CD177, S100A8 and S100A12 as Markers of Severity in COVID- 19 Patients

Ahmed, Hala A.; Sheneef, Abeer; Goda, Asmaa M.; Hamed, Mai H.; Noreldin, Amal K.; Ahmed, Amira E.

doi:10.21608/ejmm.2024.295991.1259

CD177, S100A8 and S100A12 as Markers of Severity in COVID- 19 Patients

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University

² Specialist of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Elhelal Hospital

³ Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University

10.21608/ejmm.2024.295991.1259

Abstract

Background: Several important biomarkers associated with specific phases of the evolution of COVID-19 have been identified. CD177 is a specific neutrophil marker of activation, adhesion to the endothelium, and transmigration. The association of neutrophil activation signature with COVID-19 severity has also been described with CD177 gene being one of the most differentially expressed gene in advanced disease. S100 protein family are abundantly expressed by neutrophils. elevated expression levels of calprotectin (S100A8 and S100A12) was suggested to be associated with severe COVID-19 patients. Objectives: This study investigate the relation between gene expression of CD177, serum level of CD177, S100A8 and S100A12 and susceptibility to develop severe COVID-19. Method: This study included 60 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in the isolation hospital (30 severe and 30 non-severe) and 30 healthy volunteers as a control group. For all study groups CD177 expression level was measured by RT-PCR and CD177, S100A8 and S100A12 serum level was measured by ELISA technique. Results: The mean serum levels of CD177 gene expression were much higher in severe than non-severe group (p = 0.001). Serum CD177 level was much higher in severe than non-severe group (p = 0.0004) and Serum S100A8 level was much higher in severe than non-severe group (p = 0.01). Our results show that combined serum S100A8 and serum CD177 levels could predict the severity of COVID-19 infections with a sensitivity 84%, Specificity 87.5%, cut off value>162.8 ng/ml (p=0.001), and >84.7ng/ml(p<0.0001) respectively. Conclusion: Our results suggest that gene expression of CD177, serum level of CD177 and S100A8 were positively correlated with severe COVID 19 patients while that of serum level of S100A12 was not. Also combined serum S100A8 and serum CD177 levels could predict the severity of COVID-19 infections.

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