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Scientists are still looking for answers to what determines the severity of COVID-19. How is it that some young, healthy and strong people pass the infection very hard, sometimes even life-threatening, and in others the infection is asymptomatic? More and more is said that the answers are stored in the genetic code.
- More and more studies show that genes, or rather variants, are responsible to some extent for the severity of COVID-19. One of them is associated, for example, with a reduced production of interferon, which hinders the body’s immune response
- Other research suggests that genes that are involved in the development of autoimmune diseases may contribute to the onset of severe COVID-19 symptoms.
- With this knowledge, new drugs are currently being tested in clinical trials to help patients with severe COVID-19 recover.
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How do genes influence the severity of COVID-19?
Most young people get SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection with no or mild symptoms. Sometimes, however, a young, healthy person, without any comorbidities after infection, develops severe symptoms, often life-threatening. Scientists believe the answer may lie in genes.
The differences in the DNA of COVID-19 patients are being tracked by scientists. They believe that understanding gene variants that contribute to the severity of COVID-19 will help develop new drugs that can contain these worst symptoms.
One of the key findings is research indicating that interferon – a molecular messenger that stimulates immune defenses against attacking viruses – may play a role in the body’s defense. Scientists have found that rare gene mutations in some people may prevent the body from being able to provide adequate supplies of the interferon needed to trigger an effective immune response. Several studies are currently underway using interferon to aid in COVID-19 treatment.
The company Synaigren from the UK has positively tested a new method of treating people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Interferon beta-based treatments are effective in reducing the risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Find out more: A new method of treating COVID-19. It reduces shortness of breath and shortens the hospital stay
According to Martin Hibberg, professor of new infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, research shows that people whose body produces more interferon when infected have a better response to the disease. “This in turn tells us that patients may benefit from interferon treatment,” he adds.
- The symptoms of COVID-19 are partially dependent on genes. Research by British scientists
Genes involved in causing autoimmune disease
Scientists are also interested in the gene known as TYK2. Certain variants of this gene are involved in triggering some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They also appear to contribute to the severity of COVID-19. In one clinical trial, baricitinib, which was developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is tested in patients with COVID-19. Preliminary test results show that the drug is helping COVID-19 patients recover.
“The bottom line is that by understanding the effects of gene variants on the body, we can think about finding drugs that can block their pathways and help patients,” said Jeffrey Barrett of the Wellcome Sanger Institute’s COVID-19 genomic surveillance program. He added that, unfortunately, the bad news is that finding the right treatment could take years of experimentation.
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Other studies, conducted by Kenneth Baillie of the University of Edinburgh, have revealed several other genes that may influence the severity of COVID-19. These are OAS genes that are triggered by interferon and which code for proteins involved in the breakdown of viral RNA. Baillie’s research has yet to be evaluated scientifically, and he himself said that interpretation should be exercised with caution. However, in an interview with Science magazine, he said he hoped the results would accelerate treatment progress as the epidemic progressed at an alarming pace.
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