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Abstract At the end of 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated in Wuhan, China. Since then, it has been rapidly spreading worldwide and becoming a public health concern worldwide. This disease leads to pneumonia infection named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), posing an enormous threat to global health. The virus can cause a wide range of clinical manifestations, ranging from an asymptomatic condition to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). COVID-19 can trigger a cytokine storm in pulmonary tissues through hyperactivation of the immune system and the uncontrolled release of cytokines. The phrase ―cytokine storm‖ is a descriptive term to encompass a variety of events that may ultimately result in multi-organ failure and death. Cytokine storms can cause a severe clinical complication known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Genetic factors might be associated with high levels of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmissions and disease progression in the infected population. In COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS), elevated plasma levels of cytokines including IL-6 and TNF-α have been demonstrated and associated with the severity of the clinical course. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of IL6 rs1800795 (174G/C gene) and TNF α rs1800629 (308 G/A gene) polymorphisms in the progression of COVID-19, and to determine the relation between IL6 rs1800795 (174G/C gene) polymorphism and IL6 level in peripheral blood of patients with covid-19. One hundred Egyptian patients participated in this study; 30 Covid- 19 patients with mild disease (10 males& 20 females), 35 Covid-19 patients with moderate disease (19 males& 16 females), 35 Covid-19 patients with severe disease (19 males& 16 females). All patients and controls were subjected to CT examination of the chest (CT was graded according to CORADS staging) and the following laboratory investigations: Complete blood count, CRP, D-dimmer, LDH, ferritin, liver and kidney function tests, coagulation parameters and molecular detection of COVID-19. IL6 rs1800795 (174G/C gene) polymorphism was determined by Mutagenically Separated PCR (MS-PCR) technique using the specific primer mixtures according to the manufacturer protocol (Thermo Scientific, EU/Lithuania). TNF α rs1800629 (308 G/A gene) polymorphism was determined by RFLP-PCR using the specific primers and NcoI restriction enzyme according to the manufacturer protocol (Thermo Scientific, EU/Lithuania). IL6 serum level was done by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. |