Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as biomarkers of disease severity in COVID-19 patients

Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1/CCL2) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9) in COVID-19 Patients are key immune elements that may be involved in COVID-19-induced cytokine storm. We recruited patients in three patient groups, outpatient, hospitalized, and critical ICU COVID-19 cases as well as a group consisting of healthy controls. Venous blood was collected. Following the separation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) which comprise various immune cells, total RNA extraction and cDNA generation were conducted. RT-PCR was achieved by primers exclusively designed for MMP9 and CCL2. For both MMP9 and CCL2 highest expression was found in PBMCs from critical COVID-19 cases. Interestingly, a J-shaped pattern of expression was found for both genes. MMP9 and CCL2 could be a potential clinical biomarker for patients with COVID-19. Regulation of these immune elements may be complex and responsible mechanisms deserve further investigation. • MMP9 and CCL2 are suggested as potential players in COVID-19-induced cytokine storm. • MMP9 and CCL2 expression was dysregulated in COVID-19 patients. • Results suggest potential biomarker implications for MMP9 and CCL2. • MMP9- and CCL2-induced immune dysregulation could influence the course of COVID-19 disease.