Genetic risk for severe COVID‐19 correlates with lower inflammatory marker levels in a SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative cohort
Abstract Objectives It remains unknown how inflammatory marker levels differ amongst individuals susceptible to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), prior to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection and the onset of the cytokine storm. We used genetic risk scores to mod...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Clinical & Translational Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/cti2.1292 |
| _version_ | 1818848495476408320 |
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| author | Timothy R Powell Matthew Hotopf Stephani L Hatch Gerome Breen Rodrigo R R Duarte Douglas F Nixon |
| author_facet | Timothy R Powell Matthew Hotopf Stephani L Hatch Gerome Breen Rodrigo R R Duarte Douglas F Nixon |
| author_sort | Timothy R Powell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives It remains unknown how inflammatory marker levels differ amongst individuals susceptible to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), prior to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection and the onset of the cytokine storm. We used genetic risk scores to model how susceptibility to severe COVID‐19 correlates with baseline levels of 35 inflammatory markers, by testing their impact in a SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative population cohort. Because of the established effects of age and body mass index on severe COVID‐19 risk, we further considered how these variables interacted with genetic risk to affect inflammatory marker levels. Methods We accessed data on 406 SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative individuals as part of a UK population study. Multiplex electrochemiluminescence methods were applied to blood serum, and 35 inflammatory markers were assayed. Corresponding genotype data, alongside results from a large genome‐wide association study of severe COVID‐19, allowed us to construct genetic risk scores and to test their impact on inflammatory protein levels. Results Our results revealed that a higher genetic risk for severe COVID‐19 was associated with lower blood levels of interferon gamma (IFN‐γ), vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF‐D) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α). Inflammatory profiles of those with high genetic risk increasingly diverge from the norm in association with age and obesity. Conclusion Our results support the theory that individuals at risk of severe COVID‐19 have a deficient innate immunity marked by reduced levels of inflammatory markers at baseline, including IFN‐γ, VEGF‐D and TNF‐α. We hypothesise that a secondary overactive adaptive immune response may subsequently explain the high levels of cytokines observed in SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive COVID‐19 patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:18:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab98b209c4de40e2aa54363ae343e808 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-0068 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:18:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical & Translational Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab98b209c4de40e2aa54363ae343e8082022-12-21T20:32:48ZengWileyClinical & Translational Immunology2050-00682021-01-01106n/an/a10.1002/cti2.1292Genetic risk for severe COVID‐19 correlates with lower inflammatory marker levels in a SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative cohortTimothy R Powell0Matthew Hotopf1Stephani L Hatch2Gerome Breen3Rodrigo R R Duarte4Douglas F Nixon5Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine Weill Cornell Medicine New York NY USADepartment of Psychological Medicine Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience King's College London London UKDepartment of Psychological Medicine Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience King's College London London UKSocial, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience King's College London London UKDivision of Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine Weill Cornell Medicine New York NY USADivision of Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine Weill Cornell Medicine New York NY USAAbstract Objectives It remains unknown how inflammatory marker levels differ amongst individuals susceptible to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), prior to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection and the onset of the cytokine storm. We used genetic risk scores to model how susceptibility to severe COVID‐19 correlates with baseline levels of 35 inflammatory markers, by testing their impact in a SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative population cohort. Because of the established effects of age and body mass index on severe COVID‐19 risk, we further considered how these variables interacted with genetic risk to affect inflammatory marker levels. Methods We accessed data on 406 SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative individuals as part of a UK population study. Multiplex electrochemiluminescence methods were applied to blood serum, and 35 inflammatory markers were assayed. Corresponding genotype data, alongside results from a large genome‐wide association study of severe COVID‐19, allowed us to construct genetic risk scores and to test their impact on inflammatory protein levels. Results Our results revealed that a higher genetic risk for severe COVID‐19 was associated with lower blood levels of interferon gamma (IFN‐γ), vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF‐D) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α). Inflammatory profiles of those with high genetic risk increasingly diverge from the norm in association with age and obesity. Conclusion Our results support the theory that individuals at risk of severe COVID‐19 have a deficient innate immunity marked by reduced levels of inflammatory markers at baseline, including IFN‐γ, VEGF‐D and TNF‐α. We hypothesise that a secondary overactive adaptive immune response may subsequently explain the high levels of cytokines observed in SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive COVID‐19 patients.https://doi.org/10.1002/cti2.1292COVID‐19genetic riskIFN‐γinflammationSARS‐CoV‐2TNF‐α |
| spellingShingle | Timothy R Powell Matthew Hotopf Stephani L Hatch Gerome Breen Rodrigo R R Duarte Douglas F Nixon Genetic risk for severe COVID‐19 correlates with lower inflammatory marker levels in a SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative cohort Clinical & Translational Immunology COVID‐19 genetic risk IFN‐γ inflammation SARS‐CoV‐2 TNF‐α |
| title | Genetic risk for severe COVID‐19 correlates with lower inflammatory marker levels in a SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative cohort |
| title_full | Genetic risk for severe COVID‐19 correlates with lower inflammatory marker levels in a SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative cohort |
| title_fullStr | Genetic risk for severe COVID‐19 correlates with lower inflammatory marker levels in a SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative cohort |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic risk for severe COVID‐19 correlates with lower inflammatory marker levels in a SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative cohort |
| title_short | Genetic risk for severe COVID‐19 correlates with lower inflammatory marker levels in a SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative cohort |
| title_sort | genetic risk for severe covid 19 correlates with lower inflammatory marker levels in a sars cov 2 negative cohort |
| topic | COVID‐19 genetic risk IFN‐γ inflammation SARS‐CoV‐2 TNF‐α |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/cti2.1292 |
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