en Epidemiologic Studies Epidemiologic Studies مقاله پژوهشی Original Research Article <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><strong new="" roman="" style="font-family: " times=""><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="background-color:#16a085;">Background and Objective:</span></span>&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="line-height:150%">COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, can lead to a wide range of clinical severities in infected individuals. Among the observed manifestations, pulmonary fibrosis stands out, characterized by chronic inflammation and collagen buildup in the interalveolar space. Numerous studies have indicated that proinflammatory cytokines may contribute to this condition. The cytokine storm, a critical phase in the deterioration of COVID-19 patients, plays a significant role in this process. The main objective of this study was to determine the levels of IL-10, IL-20, and MMP7 in COVID-19-infected people.</span></span><br> <strong new="" roman="" style="font-family: " times=""><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="background-color:#16a085;">Materials and Methods:</span></span>&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height:107%">During the period between November-2022 to March-2023, a <span style="line-height:107%">case</span>-<span style="line-height:107%">control study with 200 participants was carried out at Al-Ramadi Hospitals in Anbar province</span>, Iraq. <span style="line-height:107%">A total of 100 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and 100 healthy controls (HCs) took part in the study. Serum concentrations of interleukins, including IL-10, IL-20, and MMP7, were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).</span></span><br> <strong new="" roman="" style="font-family: " times=""><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="background-color:#16a085;">Results:</span></span></strong>&nbsp;<span style="line-height:107%"><span style="line-height:107%">The current study revealed significant differences in IL-10 and IL-20 concentrations among the groups being compared with a P-value of <0.01. Notably, the COVID-19 group had significantly more MMP7 than the control group or the group of individuals who had recovered from the disease</span>.<span style="line-height:107%"> This outcome raises the possibility that MMP7 could act as an independent indicator of COVID-19 infection.</span></span><br> <strong new="" roman="" style="font-family: " times=""><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="background-color:#16a085;">Conclusion:</span></span>&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="line-height:107%">Patients with COVID-19 disease had IL-10, IL-20, and MMP-7 levels that were noticeably higher than those found in healthy controls.</span></span></span></span></p> COVID-19, Cytokines, IL-10, IL-20, MMP7 358 363 http://journal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-6807-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mustafa Ahmed Muhmood m1988.vip@gmail.com 5200319475328460077749 0009-0000-8259-6554 Yes Dept. of Biology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia Faiza Safi faizaaalsafi@gmail.com 5200319475328460077750 0009-0004-5295-6474 No Dept. of Pediatrics, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia Akram Jassam Mohammed ajmalnaqeeb@gmail.com 5200319475328460077751 5200319475328460077751 No Dept of Al-Anbar Health, Ramadi Teaching Hospital for Women and Children, Anbar, Iraq Basheer Saleem Obaid Al-mawla Bbbbssss89@gmail.com 5200319475328460077752 0009-0007-6514-4901 No Dept of Al-Anbar Health, Ramadi Teaching Hospital for Women and Children, Anbar, Iraq