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Rashid PMA, Salih GF. Genetic Polymorphism of Interleukin-6 in Asymptomatic and ICU-Admitted COVID-19 Patients in Sulaymaniyah Province, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2024; 28:297-303. [PMID: 38721746 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2023.0304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The global pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in significant fatality rates. Clinical outcomes for affected individuals range from being asymptomatic to severe illnesses requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Among the various factors contributing to the variation in clinical outcomes, host genetics play a prominent role. Interleukin-6 (IL6), a key player in immune responses, has been identified as having a crucial impact on viral infections, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Specifically, certain variations known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL6 promoter region have been found to significantly influence IL6 expression and the severity of viral infections. Materials and Methods: To explore the relationship between these genetic variations and COVID-19 in asymptomatic and ICU-admitted Kurdish patients, genetic sequencing was performed to determine the genotypes of nine IL6 SNPs. Results: The study findings revealed that although the proportion of the GG genotype of rs1800795 was slightly higher in asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, the difference was not statistically significant (chi2 = 2.666, p = 0.236). Notably, Kurdish patients displayed a uniform genetic makeup (monomorphic) for the dominant alleles of rs2069830 (C), rs142759801 (C), rs2069857 (C), rs2069829 (G), rs2234683 (G), rs13447446 (T), rs527770772 (C), and rs13447445 (C). Furthermore, patients carrying the haplotype GCGGCTCCC were found to have a 0.481-fold higher likelihood of being asymptomatic with COVID-19 (p = 0.016, OR = 0.481). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the rs1800795 SNP is not statistically associated with COVID-19 at the genotype level. However, the presence of the dominant G allele of rs1800795 in the haplotype was found to be statistically associated with asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peshnyar M A Rashid
- Medical Laboratory Science Department, Komar University of Science and Technology, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
| | - Gaza F Salih
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq
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Haddaji A, Ouladlahsen A, Lkhider M, Tanouti IA, Abbadi I, Hilmi S, Bensghir R, Guessous F, Pineau P, Marhoum El Filali K, Ezzikouri S. Impact of IL-6 and IL-6r variants on HIV-1 susceptibility and progression to AIDS: a case-control study in a Moroccan population. NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024:1-20. [PMID: 38830242 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2024.2359593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is an important regulator of the inflammatory immune response. We aimed to assess the association of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-6 (rs1800795 G > C, rs1800797 A > G) and interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) (rs2228145 A > C) genes with HIV-1 infection, AIDS progression, and response to treatment. In this case-control study involving 199 individuals living with HIV-1 and 200 HIV-uninfected controls, we conducted genotyping of IL-6/IL-6R SNPs using TaqMan real-time PCR assays. Soluble IL-6 levels were measured using ELISA. No associations were found between the investigated SNPs and HIV infection. However, a significant association was noted between the C-G and G-A haplotypes and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. Additionally, a significant association was revealed between HIV-1 RNA viral loads and IL-6 SNP G > C in the post-treatment HIV group. Interestingly, we observed a significant association between the investigated SNPs and protection against progression to AIDS, namely the IL-6 G > A SNP in its recessive model and the IL-6R A > C SNP in its codominant and dominant models. Nevertheless, we found no significant differences between IL-6 levels and the different genotypes and alleles of the IL-6 gene either before or after combination antiretroviral therapy. IL-6 promoter haplotypes are associated with susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. Furthermore, IL-6 A > G and IL-6R A > C polymorphisms have been associated with protection against AIDS progression. Interestingly, the IL-6 G > C SNP may affect the response to treatment in people living with HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa Haddaji
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
- Laboratory of virology, oncology, biosciences, environment and new energies, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Mohammedia, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ahd Ouladlahsen
- Faculté de médecine et de pharmacie, Université Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco
- Service des maladies Infectieuses, CHU Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Mustapha Lkhider
- Laboratory of virology, oncology, biosciences, environment and new energies, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Mohammedia, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ikram-Allah Tanouti
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Islam Abbadi
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Soufiane Hilmi
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Rajaa Bensghir
- Service des maladies Infectieuses, CHU Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Fadila Guessous
- Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Pascal Pineau
- Unité "Organisation Nucléaire et Oncogenèse", INSERM U993, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Kamal Marhoum El Filali
