Genetic Predisposition to Severe COVID-19 Discovered by Russian Researchers

DNA COVID-19 Fingerprint Concept

Human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) molecules, inherited from parents, influence virus detection. A proficient set prompts a fast immune response, while an inefficient set increases the likelihood of severe disease. Researchers explored the link between HLA-I genotype and COVID-19 severity.

HSE University researchers have become the first in the world to discover genetic predisposition to severe COVID-19. The results of the study were published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.

T-cell immunity is one of the key mechanisms used by the human body to fight virus infections. The staging ground for cell immunity development is the presentation of virus peptides on the surface of infected cells. This is followed by activation of T lymphocytes, which start to kill the infected cells. The ability to successfully present virus peptides is largely determined by genetics. In human cells, human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) molecules are responsible for this presentation. The set of six such molecules is unique in every human and is inherited from an individual’s parents. In simple terms, if the set of alleles detects the virus well, then the immune cells will detect and destroy the infected cells fast; if a person has a set that is bad at such detection, a more severe case of disease is more likely to be observed.

Risk Score in Sample of Patients From Moscow

The risk score suggested by the researchers (vertical axis) is considerably higher in the group of patients suffering severe COVID-19 (sample of patients from Moscow). Credit: S. Nersisyan et al.

Researchers from the HSE Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology — Maxim Shkurnikov, Stepan Nersisyan, Alexei Galatenko and Alexander Tonevitsky — together with colleagues from Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University and Filatov City Clinical Hospital (Tatjana Jankevic, Ivan Gordeev, Valery Vechorko) studied the interconnection between HLA-I genotype and the severity of COVID-19.

Using machine learning, they built a model that provides an integral assessment of the possible power of T-cell immune response to COVID-19: if the set of HLA-I alleles allows for effective presentation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus peptides, those individuals received low risk score, while people with lower presentation capability received higher risk scores (in the range from 0 to 100). To validate the model, genotypes of over 100 patients who had suffered from COVID-19 and over 400 healthy people (the control group) were analyzed. It turned out that the modeled risk score is highly effective in predicting the severity of COVID-19.

Risk Score in Sample of Patients From Spain

Risk score in a sample of patients from Spain. Credit: S. Nersisyan et al.

In addition to analyzing the Moscow population, the researchers used their model on a sample of patients from Madrid, Spain. The high precision of prediction was confirmed on this independent sample as well: the risk score of patients suffering severe COVID-19 was significantly higher than in patients with moderate and mild cases of the disease.

“In addition to the discovered correlations between the genotype and COVID-19 severity, the suggested approach also helps to evaluate how a certain COVID-19 mutation can affect the development of T-cell immunity to the virus. For example, we will be able to detect groups of patients for whom infection with new strains of SARS-CoV-2 can lead to more severe forms of the disease,” Alexander Tonevitsky said.

Reference: “Association of HLA Class I Genotypes With Severity of Coronavirus Disease-19” by Maxim Shkurnikov, Stepan Nersisyan, Tatjana Jankevic, Alexei Galatenko, Ivan Gordeev, Valery Vechorko and Alexander Tonevitsky, 23 February 2021, Frontiers in Immunology.
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.641900

2 Comments on "Genetic Predisposition to Severe COVID-19 Discovered by Russian Researchers"

  1. This research is very interesting!

    Maybe they could contact the company 24Genetics in Spain to make a synergy, as I know that they are carrying out a genetic research of predisposition to Covid… According to Nacho Esteban (24Genetics): “There is a correlation between the mutations of some genes and how covid-19 develops”.
    24Genetics, specialized in genetic testing and DNA testing and directed by this man from Pontevedra, collaborates with the international consortium Covid-19 HGI.

    I have left this information, because in these times you have to join forces!

    Thank you for all the efforts you make in research.

  2. Answerswouldbe nice | April 7, 2022 at 9:23 am | Reply

    What about long covid with autism spectrum people? Specifically ONLY LONG COVID smell and taste issues, not the rest of the symptoms? I know 5 people on the spectrum with long covid smell and taste issues, and its been OVER A YEAR, not getting any better. Nothing is working.. and they all complain of the SAME SMELLS SMELLING WEIRD.. SAME FOODS< SAME SCENTS>> ALL SPECTRUM PEOPLE.

Leave a Reply to Mike Hall Cancel reply

Email address is optional. If provided, your email will not be published or shared.