THERE IS A genetic cause that makes you seriously ill with Covid-19. The researchers of the CEINGE – Advanced Biotechnologies of Naples, analyzed the genetic data of over 1 million and 7 thousand samples of healthy European citizens and positive patients admitted to hospital, finding 5 genetic mutations that alter the functionality of two genes.
The risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 disease are known to be older age, male sex and comorbidities, but these factors do not fully explain the broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. The researchers of the CEINGE-Advanced Biotechnology of Naples, already a year ago, at the beginning of this devastating pandemic, had hypothesized that genetic factors may contribute to the development of a more aggressive form of COVID-19.
Covid, how to identify in advance who will get worse
by Giuliano Aluffi
Today the same team of scholars, led by Mario Capasso and Achille Iolascon, professors of Medical Genetics at the University of Naples Federico II and Principal Investigator of CEINGE, has validated that hypothesis, thanks to a genetic study, published in the international journal iScience (Cell Press), with truly relevant numbers. In fact, the genetic data of more than 7 thousand positive subjects, who had developed a severe form of the disease and who were undergoing hospital treatment, and about 1 million healthy subjects were examined. In particular, the researchers performed an in-depth analysis of chromosome 21, which revealed the crucial role of 5 genetic variants in altering the functions of the TMPRSS2 and MX1 genes and in predisposing individuals to manifest severe symptoms of COVID-19.
The results were achieved thanks to the precious contribution of Immaculate Andolfo (research biologist of CEINGE) e Roberta Russo (biologist researcher of Medical Genetics of the University of Naples Federico II and CEINGE) and thanks to the international collaboration with the consortium “COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative”, which made it possible to acquire genetic data from subjects from different European countries and of different ages and sexes.
“This study – he explains Mario Capasso – lays the foundations for developing new genetic tests that allow us to predict which subjects are at high risk of developing severe clinical manifestations of COVID-19 ». «Also – underlines Achille Iolascon – the two genes (TMPRSS2 and MX1) found most frequently mutated in the group of severe patients, could be potential therapeutic targets “. And that’s not all. “A strong point of this study – continues Capasso – lies in the fact that we have used computational techniques created ad hoc to study such a large amount of genomic data”.
The numbers of the study
143 international research centers were involved – The COVID-19 Host Genetics Consortium. And analyzed the genetic data of: 7 thousand positives with a severe form of COVID-19 of European origin, including Italians; 182 positives with a severe form of COVID-19 of African origin; 386 positive with a severe form of COVID-19 of Asian origin; 1 million healthy subjects.
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