Different dynamics of soluble inflammatory mediators after clearance of respiratory SARS-CoV-2 versus blood-borne hepatitis C virus infections

Viral infections can be acute or chronic, with the immune system pivotal in immunopathogenesis. The potential reversibility of inflammation post-viral elimination is of current interest. This study compares the dynamics of soluble inflammatory mediators (SIM) during and after respiratory infections with SARS-CoV-2 and blood-borne acute and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The study included patients with acute HCV (n = 29), chronic HCV (n = 54), and SARS-CoV-2 (n = 39 longitudinal, n = 103 cross-sectional), along with 30 healthy controls. Blood samples were collected at baseline, end of treatment/infection, and during follow-up (up to 9 months). SIMs were quantified using the HD-SP-X Imaging and Analysis System™. At baseline, SIM profiles in acute SARS-CoV-2 and HCV infections were significantly elevated compared with controls. During follow-up, SIM decline was less pronounced in acute and chronic HCV infections after successful therapy than in SARS-CoV-2 infections. Most SIM in the SARS-CoV-2 cohort normalized within 3 months. In chronic HCV, SIM were higher in cirrhotic than noncirrhotic patients post-HCV elimination. Dynamics of SIM after viral elimination vary between blood-borne acute and chronic HCV infections and respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infections. Immunological imprints 3-9 months after HCV elimination appear more pronounced than after SARS-CoV-2 infection.