Dynamics of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Levels in the Novel Coronavirus Infection COVID-19

Background . It has been established that metalloproteinase-9 (hereinafter MMP-9) is the most inducible enzyme of the metalloproteinase family. It regulates the migration of leukocytes to the site of inflammation, participates in the stimulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory reactions and, thus, can act as an accessible biomarker of pulmonary matrix damage. The aim of the study was to evaluate MPP-9 levels and their relationship with systemic immunity indicators in the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 during treatment with various antiviral drugs. Materials and methods . The study included patients aged 35–69 years (N=25) diagnosed with novel coronavirus infection COVID-19, hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Inpatient Department of the State Autonomous Healthcare Institution of the Sverdlovsk Region City Clinical Hospital No. 40, Yekaterinburg, who were divided into two groups depending on antiviral therapy: group 1 (N=15) received favipiravir, group 2 (N=10) received riamilovir (trade name Triazavirin ®). Results. There was a 2-fold reduction in the duration of dyspnea (P<0.05), catarrhal symptoms — by 2.7 times, fever — by 1.3 times (P<0.05) among patients receiving riamilovir compared to patients receiving favipiravir. Against the background of riamilovir therapy, there was a dynamic increase in the level of leukocytes and CD 3+ lymphocytes by 1.9 times (P<0.05) and an increase in the level of MMP-9 by 3 times (P<0.05) compared to the initial indicators. Correlations were found between the level of MMP-9 and a reduction in the duration of the following clinical manifestations: dyspnea (R=0.5, P<0.001), respiratory failure (R=0.4, P<0.001), fever (R=0.4, P<0.001), as well as the level of lymphocytes (R=0.6, P<0.001), CD 4+ and CD 3+ lymphocytes (R=0.6 (P<0.001) and R=0.7 (P<0.001), respectively). Conclusions. A direct relationship between MMP-9 and clinical manifestations of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19, as well as indicators of systemic immunity, has been established.