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Sayın Kocakap DB, Kaygusuz S, Aksoy E, Şahin Ö, Baççıoğlu A, Ekici A, Kalpaklıoğlu AF, Ekici MS, Gül S, Kaçmaz B, Ayaşlıoğlu Açıkgöz E, Alyılmaz Bekmez S, Rouse BT, Azkur AK. Adverse effect of VEGFR-2 (rs1870377) polymorphism on the clinical course of COVID-19 in females and males in an age-dependent manner. Microbes Infect 2023; 25:105188. [PMID: 37499788 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people worldwide with varying clinical presentations ranging from mild to severe or fatal, and studies have found that age, gender, and some comorbidities can influence the severity of the disease. It would be valuable to have genetic markers that might help predict the likely outcome of infection. For this objective, genes encoding VEGFR-2 (rs1870377), CCR5Δ32 (rs333), and TLR3 (rs5743313) were analyzed for polymorphisms in the peripheral blood of 160 COVID-19 patients before COVID-19 vaccine was available in Türkiye. We observed that possession of the VEGFR-2 rs1870377 mutant allele increased the risk of severe/moderate disease in females and subjects ≥65 years of age, but was protective in males <65 years of age. Other significant results were that the CCR5Δ32 allele was protective against severe disease in subjects ≥65 years of age, while TLR3 rs5743313 polymorphism was found to be protective against severe/moderate illness in males <65 years of age. The VEGFR-2 rs1870377 mutant allele was a risk factor for severe/moderate disease, particularly in females over the age of 65. These findings suggest that genetic polymorphisms have an age- and sex-dependent influence on the severity of COVID-19, and the VEGFR-2 rs1870377 mutant allele could be a potential predictor of disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sedat Kaygusuz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
| | - Emel Aksoy
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
| | - Ömer Şahin
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
| | - Ayşe Baççıoğlu
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye; Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
| | - Aydanur Ekici
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
| | - Ayşe Füsun Kalpaklıoğlu
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye; Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
| | - Mehmet Savaş Ekici
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
| | - Serdar Gül
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
| | - Birgül Kaçmaz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
| | - Ergin Ayaşlıoğlu Açıkgöz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
| | - Sibel Alyılmaz Bekmez
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
| | - Barry T Rouse
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Ahmet Kürşat Azkur
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye.
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Soko ND, Dlamini S, Ntsekhe M, Dandara C. The COVID-19 Pandemic and Explaining Outcomes in Africa: Could Genomic Variation Add to the Debate? OMICS : A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2022; 26:594-607. [PMID: 36322905 PMCID: PMC9700373 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2022.0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of COVID-19, emanated from the Wuhan Province in China and rapidly spread across the globe causing extensive morbidity and mortality rate, and affecting the global economy and livelihoods. Contrary to early predictions of "body bags" across Africa, the African COVID-19 pandemic was marked by apparent low case numbers and an overall mortality rate when compared with the other geographical regions. Factors used to describe this unexpected pattern included a younger population, a swifter and more effective national health policy, limited testing capacities, and the possibility of inadequate reporting of the cases, among others. However, despite genomics contributing to interindividual variations in many diseases across the world, there are inadequate genomic and multiomics data on COVID-19 in Africa that prevent richer transdisciplinary discussions on the contribution of genomics to the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. To invite future debates on comparative studies of COVID-19 genomics and the pandemic spread around the world regions, this expert review evaluates the reported frequency distribution of genetic variants in candidate genes that are likely to affect COVID-19 infection dynamics/disease outcomes. We propose here that genomic variation should be considered among the many factors determining the COVID-19 infection and its outcomes in African populations and across the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nyarai D. Soko
- Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism Research Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- UCT/South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Platform for Pharmacogenomics Research and Translation, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sipho Dlamini
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mpiko Ntsekhe
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Collet Dandara
- Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism Research Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- UCT/South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Platform for Pharmacogenomics Research and Translation, Cape Town, South Africa
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3
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Vitello GA, Federico C, Bruno F, Vinci M, Musumeci A, Ragalmuto A, Sturiale V, Brancato D, Calì F, Saccone S. Allelic Variations in the Human Genes TMPRSS2 and CCR5, and the Resistance to Viral Infection by SARS-CoV-2. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169171. [PMID: 36012436 PMCID: PMC9409186 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
