Abstract
Background Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) through the occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The overall sequence results in the elevation of the inflammation profile of infected individuals. The risk of PF onset in COVID-19 patients is not limited to the infection course but extends to post-infection periods. Gamma-inducible protein-10 (GIP-10) is a chemokine; its production and release are induced by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Objectives In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of GIP-10, Galectin-3 (Gal-3), and hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) in PF-associated COVID-19 and the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine against the progression of PF and inflammation through evaluating these three biomarkers and their correlation with a few hematological parameters. Design & methods The study included 120 subjects (34-68 years) from Ibn Al-Nafees Hospital (Baghdad, Iraq). Three groups of 40 subjects were designed for our investigation as control, non-vaccinated COVID-19, and vaccinated COVID-19 patients. The presence of PF was evaluated in each participant. The COVID-19 patients with chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, cancer, and pregnant women were excluded from this study. The GIP-10, Gal-3, and HIF-1 were evaluated in the subjects' serum using Sandwich ELISA technology. Results The results have shown significantly elevated levels of GIP-10, Gal-3, and HIF-1 in vaccinated and non-vaccinated PF-associated COVID-19 patients compared to the control, but the vaccinated patients exhibited significantly (p<0.05) lower levels of GIP-10, Gal-3, and HIF-1 compared to non-vaccinated patients. Moreover, in non-vaccinated PF-associated COVID-19 patients, GIP-10 did not correlate significantly with any parameter, while in vaccinated patients, it was correlated positively with age, WBC, RBC, and ESR. All of GIP-10, Gal-3, and HIF-1 expressed Odds ratios (OR) 1< as risks for PF in COVID-19 patients and can be used excellently to predict PF-associated COVID-19. Conclusions The Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 has a positive role in managing GIP-10 and, therefore, better controls patients' inflammation profiles.