| Summary: | Gene expression patterns in blood cells from SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals with different clinical phenotypes and body mass index (BMI) could help to identify possible early prognosis factors for COVID-19. We recruited patients with COVID-19 admitted in Hospital Universitari Son Espases (HUSE) between March 2020 and November 2021, and control subjects. Peripheral blood cells (PBCs) and plasma samples were obtained on hospital admission. Gene expression of candidate transcriptomic biomarkers in PBCs were compared based on the patients’ clinical status (mild, severe and critical) and BMI range (normal weight, overweight, and obesity). mRNA levels of <i>ADAM17</i>, <i>IFITM3</i>, <i>IL6</i>, <i>CXCL10</i>, <i>CXCL11</i>, <i>IFNG</i> and <i>TYK2</i> were increased in PBCs of COVID-19 patients (<i>n</i> = 73) compared with controls (<i>n</i> = 47), independently of sex. Increased expression of <i>IFNE</i> was observed in the male patients only. PBC mRNA levels of <i>ADAM17</i>, <i>IFITM3</i>, <i>CXCL11</i>, and <i>CCR2</i> were higher in those patients that experienced a more serious evolution during hospitalization. <i>ADAM17,</i> <i>IFITM3</i>, <i>IL6</i> and <i>IFNE</i> were more highly expressed in PBCs of patients with obesity. Interestingly, the expression pattern of <i>ADAM17</i>, <i>IFITM3</i> and <i>IFNE</i> in PBCs was related to both the severity of COVID-19 evolution and obesity status, especially in the male patients. In conclusion, gene expression in PBCs can be useful for the prognosis of COVID-19 evolution.
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