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Causal Association and Shared Genetics Between Asthma and COVID-19
Ancha Baranova1,2, Hongbao Cao1, Jiu Chen3
1School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States.
Frontiers in Immunology
|April 7, 2022
Summary
Individuals with asthma show a reduced risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. This genetic link suggests asthma may offer protection against severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Immunology
- Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Emerging evidence suggests a potential protective role of asthma against COVID-19.
- Understanding the causal relationship and underlying mechanisms is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal link between asthma and COVID-19 hospitalization and infection.
- To explore shared genetic mechanisms between asthma and COVID-19 outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized summary results from Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) for asthma, COVID-19 hospitalization, and COVID-19 infection.
- Employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess causality.
- Conducted a cross-trait meta-analysis of shared genetic loci.
Main Results:
- Asthma demonstrated a protective association with decreased risk for COVID-19 hospitalization (OR: 0.70) and infection (OR: 0.83).
- Identified shared genome-wide significant genes, including *ABO* and *OAS2*, between asthma and COVID-19.
- Found pleiotropic variants in *ABO* and *ATXN2* influencing both asthma and COVID-19.
Conclusions:
- Genetic predisposition to asthma is associated with reduced susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19.
- Potential protective mechanisms may involve early-stage inflammatory and compensatory responses.
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