- Faculté de médecine et de pharmacie, Université Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco
- Service des maladies Infectieuses, CHU Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Sayeh Ezzikouri
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
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Sezer O, Nursal AF, Gunal O, Gorgun S, Tekcan A, Unluguzel Ustun G, Yigit S. Evaluating interleukin-6 levels and the rs1800795 variant in Turkish patients with COVID-19: a prospective cohort study. NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 43:377-390. [PMID: 37787093 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2023.2263490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a multisystem disease of global significance. Interleukin (IL)-6 is a soluble cytokine with a pleiotropic effect on inflammation and the immune response. OBJECTIVES Investigate the relationship between the interleukin 6 (IL6) rs1800795 variant and IL6 level in Turkish patients with COVID-19 disease. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-positive and/or chest computerized tomography (CT) scan-compatible COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study. The clinical data and whole blood samples were collected from April 1, 2020, to August 1, 2020. IL6 rs1800795 genotyping was performed by the PCR-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) method in 148 patients. Serum IL-6 concentrations were measured using the ELISA method in 89 patients. We evaluated the patients in three groups: asymptomatic, symptomatic, and intensive care unit patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES IL6 rs1800795 genotype frequencies and serum IL-6 levels in COVID-19 patients with different clinical presentations. SAMPLE SIZE 148 cases. RESULTS IL6 rs1800795 GG genotype and G allele frequency increased in PCR positive patients compared to PCR-negative patients (p ˂ 0.000). IL6 rs1800795 GC genotype and C allele frequency were lower in PCR-positive patients than in PCR-negative patients. IL6 rs1800795 GG genotype and G allele frequency were higher in asymptomatic patients than in the symptomatic and intensive care unit groups. The IL6 rs1800795 C allele frequency was lower in asymptomatic patients than in the symptomatic and intensive care unit groups. IL6 rs1800795 GG genotype and G allele frequency were higher in CT negative patients than CT positive patients, while IL6 GC genotype and C allele frequency were higher in CT positive patients than negative patients. IL6 level elevation was seen in the asymptomatic patients compared to the symptomatic and intensive care unit groups. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that IL6 rs1800795 may contribute to the susceptibility of COVID-19 in people to Turkish origin. LIMITATIONS Further large-scale studies in different genetic populations are needed as this is a single-center, prospective study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozlem Sezer
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Samsun University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Ayse Feyda Nursal
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Hitit University, Corum, Turkey
| | - Ozgur Gunal
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Samsun University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Selim Gorgun
- Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Akin Tekcan
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Amasya University, Amasya, Turkey
| | - Goksenin Unluguzel Ustun
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Samsun Education and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Serbulent Yigit
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
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Toll- like receptor 2 polymorphism and IL-6 profile in relation to disease progression in chronic HBV infection: a case control study in Egyptian patients. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:117-129. [PMID: 35119591 PMCID: PMC9939497 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-022-00792-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has a wide range of outcomes depending on host immune responses mainly Toll-like receptors (TLRs) signaling and released cytokines. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) may influence the course of CHB. We aimed to elucidate the relation between TLR-2 polymorphism, IL-6 profile, and CHB progression. We analyzed TLR-2 polymorphism (SNP; rs3804099) in 185 CHB patients and 60 controls using TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. Serum IL-6 levels were assessed by ELISA. IL-6 levels were considerably higher in active CHB and cirrhotic patients compared with inactive carriers and controls (P < 0.001). IL-6 showed positive correlation with ALT and advanced fibrosis in active CHB patients (r = 0.31, P = 0.02). A significant positive correlation was noticed between IL-6 and HBV DNA PCR in all CHB groups. TT genotype of rs3804099/TLR-2 was significantly more prevalent in inactive carriers compared to active hepatitis patients (P = 0.04, OR = 0.39 and 95% CI: 0.16-0.95). Both heterozygous CT and mutant TT genotypes were significantly more frequent among inactive carriers compared to cirrhotic patients (P = 0.01, OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13-0.81 and P = 0.009, OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13-0.77). TT genotype was significantly related to lower IL-6 levels in active hepatitis and cirrhotic groups (P = 0.005 and P = 0.001, respectively) showing that TLR mutations would be associated with milder hepatitis activity and lower possibility for disease progression. There may be a positive association between TLR2 rs3804099 polymorphism and hepatitis B activity. IL-6 is a good indicator of CHB disease progression.