During the first wave of COVID-19 infection in Italy, the number of cases and the mortality rates were among the highest compared to the rest of Europe and the world. Several studies demonstrated a severe clinical course of COVID-19 associated with old age, comorbidities, and male gender. However, there are cases of virus infection resistance in subjects living in close contact with infected subjects. Thus, to explain the predisposition to virus infection and to COVID-19 disease progression, we must consider, in addition to the genetic variability of the virus and other environmental or comorbidity conditions, the allelic variants of specific human genes, directly or indirectly related to the life cycle of the virus. Here, we analyzed three human genetic polymorphisms belonging to the TMPRSS2 and CCR5 genes in a sample population from Sicily (Italy) to investigate possible correlations with the resistance to viral infection and/or to COVID-19 disease progression as recently described in other human populations. Our results did not show any correlations of the rs35074065, rs12329760, and rs333 polymorphisms with SARS-CoV-2 infection or with COVID-19 disease severity. Further studies on other human genetic polymorphisms should be performed to identify the major human determinants of SARS-CoV-2 viral resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Concetta Federico
- Department Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Francesca Bruno
- Department Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Mirella Vinci
- Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy
| | - Antonino Musumeci
- Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy
| | - Alda Ragalmuto
- Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy
| | - Valentina Sturiale
- Department Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Desiree Brancato
- Department Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Francesco Calì
- Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy
| | - Salvatore Saccone
- Department Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy
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Feng S, Song F, Guo W, Tan J, Zhang X, Qiao F, Guo J, Zhang L, Jia X. Potential Genes Associated with COVID-19 and Comorbidity. Int J Med Sci 2022; 19:402-415. [PMID: 35165525 PMCID: PMC8795808 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.67815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease are common comorbidities and dangerous factors for infection and serious COVID-19. Polymorphisms in genes associated with comorbidities may help observe susceptibility and disease severity variation. However, specific genetic factors and the extent to which they can explain variation in susceptibility of severity are unclear. Therefore, we evaluated candidate genes associated with COVID-19 and hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. In particular, we performed searches against OMIM, NCBI, and other databases, protein-protein interaction network construction, and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. Results showed that the associated overlapping genes were TLR4, NLRP3, MBL2, IL6, IL1RN, IL1B, CX3CR1, CCR5, AGT, ACE, and F2. GO and KEGG analyses yielded 302 GO terms (q < 0.05) and 29 signaling pathways (q < 0.05), respectively, mainly including coronavirus disease-COVID-19 and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. IL6 and AGT were central in the PPI, with 8 and 5 connections, respectively. In this study, we identified 11 genes associated with both COVID-19 and three comorbidities that may contribute to infection and disease severity. The key genes IL6 and AGT are involved in regulating immune response, cytokine activity, and viral infection. Therefore, RAAS inhibitors, AGT antisense nucleotides, cytokine inhibitors, vitamin D, fenofibrate, and vaccines regulating non-immune and immune factors could be potential strategies to prevent and cure COVID-19. The study provides a basis for further investigation of genes and pathways with predictive value for the risk of infection and prognosis and could help guide drug and vaccine development to improve treatment efficacy and the development of personalised treatments, especially for COVID-19 individuals with common comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Feng
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Non-coding RNA and Drug Discovery Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fuqiang Song
- Department of medical Laboratory, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Jishan Tan
- Department of medical Laboratory, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, China
| | - Xianqin Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fengling Qiao
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jinlin Guo
- Key Laboratory of Systematic Research of Distinctive Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Co-construction for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Shaoxing, China
| | - Xu Jia
- Non-coding RNA and Drug Discovery Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Zepeda-Cervantes J, Martínez-Flores D, Ramírez-Jarquín JO, Tecalco-Cruz ÁC, Alavez-Pérez NS, Vaca L, Sarmiento-Silva RE. Implications of the Immune Polymorphisms of the Host and the Genetic Variability of SARS-CoV-2 in the Development of COVID-19. Viruses 2022; 14:94. [PMID: 35062298 PMCID: PMC8778858 DOI: 10.3390/v14010094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current pandemic affecting almost all countries in the world. SARS-CoV-2 is the agent responsible for coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), which has claimed millions of lives around the world. In most patients, SARS-CoV-2 infection does not cause clinical signs. However, some infected people develop symptoms, which include loss of smell or taste, fever, dry cough, headache, severe pneumonia, as well as coagulation disorders. The aim of this work is to report genetic factors of SARS-CoV-2 and host-associated to severe COVID-19, placing special emphasis on the viral entry and molecules of the immune system involved with viral infection. Besides this, we analyze SARS-CoV-2 variants and their structural characteristics related to the binding to polymorphic angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2). Additionally, we also review other polymorphisms as well as some epigenetic factors involved in the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19. These factors and viral variability could explain the increment of infection rate and/or in the development of severe COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Zepeda-Cervantes
