HLA haplotypes and differential regional mortality caused by COVID-19 in Brazil: an ecological study based on a large bone marrow donor bank dataset

• Published in: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Vol. 95; no. 3; p. e20220801
• Main Authors: BOQUETT, JULIANO ANDRÉ, VIANNA, FERNANDA S.L., FAGUNDES, NELSON J.R., SCHROEDER, LUCAS, BARBIAN, MARCIA, ZAGONEL-OLIVEIRA, MARCELO, ANDREIS, TIAGO F., PÔRTO, LUIS CRISTÓVÃO M.S., CHIES, JOSÉ ARTUR B., SCHULER-FACCINI, LAVINIA, ASHTON-PROLLA, PATRICIA, ROSSET, CLÉVIA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academia Brasileira de Ciências 01.01.2023
• Subjects: COVID-19 mortality; COVID-19 variability; Genetic susceptibility; MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 mortality; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 variability; Genetic susceptibility
• ISSN: 0001-3765; 1678-2690; 1678-2690
• DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220801

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality rates varied among the states of Brazil during the course of the pandemics. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a critical component of the antigen presentation pathway. Individuals with different HLA genotypes may trigger different immune responses against pathogens, which could culminate in different COVID-19 responses. HLA genotypes are variable, especially in the highly admixed Brazilian population. In this ecological study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between HLA haplotypes and the different regional distribution of COVID-19 mortality in Brazil. HLA data was obtained from 4,148,713 individuals registered in The Brazilian Voluntary Bone Marrow Donors Registry. COVID-19 data was retrieved from epidemiological bulletins issued by State Health Secretariats via Brazil’s Ministry of Health from February/2020 to July/2022. We found a positive significant correlation between the HLA-A*01~B*08~DRB1*03 haplotype and COVID-19 mortality rates when we analyzed data from 26 states and the Federal District. This result indicates that the HLA-A*01~B*08~DRB1*03 haplotype may represent an additional risk factor for dying due to COVID-19. This haplotype should be further studied in other populations for a better understanding of the variation in COVID-19 outcomes across the world.