HLA repertoire of 115 UAE nationals infected with SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Human immunology Vol. 83; no. 1; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Alnaqbi, Halima, Tay, Guan K., Jelinek, Herbert F., Francis, Amirtharaj, Alefishat, Eman, El Haj Chehadeh, Sarah, Tahir Saeed, Amna, Hussein, Mawada, Laila Salameh, Mahboub, Bassam H., Uddin, Maimunah, Alkaabi, Nawal, Alsafar, Habiba S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2022; American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Published by Elsevier Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - genetics; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - virology; Female; Gene Frequency; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Haplotypes; HLA Antigens - genetics; HLA Antigens - immunology; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Human Leucocyte Antigen; Humans; Major histocompatibility complex; Male; Middle Aged; Protective Factors; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; SARS-CoV-2 - pathogenicity; Severity of Illness Index; United Arab Emirates; Young Adult; United Arab Emirates; COVID-19; Human Leucocyte Antigen; SARS-CoV-2; Major histocompatibility complex; United Arab Emirates
• ISSN: 0198-8859; 1879-1166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2021.08.012

The class I and class II Human Leucocyte Antigens (HLA) are an integral part of the host adaptive immune system against viral infections. The characterization of HLA allele frequency in the population can play an important role in determining whether HLA antigens contribute to viral susceptibility. In this regard, global efforts are currently underway to study possible correlations between HLA alleles with the occurrence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Specifically, this study examined the possible association between specific HLA alleles and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 in a population from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The frequencies of HLA class I (HLA-A, -B, and -C) and HLA class II alleles (HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1); defined using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS); from 115 UAE nationals with mild, moderate, and severe SARS-CoV-2 infection are presented here. HLA alleles and supertypes were compared between hospitalized and non-hospitalized subjects. Statistical significance was observed between certain HLA alleles and supertypes and the severity of the infection. Specifically, alleles HLA-B*51:01 and HLA-A*26:01 showed a negative association (suggestive of protection), whilst genotypes HLA-A*03:01, HLA-DRB1*15:01, and supertype B44 showed a positive association (suggestive of predisposition) to COVID-19 severity. The results support the potential use of HLA testing to differentiate between patients who require specific clinical management strategies.