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
| | - Daniel Martínez-Flores
- Departamento de Biología Celular y del Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
| | - Josué Orlando Ramírez-Jarquín
- Departamento de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
| | - Ángeles C. Tecalco-Cruz
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México (UACM), Mexico City 06720, Mexico;
| | - Noé Santiago Alavez-Pérez
- Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 07340, Mexico;
| | - Luis Vaca
- Departamento de Biología Celular y del Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
| | - Rosa Elena Sarmiento-Silva
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
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Starcevic Cizmarevic N, Kapovic M, Roncevic D, Ristic S. Could the CCR5-Delta32 mutation be protective in SARS-CoV-2 infection? Physiol Res 2021; 70:S249-S252. [PMID: 34913355 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence points to host genetics as a factor in COVID-19 prevalence and outcome. CCR5 is a receptor for proinflammatory chemokines that are involved in host responses, especially to viruses. The CCR5-delta32 minor allele is an interesting variant, given the role of CCR5 in some viral infections, particularly HIV-1. Recent studies of the impact of CCR5-delta32 on COVID-19 risk and severity have yielded contradictory results. This ecologic study shows that the CCR5-delta32 allelic frequency in a European population was significantly negatively correlated with the number of COVID-19 cases (p=0.035) and deaths (p=0.006) during the second pandemic wave. These results suggest that CCR5-delta32 may be protective against SARS-CoV-2 infection, as it is against HIV infection, and could be predictive of COVID-19 risk and severity. Further studies based on samples from populations of different genetic backgrounds are needed to validate these statistically obtained findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Starcevic Cizmarevic
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
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Fischer JC, Schmidt AG, Bölke E, Uhrberg M, Keitel V, Feldt T, Jensen B, Häussinger D, Adams O, Schneider EM, Balz V, Enczmann J, Rox J, Hermsen D, Schulze-Bosse K, Kindgen-Milles D, Knoefel WT, van Griensven M, Haussmann J, Tamaskovics B, Plettenberg C, Scheckenbach K, Corradini S, Pedoto A, Maas K, Schmidt L, Grebe O, Esposito I, Ehrhardt A, Peiper M, Buhren BA, Calles C, Stöhr A, Lichtenberg A, Freise NF, Lutterbeck M, Rezazadeh A, Budach W, Matuschek C. Association of HLA genotypes, AB0 blood type and chemokine receptor 5 mutant CD195 with the clinical course of COVID-19. Eur J Med Res 2021; 26:107. [PMID: 34530915 PMCID: PMC8444184 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-021-00560-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19, the pandemic disease caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2, may take highly variable clinical courses, ranging from symptom-free and pauci-symptomatic to fatal disease. The goal of the current study was to assess the association of COVID-19 clinical courses controlled by patients' adaptive immune responses without progression to severe disease with patients' Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genetics, AB0 blood group antigens, and the presence or absence of near-loss-of-function delta 32 deletion mutant of the C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5). PATIENT AND METHODS An exploratory observational study including 157 adult COVID-19 convalescent patients was performed with a median follow-up of 250 days. The impact of different HLA genotypes, AB0 blood group antigens, and the CCR5 mutant CD195 were investigated for their role in the clinical course of COVID-19. In addition, this study addressed levels of severity and morbidity of COVID-19. The association of the immunogenetic background parameters were further related to patients' humoral antiviral immune response patterns by longitudinal observation. RESULTS Univariate HLA analyses identified putatively protective HLA alleles (HLA class II DRB1*01:01 and HLA class I B*35:01, with a trend for DRB1*03:01). They were associated with reduced durations of disease instead decreased (rather than increased) total anti-S IgG levels. They had a higher virus neutralizing capacity compared to non-carriers. Conversely, analyses also identified HLA alleles (HLA class II DQB1*03:02 und HLA class I B*15:01) not associated with such benefit in the patient cohort of this study. Hierarchical testing by Cox regression analyses confirmed the significance of the protective effect of the HLA alleles identified (when assessed in composite) in terms of disease duration, whereas AB0 blood group antigen heterozygosity was found to be significantly associated with disease severity (rather than duration) in our cohort. A suggestive association of a heterozygous CCR5 delta 32 mutation status with prolonged disease duration was implied by univariate analyses but could not be confirmed by hierarchical multivariate testing. CONCLUSION The current study shows that the presence of HLA class II DRB1*01:01 and HLA class I B*35:01 is of even stronger association with reduced disease duration in mild and moderate COVID-19 than age or any other potential risk factor assessed. Prospective studies in larger patient populations also including novel SARS-CoV-2 variants will be required to assess the impact of HLA genetics on the capacity of mounting protective vaccination responses in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes C Fischer
