COVID-19: Focusing on the Link between Inflammation, Vitamin D, MAPK Pathway and Oxidative Stress Genetics
Jessica Cusato,
Alessandra Manca,
Alice Palermiti,
Jacopo Mula,
Martina Costanzo,
Miriam Antonucci,
Francesco Chiara,
Elisa Delia De Vivo,
Domenico Maiese,
Micol Ferrara,
Stefano Bonora,
Giovanni Di Perri,
Antonio D’Avolio,
Andrea Calcagno
Affiliations
Jessica Cusato
Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Corso Svizzera, 164, 10149 Turin, Italy
Alessandra Manca
Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Corso Svizzera, 164, 10149 Turin, Italy
Alice Palermiti
Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Corso Svizzera, 164, 10149 Turin, Italy
Jacopo Mula
Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Corso Svizzera, 164, 10149 Turin, Italy
Martina Costanzo
Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Corso Svizzera, 164, 10149 Turin, Italy
Miriam Antonucci
ASL Città di Torino, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, 10149 Turin, Italy
Francesco Chiara
Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology S.Luigi A.O.U., Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
Elisa Delia De Vivo
Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Corso Svizzera, 164, 10149 Turin, Italy
Domenico Maiese
Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Corso Svizzera, 164, 10149 Turin, Italy
Micol Ferrara
ASL Città di Torino, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, 10149 Turin, Italy
Stefano Bonora
Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, 10149 Turin, Italy
Giovanni Di Perri
Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, 10149 Turin, Italy
Antonio D’Avolio
Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Corso Svizzera, 164, 10149 Turin, Italy
Andrea Calcagno
Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, 10149 Turin, Italy
An uncontrolled inflammatory response during SARS-CoV-2 infection has been highlighted in several studies. This seems to be due to pro-inflammatory cytokines whose production could be regulated by vitamin D, ROS production or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Several genetic studies are present in the literature concerning genetic influences on COVID-19 characteristics, but there are few data on oxidative stress, vitamin D, MAPK and inflammation-related factors, considering gender and age. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms in these pathways, clarifying their impact in affecting COVID-19-related clinical features. Genetic polymorphisms were evaluated through real-time PCR. We prospectively enrolled 160 individuals: 139 patients were positive for SARS-CoV-2 detection. We detected different genetic variants able to affect the symptoms and oxygenation. Furthermore, two sub-analyses were performed considering gender and age, showing a different impact of polymorphisms according to these characteristics. This is the first study highlighting a possible contribution of genetic variants of these pathways in affecting COVID-19 clinical features. This may be relevant in order to clarify the COVID-19 etiopathogenesis and to understand the possible genetic contribution for further SARS infections.
