Immunogenetic Predictors of Severe COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Immunogenetics
• Virology
• Genomics

Background:

• Only 20% of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop severe complications.
• Currently, no reliable biomarkers exist to predict severe COVID-19 outcomes.
• Understanding genetic factors influencing immune response is crucial for predicting disease severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review genetic factors associated with immune response to SARS-CoV-2.
• To investigate the link between genetic factors, ACE-2 expression, and severe COVID-19.
• To identify potential biomarkers for predicting severe COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of Medline, PubMed, and Scopus databases (Dec 2019 - Nov 2020).
• Keywords included: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, severe course, ACE-2, biomarkers, genetic factors.
• Analysis of 8 selected articles meeting all inclusion criteria.

Main Results:

• Identified genetic factors associated with severe COVID-19: HLA-B*46:01, CXCR6, CCR9, TLR7, ERAP2 gene mutations (rs150892504), and ACE-2/TMPRSS2 variations.
• Overexpression of wild-type ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 polymorphisms were linked to severe disease.
• Associated genes were more prevalent in men, suggesting potential population differences.

Conclusions:

• Specific genetic factors and ACE-2 related proteins may serve as predictors for severe COVID-19.
• Further clinical studies are required to validate the diagnostic significance of these genetic markers.
• Identifying at-risk individuals could enable personalized treatment strategies for COVID-19.