Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome corovavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the aetiology agent of Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19). Severe COVID-19 has been associated with sustained pulmonary sequalae after acute phase, however the inflammatory mediators associated with lung pulmonary dysfunction after COVID-19 remains unknown. The aim of this study was to identify cytokines and chemokines associated with pulmonary dysfunction 6 and 12-months after COVID-19 in patients with mild, moderate and severe disease.Methods: 60 COVID-19 patients were recruited from Víctor-Rios- Ruiz Hospital, 6 and 12-months after acute phase. Serum samples were used to determine 6 cytokines and 4 chemokines using Cytometric Bead Array. Pulmonary dysfunction was analysed by measuring computerised tomography (CT) scan, spirometry and the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) exam. Results: Our data showed that 22 patients exhibited impaired lung function 6-months after COVID-19 infection. After identifying patients with pulmonary sequalae, we observed that CXCL- 9, CXCL10 and IL-6 were the main inflammatory mediators associated with pulmonary dysfunction at 6-months. Finally, from the group of patients with lung sequalae at 6-months, we compared the presence of cytokines between patients who recovered lung function at 12-months and patients who maintained lung dysfunction, observing that CXCL-9, CXCL10 and IL-6 levels at 6-months were augmented in the group of patients that maintained lung dysfunction 12-months after COVID-19.Conclusion: Increased levels of CXCL-9, CXCL-10 and IL-6 are associated with long-term pulmonary sequelae after COVID-19. Further studies are required to identify the pathological mechanism by which these mediators contribute with lung disfunction after COVID-19.