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Albrecht G Schmidt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Edwin Bölke
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany.
| | - Markus Uhrberg
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Verena Keitel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Torsten Feldt
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Björn Jensen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Dieter Häussinger
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Ortwin Adams
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - E Marion Schneider
- Division of Experimental Anesthesiology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Vera Balz
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Jürgen Enczmann
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Jutta Rox
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Derik Hermsen
- Central Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics and Clinical Chemistry, Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Karin Schulze-Bosse
- Central Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics and Clinical Chemistry, Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Detlef Kindgen-Milles
- Medical Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfram Trudo Knoefel
- Medical Faculty, Department of Surgery and Interdisciplinary Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Martijn van Griensven
- Department cBITE, Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Haussmann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Balint Tamaskovics
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Christian Plettenberg
- Medical Faculty, Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Disease, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Kathrin Scheckenbach
- Medical Faculty, Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Disease, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefanie Corradini
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alessia Pedoto
- Department of Anesthesiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kitti Maas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Livia Schmidt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Olaf Grebe
- Department of Cardiology and Rhythmology, Petrus Hospital, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Irene Esposito
- Institute of Pathology, University of Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Anja Ehrhardt
- Institute of Virology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany
| | - Matthias Peiper
- Medical Faculty, University of Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Bettina Alexandra Buhren
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Christian Calles
- Medical Faculty, Coordination Center for Clinical Studies, University of Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Stöhr
- Medical Faculty, Coordination Center for Clinical Studies, University of Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Artur Lichtenberg
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty, University of Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Noemi F Freise
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Matthias Lutterbeck
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Amir Rezazadeh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Wilfried Budach
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Christiane Matuschek
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
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8
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Differential mortality of infectious disease in Italian polities: COVID-19, past plague epidemics, and currently endemic respiratory disease. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 95:105081. [PMID: 34520873 PMCID: PMC8434887 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has harshly impacted Italy since its arrival in February 2020. In particular, provinces in Italy's Central and Northern macroregions have dealt with disproportionately greater case prevalence and mortality rates than those in the South. In this paper, we compare the morbidity and mortality dynamics of 16th and 17th century Plague outbreaks with those of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic across Italian regions. We also include data on infectious respiratory diseases which are presently endemic to Italy in order to analyze the regional differences between epidemic and endemic disease. A Growth Curve Analysis allowed for the estimation of time-related intercepts and slopes across the 16th and 17th centuries. Those statistical parameters were later incorporated as criterion variables in multiple General Linear Models. These statistical examinations determined that the Northern macroregion had a higher intercept than the Southern macroregion. This indicated that provinces located in Northern Italy had historically experienced higher plague mortalities than Southern polities. The analyses also revealed that this geographical differential in morbidity and mortality persists to this day, as the Northern macroregion has experienced a substantially higher COVID-19 mortality than the Southern macroregion. These results are consistent with previously published analyses. The only other stable and significant predictor of epidemic disease mortality was foreign urban potential, a measure of the degree of interconnectedness between 16th and 17th century Italian cities. Foreign urban potential was negatively associated with plague slope and positively associated with plague intercept, COVID-19 mortality, GDP per capita, and immigration per capita. Its substantial contribution in predicting both past and present outcomes provides a temporal continuity not seen in any other measure tested here. Overall, this study provides compelling evidence that temporally stable geographical factors, impacting both historical and current foreign pathogen spread above and beyond other hypothesized predictors, underlie the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had throughout Central and Northern Italian provinces.
