Polymorphisms in the interferon lambda gene as biomarkers of susceptibility and severity of Covid-19.

• Grant number: 23/07635-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: December 16, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Eder de Carvalho Pincinato
• Grantee: Letícia Rogge Nogueira dos Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19, has become the latest global crisis, with over 37 million confirmed cases and over 700,000 deaths in Brazil. The virus can induce an intense inflammatory cascade, known as the "inflammatory storm," which explains the severe lung damage and results in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Interferons (IFNs) directly participate in this inflammatory response, and polymorphisms in the genes encoding IFNs may be related to the different intensities of the body's response to COVID-19. Therefore, the main objective of this project is to evaluate whether polymorphisms in the IFNL3 and IFNL4 genes are associated with the severity of COVID-19. To achieve these goals, subjects who were hospitalized at Hospital Estadual Sumaré, attended the outpatient clinic serving the UNICAMP community, or visited the Basic Health Units in Paulínia (SP) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test will be included. The participants will be divided into two sub-groups (severe-critical disease and mild-moderate disease), matched by sex and age. Genomic DNA will be extracted from whole blood, and genotyping of the rs12980275 and rs8099917 polymorphisms of the IFNL3 gene and rs368234815 and rs12979860 of the IFNL4 gene will be performed using RT-PCR. Statistical analyses will be conducted using the SPSS software. For parametric data, Student's t-test will be used, and for non-parametric data, the Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis test will be used. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test will be used to compare the frequencies of qualitative variables. Logistic/linear regression analyses may be performed if necessary. The significance level adopted for the study will be 5% (p<0.05).