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COVID-19 and Body Iron: A Survey on Phenomenological and Genetic Correlations

Rüdiger Lawaczeck1

  • 1Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany.

ACS Chemical Neuroscience
|November 16, 2020
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 infection and disease show strong correlations with body iron levels, particularly serum iron and ferritin. These links, along with blood group genetics, suggest iron dyshomeostasis is intertwined with viral illness.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Human Physiology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Viral infections like COVID-19 can impact systemic physiology.
  • Body iron metabolism is crucial for immune function and cellular processes.
  • Previous research suggests potential links between iron status and infection outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlations between COVID-19 infection/disease and body iron metabolism.
  • To explore the role of demographic factors (gender, age) and genetic factors (ABO blood group) in these correlations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature survey and analysis of existing data on viral infections and iron metabolism.
  • Statistical correlation analysis of COVID-19 data with serum iron and ferritin levels.
  • Examination of genetic loci associated with ABO blood group and disease susceptibility.

Main Results:

  • Significant correlations (≥ 0.75) were found between COVID-19 profiles and serum iron/ferritin levels across different genders and age groups.
  • The ABO blood group system appears to contribute to these observed correlations.
  • Shared gene loci between ABO blood group and susceptibility to viral disease and iron dysregulation were identified.

Conclusions:

  • Body iron dyshomeostasis is strongly interrelated with COVID-19 infection and disease.
  • Demographic and genetic factors, particularly the ABO blood group system, play a role in this interrelation.
  • Further research into iron metabolism modulation may offer therapeutic strategies for viral infections.

Keywords:
COVID-19Iron metabolismgene lociphenomena

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