High Mobility Group Box 1 Gene Polymorphism and Serum High Mobility Group Box 1, Interleukin 1 Beta, and Alpha-Klotho Crosstalk in Severe COVID-19 Patients

ABSTRACT

Aim

To evaluate the serum levels of HMGB1, IL1β, and α-klotho in COVID-19 patients with different disease severity, investigate their association with clinicopathological parameters, and to assess HMGB1 rs1045411 polymorphism and its relation with clinical severity.

Methods

120 COVID-19 patients (89 critically ill, 15 severe, and 16 moderately severe) along with 80 healthy control were enrolled.The serum levels of HMGB1,IL1β, and α-klotho were determined by ELISA. The HMGB1 rs1045411 polymorphism was detected by RT- PCR.

Results

The serum levels of HMGB1, IL1β, and α-klotho were significantly higher in critically ill COVID-19 patients compared to other groups. The HMGB1rs1045411 polymorphism revealed a significant decrease in the percentage of T/T genotypes in COVID-19 patients compared to controls. The (ROC) analysis showed moderate diagnostic potential for serum HMGB1, IL1β, and α-klotho.

Conclusion

The serum HMGB1, IL1β, and α-klotho may be severity markers and promising therapeutic targets for COVID-19 patients.

KEYWORDS:

• HMGB1
• COVID-19
• IL1β
• α-klotho

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

Maha Houssen1: Main research idea, planning research design, collection and reading review of literature, writing all paper drafts and final version of the paper, and author of correspondence. Rasha El-Mahdy2: Sharing research idea, planning, and research coordinator. Nouran E. Samra2:Laboratory work. Yousra Tera3: Laboratory work. Nayera mostafa kamel: Data analysis. Manal M. El-Desoky5: Laboratory work, reviewing and editing. Fatma Azzahraa Hisham5Laboratory work. Asem A. Hewidy6: Sample collection and review. Rehab A. Elmorsey6: Sample collection. Hala Samaha⁶:Clinical data collection, editing paper. Rasha Mahmoud7: Data collection and organization. Mona S. Abdelhafez2: Laboratory work and writing methodology, reviewing and editing.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.