Five genes that influence your risk of dying from COVID-19

Coronavirus rarely causes severe symptoms in the youngest patients. Sometimes, however, it causes the death of young, healthy people who do not have chronic diseases. According to the researchers, the cause may be genetic. They found five genes “most responsible” for severe COVID-19 symptoms.

1. Scientists have discovered five genes that increase a patient’s risk of dying from COVID-19
2. This is the result of a study involving 2 patients who had severe symptoms of the coronavirus
3. All “suspect” genes are linked to our immune system
4. You can find more coronavirus stories on the TvoiLokony home page

Coronavirus – one of the youngest victims in the UK Britain was 21 years old

One of the youngest victims of the coronavirus in the UK Britain was 21-year-old Chloe Middleton. She was healthy, athletic, had no chronic diseases that increased the risk of COVID-19 and no serious complications. In short – not fulfilling the typical picture of a person more exposed to the virus than others.

She died on March 19, 2020 at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, Berkshire. The coroner confirmed COVID-19 was the cause. This was the first serious signal for young Britons who thought they were immune to the coronavirus.

Until now, in the UK Britain died about 120. people, 75 percent victims are people over 75 years of age. 9 percent victims are people aged 45-64. Deaths among those under the age of 30 are very rare.

1. The number of hospitalized people and patients under ventilators is growing in Poland. For the first time in three months

Scientists found the cause. It is in our DNA. Variations in genetic makeup may explain why some are unable to fight the virus, while others are very mild.

– We do not know why healthy young people suffer from COVID-19 so hard, but one of the reasons may be genetic predisposition – says Prof. Eleanor Riley, infectious disease expert at the University of Edinburgh.

Five genes responsible for severe COVID-19 cases

In December, a team of researchers at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh discovered five key genes that may increase the risk of dying from COVID-19.

The team studied 2 seriously ill COVID-244 patients, including over 19 admitted to intensive care. Their condition was very serious, three out of four were unable to breathe on their own, and a fifth died.

1. Death due to the coronavirus. How is the cause of death determined?

The DNA of each of these patients was examined and the results were compared with that of healthy people to detect any genetic differences that could lead to serious complications. Out of over 20 thousand the genes of the human genome scientists have found five of the most “suspects”. They all play an important role in the immune response.

One of them is TYK2. A gene that can overreact the immune system and lead to a so-called a cytokine storm. An immune response that is too rapid can expose patients to severe pneumonia, which is often the real cause of death in COVID-19.

Another culprit is IFNAR2 – the gene responsible for the production of interferon, a protein that triggers the immune system’s response at the first sign of an enemy. When IFNAR2 is malfunctioning, insufficient interferons are produced. This allows the virus to gain the upper hand and can replicate itself before a defensive response occurs.

1.  Interferons are glycoproteins produced by mammalian cells

The other three genes responsible for the greater risk of complications from COVID-19 are OAS1, DPP9 and CCR2.

These findings are unlikely to lead to massive genetic testing of patients, but they do provide doctors with tips on how to treat seriously ill patients.

Medicines called JAK inhibitors, currently administered to patients with rheumatoid arthritis, may be able to suppress the uncontrolled inflammation caused by defects in the TYK2 gene.

Geny a sepsa

Genes also influence the development of sepsis. Sepsis is one of the complications of COVID-19, and earlier, in the pre-pandemic era, it caused 40 deaths. people per year in the UK Britain.

Sepsis occurs when the immune system starts sending infection-fighting proteins all over the body, not just the area where the infection is infected. This causes numerous inflammations, and healthy tissues and organs are attacked, causing them to fail rapidly. Sepsis is sometimes fatal within 24 hours.

In January, a study was published showing that 23 genes may be associated with increased susceptibility to sepsis in people infected with viruses or bacteria.

“ It has been clear from the start of this pandemic that most seriously ill COVID-19 patients develop sepsis. This also applies to young people. It is almost certain that these young, healthy people must have a genetic predisposition, said Dr. Ron Daniels from the Sepsis Trust charity.

This may interest you:

1. Where could the new restrictions be? These provinces are under threat
2. The variant from Africa in Poland. It’s more contagious. What about the vaccine?
3. Factors that may make a vaccine ineffective

The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.Now you can use e-consultation also free of charge under the National Health Fund.