitis and COVID-19.