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Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). There is growing evidence that host genetics play an important role in COVID-19 severity. Based on current knowledge about the human protein machinery for SARS-CoV-2 entry, the host innate immune response, and virus-host interactions, the potential effects of human genetic polymorphisms, which may contribute to clinical differences in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, may help to determine the individual risk for COVID-19 infection and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris R Delanghe
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Marijn M Speeckaert
- Department of Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium; Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
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10
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Hashemi SMA, Thijssen M, Hosseini SY, Tabarraei A, Pourkarim MR, Sarvari J. Human gene polymorphisms and their possible impact on the clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Arch Virol 2021; 166:2089-2108. [PMID: 33934196 PMCID: PMC8088757 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-021-05070-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has become one of the most serious health concerns globally. Although multiple vaccines have recently been approved for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an effective treatment is still lacking. Our knowledge of the pathogenicity of this virus is still incomplete. Studies have revealed that viral factors such as the viral load, duration of exposure to the virus, and viral mutations are important variables in COVID-19 outcome. Furthermore, host factors, including age, health condition, co-morbidities, and genetic background, might also be involved in clinical manifestations and infection outcome. This review focuses on the importance of variations in the host genetic background and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. We will discuss the significance of polymorphisms in the ACE-2, TMPRSS2, vitamin D receptor, vitamin D binding protein, CD147, glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4), neuropilin-1, heme oxygenase, apolipoprotein L1, vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1 (VKORC1), and immune system genes for the clinical outcome of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Mohammad Ali Hashemi
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Marijn Thijssen
- Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Seyed Younes Hosseini
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Alijan Tabarraei
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Reza Pourkarim
- Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Health Policy Research Centre, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Jamal Sarvari
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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11
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Cuesta-Llavona E, Gómez J, Albaiceta GM, Amado-Rodríguez L, García-Clemente M, Gutiérrez-Rodríguez J, López-Alonso I, Hermida T, Enríquez AI, Hernández-González C, Gil-Peña H, Domínguez-Garrido E, Pérez-Oliveira S, Alvarez V, López-Larrea C, Suarez-Alvarez B, Tranche S, Jimeno-Demuth FJ, Coto E. Variant-genetic and transcript-expression analysis showed a role for the chemokine-receptor CCR5 in COVID-19 severity. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 98:107825. [PMID: 34116286 PMCID: PMC8169316 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The chemokine receptor CCR5 has been implicated in COVID-19. CCR5 and its ligands are overexpressed in patients. The pharmacological targeting of CCR5 would improve the COVID-19 severity. We sought to investigate the role of the CCR5-Δ32 variant (rs333) in COVID-19. The CCR5-Δ32 was genotyped in 801 patients (353 in the intensive care unit, ICU) and 660 healthy controls, and the deletion was significantly less frequent in hospitalysed COVID-19 than in healthy controls (p = 0.01, OR = 0.66, 95%CI = 0.49–0.88). Of note, we did not find homozygotes among the patients, compared to 1% of the controls. The CCR5 transcript was measured in leukocytes from 85 patients and 40 controls. We found a significantly higher expression of the CCR5 transcript among the patients, with significant difference when comparing the non-deletion carriers (controls = 35; patients = 81; p = 0.01). ICU-patients showed non-significantly higher expression than no-ICU cases. Our study points to CCR5 as a genetic marker for COVID-19. The pharmacological targeting of CCR5 should be a promising treatment for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elías Cuesta-Llavona
- Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Juan Gómez
- Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Guillermo M Albaiceta
- Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Cardiológicos, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; CIBER-Enfermedades Respiratorias. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Laura Amado-Rodríguez
- Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Cardiológicos, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; CIBER-Enfermedades Respiratorias. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Marta García-Clemente
- Neumología, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - José Gutiérrez-Rodríguez
- Geriatría, Hospital Monte Naranco, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Inés López-Alonso
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Tamara Hermida
- Neumología, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Ana I Enríquez
- Neumología, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | | | - Helena Gil-Peña
- Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | | | | | - Victoria Alvarez
- Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Carlos López-Larrea
- Translation Immunology Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias-ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Red de Investigación Renal (REDINREN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Suarez-Alvarez
- Translation Immunology Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias-ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Salvador Tranche
- Centro Salud El cristo, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | | | - Eliecer Coto
- Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Red de Investigación Renal (REDINREN), Madrid, Spain.