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Huang S, Wang H, Zheng H, Li W, Shi J, Shen C, Tao R. Association between IL-6 polymorphisms and Atopic Dermatitis in Chinese Han children. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1156659. [PMID: 37025289 PMCID: PMC10070860 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1156659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects almost 20% of children and 2 -10% of adults worldwide. Previous studies revealed that Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays an essential role in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aims to investigate the associations between IL-6 polymorphisms and AD. Methods Blood samples were collected from 132 AD patients and 100 controls, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-6 (rs2069840 (C/G), rs2066992 (G/T), rs2069837 (A/G) and rs1800796 (G/C)) were analyzed using Multiplex PCR-Based Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Results Results showed that the A/G genotype of IL-6/rs2069837 was significantly associated with a 1.933-fold increased risk of AD compared to those patients with A/A genotype (OR 1.933; 95%CI 1.086-3.438; p=0.024). The combined A/G-G/G genotype raised AD risk by 1.856 times compared to patients with the A/A genotype in dominant model (OR: 1.856; 95% CI: 1.056-3.261; p=0.030). No association was observed for 3 other SNPs and 4 haplotypes. Discussion These findings suggested that the A/G genotype of IL-6/rs2069837 was more susceptible to AD than A/A genotype in Chinese Han children, indicating the risk role of IL-6/rs2069837 in the occurrence of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangshuang Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huiwen Zheng
- Department of Dermatology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianrong Shi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Shen
- Department of Data and Information, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
- Sino-Finland Joint AI Laboratory for Child Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ran Tao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
- Correspondence: Ran Tao
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Ashouri S, Khor SS, Hitomi Y, Sawai H, Nishida N, Sugiyama M, Kawai Y, Posuwan N, Tangkijvanich P, Komolmit P, Tsuiji M, Shotelersuk V, Poovorawan Y, Mizokami M, Tokunaga K. Genome-Wide Association Study for Chronic Hepatitis B Infection in the Thai Population. Front Genet 2022; 13:887121. [PMID: 35769989 PMCID: PMC9234442 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.887121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To identify novel host genetic variants that predispose to hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistence, we performed the first genome-wide association study in the Thai population involving 318 cases of chronic hepatitis B and 309 healthy controls after quality control measures. We detected the genome-wide significant association of the HLA class II region (HLA-DPA1/DPB1, rs7770370, p-value = 7.71 × 10−10, OR = 0.49) with HBV chronicity. Subsequent HLA allele imputation revealed HLA-DPA1*01:03 (Pc = 1.21 × 10−6, OR = 0.53), HLA-DPB1*02:01 (Pc = 2.17 × 10−3, OR = 0.50), and HLA-DQB1*06:09 (Pc = 2.17 × 10−2, OR = 0.07) as protective alleles, and HLA-DPA1*02:02 (Pc = 6.32 × 10−5, OR = 1.63), HLA-DPB1*05:01 (Pc = 1.13 × 10−4, OR = 1.72), HLA-DPB1*13:01 (Pc = 4.68 × 10−2, OR = 1.60), and HLA-DQB1*03:03 (Pc = 1.11 × 10−3, OR = 1.84) as risk alleles for HBV persistence. We also detected suggestive associations in the PLSCR1 (rs35766154), PDLIM5 (rs62321986), SGPL1 (rs144998273), and MGST1 (rs1828682) loci. Among single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the PLSCR1 locus, rs1061307 was identified as the primary functional variant by in silico/in vitro functional analysis. In addition to replicating the association of the HLA class II region, we detected novel candidate loci that provide new insights into the pathophysiology of chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeideh Ashouri
- Genome Medical Science Project, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Toyama, Tokyo,Japan
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Saeideh Ashouri, ; Katsushi Tokunaga,
| | - Seik-Soon Khor
- Genome Medical Science Project, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Toyama, Tokyo,Japan
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Hitomi
- Department of Microbiology, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiromi Sawai
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nao Nishida
- Genome Medical Science Project, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masaya Sugiyama
- Genome Medical Science Project, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yosuke Kawai
- Genome Medical Science Project, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Toyama, Tokyo,Japan
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nawarat Posuwan
- Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, Pathum Thani, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pisit Tangkijvanich
- Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Piyawat Komolmit
- Center of Excellence in Liver Diseases, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Liver Fibrosis and Cirrhosis Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Makoto Tsuiji
- Department of Microbiology, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Vorasuk Shotelersuk
- Department of Pediatrics, Center of Excellence for Medical Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yong Poovorawan
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Masashi Mizokami
- Genome Medical Science Project, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Katsushi Tokunaga
- Genome Medical Science Project, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Toyama, Tokyo,Japan
