Correlations of IL-6, IL-6R, IL-10 and IL-17 gene polymorphisms with the prevalence of COVID-2019 infection and its mortality rate 

Abstract

The pathogenesis of COVID-19 implicates a potent inflammatory response resulting in cytokine storm. We aimed to evaluate association between polymorphisms in IL-6 gene at rs1800796/rs1800795, IL-6R at rs2228145, IL-10 at rs1800896 and rs1800871, IL-17 at rs2275913 and rs76378, and the prevalence (per million) and mortality rates (per million) of COVID-19 among populations of China, Japan, India, Iran, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey, Finland, Brazil, Czechia, Russia, Poland. AG and GG genotypes of rs2275913 in IL-17A was found to be correlated with prevalence and mortality rates, especially in Spain and Brazil populations (p<0.05) while TT genotype of rs763780 in IL-17F was not dependent on the high frequencies in all populations. However, the polymorphisms in IL-6, IL-6R and IL-10 appear not to be correlated with prevalence and mortality rates. The variations in the prevalence of COVID-19 and its mortality rates among countries may be explained by cytokine storm differed by the polymorphisms of rs2275913 locus in IL-17A gene. However, the prevalence of infection differs from severity of COVID-19, based on many factors such as public awareness, behaviors and antiviral policy of countries. Yet, the severity of disease induced by viral infection might be associated with genetic host factors including immune profiling.

IL-17A )rs2275913; G197A) gene polymorphism as predictor for disease severity and its correlation with IL-17 serum levels in COVID-19 patients

“…In a study conducted by Batur & Hekim, 2021, the diversities of IL-17A gene polymorphism at rs2275913 locus showed that the populations of China, Japan, Iran, Finland, Czechia, India, Norway, and Poland mostly have the AG genotype, while populations of Spain, Mexico, Netherlands, Turkey, Brazil, Germany, Tunisia, Egypt, and Croatia the GG genotype. 11 We investigated the association of the IL-17A genotypes with the disease severity of COVID-19. There was no significant association between the frequencies of the genotypes and the disease severity.…”

“…Similarly, the study by Batur & Hekim, 2021, observed that the frequencies of IL-17 gene polymorphisms may not directly correlate with the course and severity of COVID-19 infection. 11 On the other hand, a study by Xie et al, 2019, reported that compared with individuals carrying the wildtype GG genotype of rs2275913 at IL-17, the AA-homozygous and GA-heterozygous individuals were protected from the development of ARDS. Consistently, a decreased 30-day mortality risk was found among A-allele carriers of rs2275913 at IL-17.…”

“…10 A preliminary work was conducted to investigate the association between IL-17 gene polymorphisms and COVID-19 prevalence and mortality. 11 Based on their results, the authors suggested that the genetic variations in IL-17 gene may be linked to the distribution of COVID-19 infection among nations. 11 Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the role of IL-17A (rs2275913; G197A) gene polymorphism as predictor of disease severity in Egyptian COVID-19 patients.…”

“…11 Based on their results, the authors suggested that the genetic variations in IL-17 gene may be linked to the distribution of COVID-19 infection among nations. 11 Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the role of IL-17A (rs2275913; G197A) gene polymorphism as predictor of disease severity in Egyptian COVID-19 patients. Moreover, serum IL-17 levels among COVID-19 patients and a control group, and the relationship between the IL-17A SNP and IL-17 serum levels were also explored.…”

The Role of Immunogenetics in COVID-19

“…One preprint compares the frequency of rs1800796 and rs1800795 of IL-6, rs2228145 of IL-6R, rs1800896 and rs1800871 of IL-10, rs2275913 of IL-17A and rs76378 of IL-17F as recorded in previous studies with the prevalence/10 6 population and mortality/10 6 population of COVID-19 in China, Japan, India, Iran, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey, Finland, Brazil, Czechia, Russia, Poland, suggesting a possible role for rs2275913 of IL-17A in COVID-19 prevalence and mortality [159][160][161][162]. This piece of data is particular intriguing, assuming that the analyzed polymorphism is reported as associated with susceptibility to cutaneous and airway infections, ARDS and asthma [163][164][165][166][167][168][169].…”