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12
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Bernas SN, Baldauf H, Wendler S, Heidenreich F, Lange V, Hofmann JA, Sauter J, Schmidt AH, Schetelig J. CCR5Δ32 mutations do not determine COVID-19 disease course. Int J Infect Dis 2021; 105:653-655. [PMID: 33667698 PMCID: PMC7923852 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the impact of the 32 bp deletion (CCR5Δ32) in the coding region of the C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) on the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and severe COVID-19. METHODS Cross-sectional study among stem cell donors registered with DKMS in Germany. Genetic information was linked to self-reported COVID-19 outcome data. Multivariable regression models were fitted to determine the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, severe respiratory tract infection (RTI) and respiratory hospitalization. RESULTS CCR5 information was available for 110 544 donors who were tested at least once for SARS-CoV-2; 5536 reported SARS-CoV-2 infection. For 4758 donors, the COVID-19 disease course was fully evaluable; 498 reported no symptoms, 1227 described symptoms of severe respiratory tract infection, of whom 164 required respiratory hospitalization. The distribution of CCR5Δ32 genotypes (homozygous wild-type vs CCR5Δ32 present) did not differ significantly between individuals with or without SARS-CoV-2 infection (odds ratio (OR) 0.96, 95% CI 0.89-1.03, P = 0.21) nor between individuals with or without symptomatic infection (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.88-1.45, P = 0.32), severe RTI (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.88-1.22, P = 0.68) or respiratory hospitalization (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.79-1.69, P = 0.45). CONCLUSIONS Our data implicate that CCR5Δ32 mutations do not determine the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections nor the disease course. TRIAL REGISTRATION We registered the study with the German Center for Infection Research (https://dzif.clinicalsite.org/de/cat/2099/trial/4361).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Falk Heidenreich
- DKMS, Clinical Trials Unit, Dresden, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Alexander H Schmidt
- DKMS, Tübingen, Germany; DKMS, Clinical Trials Unit, Dresden, Germany; DKMS Life Science Lab, Dresden, Germany
| | - Johannes Schetelig
- DKMS, Clinical Trials Unit, Dresden, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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13
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Khalil BA, Elemam NM, Maghazachi AA. Chemokines and chemokine receptors during COVID-19 infection. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:976-988. [PMID: 33558827 PMCID: PMC7859556 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokines are crucial inflammatory mediators needed during an immune response to clear pathogens. However, their excessive release is the main cause of hyperinflammation. In the recent COVID-19 outbreak, chemokines may be the direct cause of acute respiratory disease syndrome, a major complication leading to death in about 40% of severe cases. Several clinical investigations revealed that chemokines are directly involved in the different stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we review the role of chemokines and their receptors in COVID-19 pathogenesis to better understand the disease immunopathology which may aid in developing possible therapeutic targets for the infection.
