AUTHOR=Ghazy Amany A. , Alrasheedi Abdullah N. , Elashri Mohammed , Moussa Hany Hussein , Rashwan Eman K. , Amer Ibrahim , El Sharawy Shimaa , Elgamal Shimaa , Tawfik Salwa , Abdelnasser Mohamed , Elsheredy Amel 

TITLE=Relevance of HLA-DP/DQ and INF-λ4 Polymorphisms to COVID-19 Outcomes

JOURNAL=British Journal of Biomedical Science

VOLUME=80

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/british-journal-of-biomedical-science/articles/10.3389/bjbs.2023.11044

DOI=10.3389/bjbs.2023.11044

ISSN=2474-0896

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Single nucleotide polymorphisms provide information on individuals’ potential reactions to environmental factors, infections, diseases, as well as various therapies. A study on SNPs that influence SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and severity may provide a predictive tool for COVID-19 outcomes and improve the customized coronavirus treatment.</p><p><bold>Aim:</bold> To evaluate the role of human leukocyte antigens DP/DQ and IFNλ4 polymorphisms on COVID-19 outcomes among Egyptian patients.</p><p><bold>Participants and Methods:</bold> The study involved 80 patients with severe COVID-19, 80 patients with mild COVID-19, and 80 non-infected healthy volunteers. Genotyping and allelic discrimination of HLA-DPrs3077 (G/A), HLA-DQrs7453920 (A/G), and IFNλ4 rs73555604 (C/T) SNPs were performed using real-time PCR.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Ages were 47.9 ± 8, 44.1 ± 12.1, and 45.8 ± 10 years in severe, mild and non-infected persons. There was a statistically significant association between severe COVID-19 and male gender (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002). A statistically significant increase in the frequency of HLA-DPrs3077G, HLA-DQrs7453920A, and IFNλ4rs73555604C alleles among severe COVID-19 patients when compared with other groups (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Coexistence of these alleles in the same individual increases the susceptibility to severe COVID-19 by many folds (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis for the studied parameters showed that old age, male gender, non-vaccination, HLA-DQ rs7453920AG+AA, HLA-DPrs3077GA+GG, and IFNλ4rs73555604CT+CC genotypes are independent risk factors for severe COVID-19 among Egyptian patients.</p><p><bold>Conclusion</bold>: HLA-DQ rs7453920A, HLA-DPrs3077G, and IFNλ4rs73555604C alleles could be used as markers of COVID-19 severity.</p>