Lymphocyte, IL-10, IL-6, and IFN-g Cytokines Modulation in SARS-CoV-2 Patients

Background: The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) shows significant challenges globally since its emergence in late 2019. With its arrival in Iraq in early 2020, understanding the disease's severity and its differential impact on various demographic groups became paramount. This study aimed to investigate the severity of COVID-19 infection among patients admitted to Baquba Teaching Hospital, Diyala Province, Iraq, focusing on gender disparities and their correlation with laboratory results, including serum levels of Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Interferon-? (IFN-?). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2020, involving the collection of 172 human serum samples. These samples were divided into four groups: moderate, severe, critical, and control, with each group comprising forty-three samples. Results: Statistical analysis revealed a higher infection rate among males (65.9%) compared to females (34.1%). Lymphocyte levels exhibited a significant decrease in the male group (9.66 ± 0.57%) compared to the female group (11.55 ± 1.05%), with a p-value of 0.020. The level of IFN-? showed a significant increase in the female group (160.81 ± 16.19 pg/lm) compared to the male group (136.73 ± 14.93 pg/ml), with a p-value of 0.022. Furthermore, the levels of IL-10 and IL-6 significantly increased in the male group (247.70 ± 23.93 pg/ml and 39.24 ± 6.55 pg/ml, respectively) compared to the female group (174.75 ± 18.63 pg/ml and 18.55 ± 3.31 pg/ml, respectively), with p-values of 0.009 and 0.008, respectively. Conclusions: The study concludes that the rate of COVID-19 infection is higher in men than in women. Additionally, lymphocyte count decreased in all COVID-19 patients, particularly significantly in the male group compared to the female group. Moreover, levels of the cytokines IL-10, IL-6, and IFN-? were generally elevated in COVID-19 patients, with IL-10 and IL-6 significantly increased in the male group compared to the female group, while IFN-? showed a significant increase in the female group compared to the male group.