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Key Words
- AECs, airway epithelial cells
- AP-1, Activator Protein 1
- ARDS
- ARDS, acute respiratory disease syndrome
- BALF, bronchial alveolar lavage fluid
- CAP, community acquired pneumonia
- COVID-19
- CRS, cytokine releasing syndrome
- Chemokine Receptors
- Chemokines
- DCs, dendritic cells
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- GAGs, glycosaminoglycans
- HIV, human immunodeficiency virus
- HRSV, human respiratory syncytial virus
- IFN, interferon
- IMM, inflammatory monocytes and macrophages
- IP-10, IFN-γ-inducible protein 10
- IRF, interferon regulatory factor
- Immunity
- MERS-CoV, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- NETs, neutrophil extracellular traps
- NF-κB, Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells
- NK cells, natural killer cells
- PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- PRR, pattern recognition receptors
- RSV, rous sarcoma virus
- SARS-CoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- SARS-CoV-2
- TLR, toll like receptor
- TRIF, TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β
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Affiliation(s)
- Bariaa A. Khalil
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Immuno-Oncology Group, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Noha Mousaad Elemam
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Immuno-Oncology Group, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Azzam A. Maghazachi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Immuno-Oncology Group, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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14
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Mehlotra RK. Chemokine receptor gene polymorphisms and COVID-19: Could knowledge gained from HIV/AIDS be important? INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2020; 85:104512. [PMID: 32858232 PMCID: PMC7448762 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Emerging results indicate that an uncontrolled host immune response, leading to a life-threatening condition called cytokine release syndrome (also termed "cytokine storm"), is the major driver of pathology in severe COVID-19. In this pandemic, considerable effort is being focused on identifying host genomic factors that increase susceptibility or resistance to the complications of COVID-19 and translating these findings to improved patient care. In this regard, the chemokine receptor-ligand nexus has been reported as potentially important in severe COVID-19 disease pathogenesis and its treatment. Valuable genomic insights into the chemokine receptor-ligand nexus have been gained from HIV infection and disease progression studies. Applying that knowledge, together with newly discovered potential host genomic factors associated with COVID-19, may lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeev K. Mehlotra
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Biomedical Research Building, #409A, 2109 Adelbert Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,Corresponding author at: Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Biomedical Research Building, #409A, 2109 Adelbert Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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15
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Hachim MY, Hachim IY, Naeem KB, Hannawi H, Al Salmi I, Hannawi S. C-C chemokine receptor type 5 links COVID-19, rheumatoid arthritis, and Hydroxychloroquine: in silico analysis. TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE COMMUNICATIONS 2020; 5:14. [PMID: 32923679 PMCID: PMC7479747 DOI: 10.1186/s41231-020-00066-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) represent one of the fragile patient groups that might be susceptible to the critical form of the coronavirus disease - 19 (COVID-19). On the other side, RA patients have been found not to have an increased risk of COVID-19 infection. Moreover, some of the Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDS) commonly used to treat rheumatic diseases like Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) were proposed as a potential therapy for COVID-19 with a lack of full understanding of their molecular mechanisms. This highlights the need for the discovery of common pathways that may link both diseases at the molecular side. In this research, we used the in silico approach to investigate the transcriptomic profile of RA synovium to identify shared molecular pathways with that of severe acute respiratory syndrome-corona virus-2 (SARS-COV-2) infected lung tissue. Our results showed upregulation of chemotactic factors, including CCL4, CCL8, and CCL11, that all shared CCR5 as their receptor, as a common derangement observed in both diseases; RA and COVID-19. Moreover, our results also highlighted a possible mechanism through which HCQ, which can be used as a monotherapy in mild RA or as one of the triple-DMARDs therapy (tDMARDs; methotrexate, sulphasalazine, and HCQ), might interfere with the COVID-19 infection. This might be achieved through the ability of HCQ to upregulate specific immune cell populations like activated natural killer (NK) cells, which were found to be significantly reduced in COVID-19 infection. In addition to its ability to block CCR5 rich immune cell recruitment that also was upregulated in the SARS-COV-2 infected lungs. This might explain some of the reports that showed beneficial effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood Y. Hachim
- College of Medicine, Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ibrahim Y. Hachim
- grid.412789.10000 0004 4686 5317Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Kashif Bin Naeem
- grid.415786.90000 0004 1773 3198Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), Dubai, UAE
| | - Haifa Hannawi
- grid.415786.90000 0004 1773 3198Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), Dubai, UAE
| | - Issa Al Salmi
- grid.416132.30000 0004 1772 5665The Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | - Suad Hannawi
- grid.415786.90000 0004 1773 3198Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), Dubai, UAE
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