Association of Polymorphisms of the IL-17A and IL-17F Genes with Increased Risk of Hypertension and Obesity in Mexican Patients with COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2). COVID-19 can cause a cytokine release syndrome in which cytokines, including interleukin 17 (IL-17), are massively secreted in response to a specific stimulus. This can contribute to mortality and severe forms of COVID-19. The study aimed to determine the association of SARS-CoV2 infection with the IL-17A rs2275913 and IL-17F rs763780 variants, as well as with the associated comorbidities in COVID-19-positive Mexican patients. The study included 178 patients positive to COVID-19 and 177 COVID-19 negative subjects. For genotyping, the samples were amplified with a TaqMan® probe. There was no association between the AA genotype and A allele of IL-17A variant or the IL-17F C allele with the presence of COVID-19. In regard to comorbidities, a statistically significant association was found between IL-17A rs2275913 AA genotype and hypertension, as well as with the presence of obesity (P = 0.003, OR 23, 95% CI: 2.97-178.092 and P = 0.025, OR 28, 95% CI: 1.52-178.029, respectively) in patients with COVID-19. In conclusion, rs2275913 IL-17A polymorphism in COVID-19 patients seems to confer a higher susceptibility to the presence of hypertension and obesity, increasing the risk of premature cardiovascular disease in this population. However, more studies should be conducted for a better understanding of their relation.

Role of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Genetic Factors Related to Metabolic Alterations in People Living with HIV/AIDS.

Metabolic alterations are a common problem in people living with HIV (PLHIV), as a result of a stage of chronic inflammation that affects the homeostasis of the organism. Prolonged exposure to antiretroviral therapy has been associated with developing lipodystrophies that modify lipoprotein metabolism and inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which are mediators of the immune response. The study aimed to associate TNF-α and IL-6 levels with their polymorphisms and metabolic alterations in PLIHV. We hypothesized that TNF-α and IL-6 levels and their polymorphisms are associated with metabolic alterations. In total, 185 PLHIV and 51 HIV-negative people were included. Biochemical parameters were determined by colorimetric assay, cytokine levels by immunoassay, and allelic discrimination by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A correlation was found between TNF-α levels and the variables cholesterol (r = -0.171, P = 0.020) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (r = -0.245, P = 0.001). There are associations between HDL levels (P = 0.011) and GG genotype of rs1800629. The results suggest a metabolic alteration related to the constant immune response, especially the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. It was observed that genetic factors may influence metabolism alteration, mainly in lipids.