IL-17A in COVID-19 Cases: a meta-analysis

Introduction: Numerous reviews, commentaries and opinion pieces have suggested targeting IL-17A as part of managing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the notorious pandemic caused by the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). IL-17A is a proinflammatory cytokine attributed...

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Main Authors: Sukayna Fadlallah, Marcel S Sham Eddin, Elias A Rahal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2021-11-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/15285
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author Sukayna Fadlallah
Marcel S Sham Eddin
Elias A Rahal
author_facet Sukayna Fadlallah
Marcel S Sham Eddin
Elias A Rahal
author_sort Sukayna Fadlallah
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Numerous reviews, commentaries and opinion pieces have suggested targeting IL-17A as part of managing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the notorious pandemic caused by the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). IL-17A is a proinflammatory cytokine attributed with homeostatic roles but that is also involved in autoimmune disease pathogenesis. While some studies have reported an increase in IL-17A in COVID-19 cases, no significant associations were found by others. Hence, we undertook this meta-analysis to study serum IL-17A levels in COVID-19 patients in relation to disease severity. Methodology: Multiple databases were systematically reviewed for literature published on the topic from January 1, 2019 to April 30, 2021. A random effects model was used to calculate weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) as well as the t2 and I2 statistics for heterogeneity analysis. Results: We report that IL-17A increases in COVID-19 subjects irrespective of disease severity compared to controls [WMD = 2.51 pg/ml (95% CI 1.73-3.28), p < 0.00001]. It is also higher in patients with moderate disease compared to controls [WMD = 2.41 pg/ml (95% CI:1.40-3.43), p < 0.00001] as well as higher in patients with severe COVID-19 [WMD = 4.13 pg/ml (95% CI:1.65-6.60), p = 0.001]. While the increase in serum levels in subjects with severe disease over those with moderate disease was statistically significant, the association was not as robust as the other comparisons [WMD = 2.07 pg/ml (95% CI:0.20-3.95), p = 0.03]. Variable heterogeneity was observed in the various analyses with no significant publication bias detected. Conclusions: Hence, IL-17A may be of relevance when considering management approaches to COVID-19.
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spelling doaj-art-98c193fd938b45ccb98f731c4e81f5df2025-08-20T02:14:07ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802021-11-01151110.3855/jidc.15285IL-17A in COVID-19 Cases: a meta-analysisSukayna Fadlallah0Marcel S Sham Eddin1Elias A Rahal2Department of Experimental Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Experimental Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Experimental Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon Introduction: Numerous reviews, commentaries and opinion pieces have suggested targeting IL-17A as part of managing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the notorious pandemic caused by the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). IL-17A is a proinflammatory cytokine attributed with homeostatic roles but that is also involved in autoimmune disease pathogenesis. While some studies have reported an increase in IL-17A in COVID-19 cases, no significant associations were found by others. Hence, we undertook this meta-analysis to study serum IL-17A levels in COVID-19 patients in relation to disease severity. Methodology: Multiple databases were systematically reviewed for literature published on the topic from January 1, 2019 to April 30, 2021. A random effects model was used to calculate weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) as well as the t2 and I2 statistics for heterogeneity analysis. Results: We report that IL-17A increases in COVID-19 subjects irrespective of disease severity compared to controls [WMD = 2.51 pg/ml (95% CI 1.73-3.28), p < 0.00001]. It is also higher in patients with moderate disease compared to controls [WMD = 2.41 pg/ml (95% CI:1.40-3.43), p < 0.00001] as well as higher in patients with severe COVID-19 [WMD = 4.13 pg/ml (95% CI:1.65-6.60), p = 0.001]. While the increase in serum levels in subjects with severe disease over those with moderate disease was statistically significant, the association was not as robust as the other comparisons [WMD = 2.07 pg/ml (95% CI:0.20-3.95), p = 0.03]. Variable heterogeneity was observed in the various analyses with no significant publication bias detected. Conclusions: Hence, IL-17A may be of relevance when considering management approaches to COVID-19. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/15285COVID-19SARS-CoV-2IL-17A
spellingShingle Sukayna Fadlallah
Marcel S Sham Eddin
Elias A Rahal
IL-17A in COVID-19 Cases: a meta-analysis
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
IL-17A
title IL-17A in COVID-19 Cases: a meta-analysis
title_full IL-17A in COVID-19 Cases: a meta-analysis
title_fullStr IL-17A in COVID-19 Cases: a meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed IL-17A in COVID-19 Cases: a meta-analysis
title_short IL-17A in COVID-19 Cases: a meta-analysis
title_sort il 17a in covid 19 cases a meta analysis
topic COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
IL-17A
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/15285
work_keys_str_mv AT sukaynafadlallah il17aincovid19casesametaanalysis
AT marcelsshameddin il17aincovid19casesametaanalysis
AT eliasarahal il17aincovid19casesametaanalysis