The significance of IFITM3 polymorphism in COVID-19 asymptomatic and ICU admission Kurdish patients

• Published in: Cytokine (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 171; p. 156349
• Main Authors: Rashid, Peshnyar M.A., Salih, Gaza F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2023
• Subjects: COVID-19; ICU; IFITM3; SARS-CoV-2; SNP; COVID-19; IFITM3; SARS-CoV-2; ICU; SNP
• ISSN: 1043-4666; 1096-0023
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156349

•The present study found a significant association between rs12252 and the clinical outcome of COVID-19.•This study demonstrated that the rs12252 AA genotype is probably associated with asymptomatic COVID-19.•Patients having haplotypes of minor alleles rs12252, rs34481144, and rs7478728 may be associated to COVID-19 ICU admission. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic that exhibits a wide range of clinical symptoms, from asymptomatic to critically ill infections that require admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) prevents the viral envelope fusion with the cell membrane, hence playing a crucial role in the immune response. The association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IFITM3 gene and the severity of COVID-19 is controversial among various ethnic groups. Seven IFITM3 SNPs were genotyped based on DNA sequencing to investigate the association between these variants and asymptomatic and ICU-admitted COVID-19 patients of the Kurdish nation. The present study found a significant association between rs12252 and the clinical outcome of COVID-19 (chi2 = 14.83, P = 0.00). The dominant, AA genotype model was significantly associated with a 5.212-fold increased risk of asymptomatic disease (P = 0.000, OR = 5.212). Patients with the GTA haplotypes rs12252, rs34481144, rs7478728 were shown to have a 3.9-fold increased risk of being admitted to the ICU (P = 0.003, OR = 3.9). This study demonstrated that the rs12252 AA genotype is probably associated with asymptomatic COVID-19. In addition, the patients having haplotypes of minor alleles rs12252, rs34481144, and rs7478728 may be associated to COVID-19 ICU admission.