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Updated: Jun 9, 2025
A High-Throughput Multiplexed Screening for Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Diseases, and COVID-19
Published on: July 5, 2022
Exploring the mechanism of comorbidity in patients with T1DM and COVID-19: Integrating bioinformatics and Mendelian
Tingliang Wang1, Yun Zhang, Chunjiao Wu
1Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
Insights
This study found no direct causal link between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and COVID-19. However, the gene DSCC1 may offer protection against both conditions, suggesting a potential therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has seen increased type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) incidence.
- Individuals with diabetes mellitus may face higher susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
- The precise causal links and interaction mechanisms between T1DM and COVID-19 are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential causal relationship between T1DM and COVID-19.
- To identify shared genetic factors influencing both diseases.
- To explore the role of specific genes in the comorbidity of T1DM and COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- Differential gene expression analysis of relevant datasets (GSE156035, GSE171110).
- Intersection of differentially expressed gene sets to identify shared genes.
- Mendelian randomization analysis to assess causal effects between T1DM and COVID-19 genetic risk factors.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant direct causal relationship was found between T1DM and COVID-19 in the European population.
- DNA replication and sister chromatid cohesion 1 (DSCC1) demonstrated a significant negative causal association with both T1DM and COVID-19.
- The observed association suggests DSCC1 may confer a protective effect against the comorbidity of T1DM and COVID-19.
Conclusions:
- Genetic evidence does not support a direct causal link between T1DM and COVID-19.
- DSCC1 emerges as a potential genetic factor influencing susceptibility to both T1DM and COVID-19.
- DSCC1 could be a target for monitoring and managing patients experiencing both T1DM and COVID-19.
Abstract:
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has increased. Additionally, evidence suggests that individuals with diabetes mellitus may have increased susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. However, the specific causal relationships and interaction mechanisms between T1DM and COVID-19 remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between T1DM and COVID-19, utilizing differential gene expression and Mendelian randomization analyses. Differentially expressed gene sets from datasets GSE156035 and GSE171110 were intersected to identify shared genes, analyzed for functional enrichment. Mendelian randomization models were employed to assess causal effects, revealing no direct causal link between T1DM and COVID-19 in the European population (P > .05). Notably, DNA replication and sister chromatid cohesion 1 (DSCC1) showed negative causal associations with both diseases (T1DM: OR = 0.943, 95% CI: 0.898-0.991, P = .020; COVID-19: OR = 0.919, 95% CI: 0.882-0.958, P < .001), suggesting a protective effect against their comorbidity. This genetic evidence highlights DSCC1 as a potential target for monitoring and managing the co-occurrence of T1DM and COVID-19.
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