Host genetic factors involved in the susceptibility and severity of COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection ranges from asymptomatic forms to very serious manifestations of COVID-19 that can compromise life. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic raises the need to identify the risk factors that determine interindividual variability in susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, pathophysiology and disease progression. Several authors suggest that the genetic component plays a key role in the complex virus-host interaction, where population differences are responsible for such heterogeneity. Method(s) A scoping review of the literature published to date was carried out in order to learn about the biological markers that seem to affect the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 infection and the genetic polymorphisms of molecules potentially involved in the complex virus-host interaction. Result(s) Numerous evidences indicate that allelic variants of genes encoding molecules working in the early stages of virus-cell interaction or during events that define the immune response of the host, could favor the infection and/or the disease severity by SARS-CoV-2. The ABO blood group seems to play a role in immunopathogenesis, with group O individuals showing a lower risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2, although other genetic, physiological and metabolic components of the host, such as the differential expression of toll-like receptors, HLA antigens, proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines or other effectors of the innate and acquired immune response would also be participating. Conclusion(s) The success and progression of the viral infection towards the development of clinical manifestations and the severity grade depend largely on the interaction between viral factors and the host's response, as well as seem to be conditioned by epigenetic factors and pre-existing comorbidities. The contribution of the genetic component raises the potential application of targeted preventive strategies, the identification of therapeutic targets and the development of new drugs. Copyright © 2021, Revista Salus. All rights reserved.