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Noureddine R, Baba H, Aqillouch S, Abounouh K, Laazaazia O, Elmessaoudi-Idrissi M, Bahmani FZ, Tanouti IA, Ouladlahsen A, Sarih M, Dehbi H, Ezzikouri S. The Interleukin-6 gene variants may protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection and the severity of COVID-19: a case-control study in a Moroccan population. BMC Med Genomics 2024; 17:139. [PMID: 38783290 PMCID: PMC11112821 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-024-01911-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection vary widely, ranging from asymptomatic cases to severe forms marked by acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi-organ damage, and fatalities. Studies indicate a correlation between specific genes and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity, particularly involving variants in genes linked to inflammation and immune responses. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between rs1800795 (- 174 G > C) and rs1800797 (- 597 A > G) variants in the interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter region and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, we aim to explore their correlation with COVID-19 severity in a Moroccan population. In this case-control study, we enrolled 270 unvaccinated COVID-19 patients, consisting of 132 with severe COVID-19 and 138 with asymptomatic-moderate COVID-19. Additionally, we included 339 SARS-CoV-2-negative group. Genotyping of rs1800795 and rs1800797 polymorphisms of the IL-6 gene was performed using predesigned TaqMan SNP genotyping. The median age of SARS-CoV-2-negative controls was 50 years, while severe COVID-19 cases exhibited a median age of 61 years. Additionally, individuals with asymptomatic to moderate COVID-19 had a median age of 36 years. We observed a significant age difference between severe and mild COVID-19 patients (p < 0.0001), and an association was noted between gender and the severity of COVID-19 (p = 0.011). The allele and genotype frequencies of the IL-6 - 597G > A and - 174G > C variants did not show significant associations with susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection (p > 0.05). However, further analysis revealed that the linkage disequilibrium between rs1800797 and rs1800795 indicated that individuals with the GC* haplotype (OR = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01-0.30, p = 0.001) and AG* haplotype (OR = 0.11, 95% CI 0.03-0.46, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, in the overdominant model, the IL-6 - 174 G/C genotype was found to be protective against the development of severe disease compared to those with the G/G-C/C genotypes (p = 0.03; OR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.18-0.96). However, correlations between complete blood count markers, hematological markers, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, and ferritin levels according to - 597 A > G and - 174G > C genotypes showed no significant differences (all p > 0.05). Our findings provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of COVID-19, suggesting that genetic variations at the IL-6 gene may contribute to the susceptibility to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection within the Moroccan population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachid Noureddine
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, Casablanca, 20360, Maroc
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, Medical School, University Hassan II, Casablanca, Maroc
- Laboratoire Morizgo d'analyses médicales, Casablanca, Maroc
| | - Hanâ Baba
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, Casablanca, 20360, Maroc
| | - Safaa Aqillouch
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, Casablanca, 20360, Maroc
| | - Karima Abounouh
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, Casablanca, 20360, Maroc
| | - Oumaima Laazaazia
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, Casablanca, 20360, Maroc
| | - Mohcine Elmessaoudi-Idrissi
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, Casablanca, 20360, Maroc
| | | | - Ikram Allah Tanouti
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, Casablanca, 20360, Maroc
| | - Ahd Ouladlahsen
- Service des maladies Infectieuses, CHU Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Maroc
| | - M'hammed Sarih
- Service de Parasitologie et des Maladies Vectorielles, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Hind Dehbi
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, Medical School, University Hassan II, Casablanca, Maroc
| | - Sayeh Ezzikouri
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, Casablanca, 20360, Maroc.
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The IL6-174G/C Polymorphism Associated with High Levels of IL-6 Contributes to HCV Infection, but Is Not Related to HBV Infection, in the Amazon Region of Brazil. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030507. [PMID: 35336914 PMCID: PMC8950165 DOI: 10.3390/v14030507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of cytokine production can lead to an inefficient immune response, promoting viral persistence that induces the progression of chronic viral hepatitis. The study investigated the association of the IL6-174G/C polymorphism with changes in cytokine levels and its influence on the persistence and progression of chronic hepatitis caused by HBV and HCV in 72 patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBV), 100 patients with hepatitis C (HCV), and a control group of 300 individuals. The genotyping of the IL6-174G/C polymorphism was performed by real-time PCR, and cytokine levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HCV patients with the wild-type genotype (GG) had a higher viral load (p = 0.0230). The plasma levels of IL-6 were higher among patients infected with HBV and HCV than among the control group (p < 0.0001). Patients with HCV were associated with increased inflammatory activity (A2−A3; p < 0.0001). In hepatitis C, carriers of the GG genotype had higher levels of IL-6 (p = 0.0286), which were associated with A2−A3 inflammatory activity (p = 0.0097). Patients with A2−A3 inflammatory activity and GG genotype had higher levels of IL-6 than those with the GC/CC genotype (p = 0.0127). In conclusion, the wild-type genotype for the IL6-174G/C polymorphism was associated with high levels of IL-6 and HCV viral load and inflammatory activity, suggesting that this genotype may be a contributing factor to virus-induced chronic infection.
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Ben Dhifallah I, Ayouni K, Jmel H, Kammoun W, Hamzaoui K, Sadraoui A, Triki H. Strong association of functional polymorphism in IL-12B with susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B in Tunisia. J Med Virol 2021; 93:4949-4956. [PMID: 33739474 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The chronicity or clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection depends on viral and genetic variables. The immune response against HBV is thought to be responsible for viral persistence or clearance. Cytokines such as interleukin 1-2B (IL1-2B) involved in the T-helper 1 system are key mediators in the defence mechanisms against viral infection and play a role in the regulation of HBV clearance during infection. We aimed to examine whether the polymorphic variant TaqI polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR; rs3212227) suspected to modulate interleukin-levels of IL-12B has an influence on the risk of development of chronicity after HBV exposure. METHODS Genotyping was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method for 236 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 240 controls from different cities of Tunisia recruited in the Pasteur Institute of Tunisia between January 2017 and December 2018. RESULTS We found that the IL-12B polymorphism was associated with a significantly increased risk of CHB in patients (p = 1 × 10-3 ; χ 2 = 10.31 and odds ratio [OR] = 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30-3.52) when AC/CC variant genotypes were compared with the wild-type AA homozygote. Statistical significance was found when CHB-males were compared with CHB-females (p = 2 × 10-7 ; χ 2 = 26.62 and p = 1 × 10-3 ; χ 2 = 10.36, for genotypic and allelic frequencies, respectively). Also, CHB-patients carrying C-allele less than 50-years were at an increased risk of developing chronic HBV infection than patients more than 50-years (p = 6.1 × 10-5 ; χ 2 = 16.07). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the C-allele would affect susceptibility to chronicity after HBV exposure in Tunisian patients especially for males less than 50-years. Age and sex have an influence on this polymorphism in CHB Tunisian patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imène Ben Dhifallah
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Kaouther Ayouni
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.,Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Haifa Jmel
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Pasteur Institute Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Wafa Kammoun
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Regional Training Center supported by WHO-TDR for East Mediterranean Region (EMR), Pasteur Institute, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Kamel Hamzaoui
- Department of Basic Sciences Histology, Immunology and cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amel Sadraoui
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Henda Triki
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
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