The role of tumor necrosis factor alpha − 308A > G polymorphism on the clinical states of SARS-CoV-2 infection

• Published in: Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 55 - 10
• Main Authors: Sotomayor-Lugo, Francisco, Alemañy-Díaz Perera, Claudia, Roblejo-Balbuena, Hilda, Zúñiga-Rosales, Yaíma, Monzón-Benítez, Giselle, Suárez-Besil, Beatriz, González-Torres, María de los Ángeles, Torres-Rives, Bárbara, Álvarez-Gavilán, Yudelmis, Bravo-Ramírez, Maidalys, Pereira-Roche, Nayade, Benítez-Cordero, Yudelkis, Silva-Ayçaguer, Luis Carlos, Marcheco-Teruel, Beatriz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 07.03.2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Alleles; Asymptomatic; Coronavirus infections; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Gene polymorphism; Genetic aspects; Genetic transcription; Health aspects; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Medicine, Experimental; Necrosis; Patients; Polymorphism; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Single nucleotide polymorphisms; Single-nucleotide polymorphism; Tumor necrosis factor; Tumor necrosis factor alpha; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Tumors; Cuba; COVID-19; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; SARS-CoV-2; Tumor necrosis factor alpha; Coronavirus infections
• ISSN: 1110-8630; 2090-2441
• DOI: 10.1186/s43042-022-00274-0

Background Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFɑ) is a cytokine that manages the host defense mechanism, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 patients. Several single-nucleotide polymorphisms, described in the promoter region of the TNFα gene, have a significant role on its transcriptional activity. These include the − 308A > G polymorphism which increases the TNFα levels with the expression of the A allele. The aim of this study was to explore whether the TNFα.− 308A > G polymorphism affects the clinical state of COVID-19 patients. The study included a total of 1028 individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which were distributed in 3 groups: asymptomatic, mild symptomatic and severe symptomatic patients. The amplification-refractory mutation system was used to determine the genotype of the TNFα.− 308A > G polymorphism. Results Results show a higher tendency of being asymptomatic in individuals carrying the GG genotype (336 of 411; OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.91–1.70). The development of a severe form of SARS-CoV-2 infection was not found in subjects with the A allele compared to those with the G allele (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.51–1.79), except in the eastern region of the country where the risk increased (OR 4.41, 95% CI 1.14–17.05). However, the subjects carrying the A allele had a higher chance of developing symptoms (OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.91–1.70) compared to those with the G allele. Conclusion The TNFα.− 308A allele has an influence on developing symptoms of COVID-19 in Cuban patients, and that it particularly increases the risk of presenting severe forms of the disease in the eastern region of the country.