Expression of interferon-stimulated genes, but not polymorphisms in the interferon α/β receptor 2 gene, is associated with coronavirus disease 2019 mortality
Berliana Hamidah,
Cennikon Pakpahan,
Laksmi Wulandari,
Damayanti Tinduh,
Tri Wibawa,
Cita Rosita Sigit Prakoeswa,
Delvac Oceandy
Affiliations
Berliana Hamidah
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
Cennikon Pakpahan
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
Laksmi Wulandari
Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga/Dr Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
Damayanti Tinduh
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga/Dr Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
Tri Wibawa
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Cita Rosita Sigit Prakoeswa
Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Aesthetics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga / Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia; Corresponding author. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Aesthetics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga / Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
Delvac Oceandy
Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Corresponding author. Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, 5.002 AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
Excessive inflammatory response is a hallmark of severe COVID-19. This study investigated the associations between interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) expression, genetic variation in the interferon α/β receptor 2 (IFNAR2) gene, and COVID-19 mortality.We investigated 67 patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19. Of them, 22 patients (32.8 %) died because of COVID-19. We examined the expression of ISGs in total RNA of peripheral whole blood. We observed a significant increase in the expression of all ISGs examined in non-surviving patients, indicating a heightened interferon type I signaling activation in non-survived patients. Subsequently, we analyzed whether the increase in ISGs expression was correlated with polymorphism within the IFNAR2 gene. Intriguingly, no significant association was observed between IFNAR2 gene polymorphism and COVID-19 mortality. Similarly, no association was noted between the IFNAR2 and ISGs expression levels.Overall, our data showed that higher ISGs expression, which presumably indicates heightened interferon type I activation, is associated with COVID-19 mortality.
