Fig. 2
The circulating levels of lL-17, MCP-1, OPN and IFN-γ in patients
The levels of lL-17 (Interleukin-17), MCP-1 (Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1), OPN (Osteopontin) and IFN-γ (Interferon-γ) were measured in the serum of patients with SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) using ELISA assay. The patients were divided into two categories: severe and non-severe; Severe patient had acute clinical manifestations of the disease and high virus concentration in the nasopharyngeal specimen (CT value of gene expression below 20) and were hospitalized; while, non-severe patients had mild respiratory symptoms and low virus concentration in the nasopharyngeal specimen (CT value of gene expression greater than 30) and were not assessed for hospitalization. (A): A significant elevated level of lL-17 was detected in severe patients, also in male and female patients with severe infection. (B): The OPN level increased in patients with high severity of the disease and in male and female patients with the same pattern, separately. (C): An increased level of MCP-1 in patients with severe infection as well as male and female severe patients. (D): The level of IFN-γ increased in severe patients also in male and female patients, separately. Statistical significance was determined by P-values (two-tailed) and showed by asterisks on bars (*= P < 0.05, **= P < 0.01, ***= P < 0.001)