TY - JOUR
T1 - Host Genetics at the Intersection of Autoimmunity and COVID-19
T2 - A Potential Key for Heterogeneous COVID-19 Severity
AU - Karaderi, Tugce
AU - Bareke, Halin
AU - Kunter, Imge
AU - Seytanoglu, Adil
AU - Cagnan, Ilgin
AU - Balci, Deniz
AU - Barin, Burc
AU - Hocaoglu, Mevhibe B.
AU - Rahmioglu, Nilufer
AU - Asilmaz, Esra
AU - Taneri, Bahar
PY - 2020/12/22
Y1 - 2020/12/22
N2 - COVID-19 presentation is very heterogeneous across cases, and host factors are at the forefront for the variables affecting the disease manifestation. The immune system has emerged as a key determinant in shaping the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is mainly the deleterious unconstrained immune response, rather than the virus itself, which leads to severe cases of COVID-19 and the associated mortality. Genetic susceptibility to dysregulated immune response is highly likely to be among the host factors for adverse disease outcome. Given that such genetic susceptibility has also been observed in autoimmune diseases (ADs), a number of critical questions remain unanswered; whether individuals with ADs have a significantly different risk for COVID-19–related complications compared to the general population, and whether studies on the genetics of ADs can shed some light on the host factors in COVID-19. In this perspective, we discuss the host genetic factors, which have been under investigation in association with COVID-19 severity. We touch upon the intricate link between autoimmunity and COVID-19 pathophysiology. We put forth a number of autoimmune susceptibility genes, which have the potential to be additional host genetic factors for modifying the severity of COVID-19 presentation. In summary, host genetics at the intersection of ADs and COVID-19 may serve as a source for understanding the heterogeneity of COVID-19 severity, and hence, potentially holds a key in achieving effective strategies in risk group identification, as well as effective treatments.
AB - COVID-19 presentation is very heterogeneous across cases, and host factors are at the forefront for the variables affecting the disease manifestation. The immune system has emerged as a key determinant in shaping the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is mainly the deleterious unconstrained immune response, rather than the virus itself, which leads to severe cases of COVID-19 and the associated mortality. Genetic susceptibility to dysregulated immune response is highly likely to be among the host factors for adverse disease outcome. Given that such genetic susceptibility has also been observed in autoimmune diseases (ADs), a number of critical questions remain unanswered; whether individuals with ADs have a significantly different risk for COVID-19–related complications compared to the general population, and whether studies on the genetics of ADs can shed some light on the host factors in COVID-19. In this perspective, we discuss the host genetic factors, which have been under investigation in association with COVID-19 severity. We touch upon the intricate link between autoimmunity and COVID-19 pathophysiology. We put forth a number of autoimmune susceptibility genes, which have the potential to be additional host genetic factors for modifying the severity of COVID-19 presentation. In summary, host genetics at the intersection of ADs and COVID-19 may serve as a source for understanding the heterogeneity of COVID-19 severity, and hence, potentially holds a key in achieving effective strategies in risk group identification, as well as effective treatments.
KW - autoimmunity
KW - COVID-19
KW - cytokine
KW - host genetics
KW - immune response
KW - polymorphism
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - susceptibility
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099055959&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fimmu.2020.586111
DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2020.586111
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85099055959
SN - 1664-3224
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Immunology
JF - Frontiers in Immunology
M1 - 586111
ER -
