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. 2021 Jul;113(4):1733-1741.
doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.04.002. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Interferon-induced transmembrane protein-3 genetic variant rs12252 is associated with COVID-19 mortality

Jahad Alghamdi  1 , Manal Alaamery  2 , Tlili Barhoumi  3 , Mamoon Rashid  4 , Hala Alajmi  5 , Nasser Aljasser  5 , Yaseen Alhendi  5 , Hind Alkhalaf  5 , Hanadi Alqahtani  5 , Omer Algablan  5 , Abdulraham I Alshaya  6 , Nabiha Tashkandi  7 , Salam Massadeh  2 , Bader Almuzzaini  8 , Salleh N Ehaideb  9 , Mohammad Bosaeed  10 , Kamal Ayoub  11 , Saber Yezli  12 , Anas Khan  13 , Ahmed Alaskar  14 , Abderrezak Bouchama  15
Affiliations

Interferon-induced transmembrane protein-3 genetic variant rs12252 is associated with COVID-19 mortality

Jahad Alghamdi et al. Genomics. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Interferon-induced membrane proteins (IFITM) 3 gene variants are known risk factor for severe viral diseases. We examined whether IFITM3 variant may underlie the heterogeneous clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced COVID-19 in large Arab population. We genotyped 880 Saudi patients; 93.8% were PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, encompassing most COVID-19 phenotypes. Mortality at 90 days was 9.1%. IFITM3-SNP, rs12252-G allele was associated with hospital admission (OR = 1.65 [95% CI; 1.01-2.70], P = 0.04]) and mortality (OR = 2.2 [95% CI; 1.16-4.20], P = 0.01). Patients less than 60 years old had a lower survival probability if they harbor this allele (log-rank test P = 0.002). Plasma levels of IFNγ were significantly lower in a subset of patients with AG/GG genotypes than patients with AA genotype (P = 0.00016). Early identification of these individuals at higher risk of death may inform precision public health response.

Keywords: COVID-19; Genetics; Interferon; SARS-Cov-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Survival analysis for COVID-19 mortality according to rs12252 genotypes using diagnosis day as time-to-event. A) In the overall population. B) Stratified by age groups.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Plasma levels of IFNγ (A) and TNFα (B) in age and gender-matched patients according to IFITM3 rs12252 genotypes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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