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Saeideh Ashouri, ; Katsushi Tokunaga,
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Chen T, Lin YX, Zha Y, Sun Y, Tian J, Yang Z, Lin SW, Yu F, Chen ZS, Kuang BH, Lei JJ, Nie YJ, Xu Y, Tian DB, Li YZ, Yang B, Xu Q, Yang L, Zhong N, Zheng M, Li Y, Zhao J, Zhang XY, Feng L. A Low-Producing Haplotype of Interleukin-6 Disrupting CTCF Binding Is Protective against Severe COVID-19. mBio 2021; 12:e0137221. [PMID: 34634929 PMCID: PMC8510538 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01372-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin6 (IL-6) is a key driver of hyperinflammation in COVID-19, and its level strongly correlates with disease progression. To investigate whether variability in COVID-19 severity partially results from differential IL-6 expression, functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-6 were determined in Chinese COVID-19 patients with mild or severe illness. An Asian-common IL-6 haplotype defined by promoter SNP rs1800796 and intronic SNPs rs1524107 and rs2066992 correlated with COVID-19 severity. Homozygote carriers of C-T-T variant haplotype were at lower risk of developing severe symptoms (odds ratio, 0.256; 95% confidence interval, 0.088 to 0.739; P = 0.007). This protective haplotype was associated with lower levels of IL-6 and its antisense long noncoding RNA IL-6-AS1 by cis-expression quantitative trait loci analysis. The differences in expression resulted from the disturbance of stimulus-dependent bidirectional transcription of the IL-6/IL-6-AS1 locus by the polymorphisms. The protective rs2066992-T allele disrupted a conserved CTCF-binding locus at the enhancer elements of IL-6-AS1, which transcribed antisense to IL-6 and induces IL-6 expression in inflammatory responses. As a result, carriers of the protective allele had significantly reduced IL-6-AS1 expression and attenuated IL-6 induction in response to acute inflammatory stimuli and viral infection. Intriguingly, this low-producing variant that is endemic to present-day Asia was found in early humans who had inhabited mainland Asia since ∼40,000 years ago but not in other ancient humans, such as Neanderthals and Denisovans. The present study suggests that an individual's IL-6 genotype underlies COVID-19 outcome and may be used to guide IL-6 blockade therapy in Asian patients. IMPORTANCE Overproduction of cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a hallmark of severe COVID-19 and is believed to play a critical role in exacerbating the excessive inflammatory response. Polymorphisms in IL-6 account for the variability of IL-6 expression and disparities in infectious diseases, but its contribution to the clinical presentation of COVID-19 has not been reported. Here, we investigated IL-6 polymorphisms in severe and mild cases of COVID-19 in a Chinese population. The variant haplotype C-T-T, represented by rs1800796, rs1524107, and rs2066992 at the IL-6 locus, was reduced in patients with severe illness; in contrast, carriers of the wild-type haplotype G-C-G had higher risk of severe illness. Mechanistically, the protective variant haplotype lost CTCF binding at the IL-6 intron and responded poorly to inflammatory stimuli, which may protect the carriers from hyperinflammation in response to acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. These results point out the possibility that IL-6 genotypes underlie the differential viral virulence during the outbreak of COVID-19. The risk loci we identified may serve as a genetic marker to screen high-risk COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Xin Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Zha
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunological Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guizhou University, Guizhou, China
| | - Ying Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinxiu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shan-Wen Lin
- Yangjiang Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Department of Respiratory Medicine, People’s Hospital of Yangjiang, Yangjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Fuxun Yu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunological Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guizhou University, Guizhou, China
| | - Zi-Sheng Chen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People’s Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Bo-Hua Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin-Ju Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying-jie Nie
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunological Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guizhou University, Guizhou, China
| | - Yonghao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong-Bo Tian
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People’s Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Ying-Zi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Yang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunological Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guizhou University, Guizhou, China
| | - Qiang Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunological Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guizhou University, Guizhou, China
| | - Li Yang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunological Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guizhou University, Guizhou, China
| | - Nanshan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meizhen Zheng
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yimin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jincun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang-Yan Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunological Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guizhou University, Guizhou, China
| | - Lin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
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