1. Polymorphisms Influence the Expression of the Fas and FasL Genes in COVID-19.
- Author
-
Dos Santos Brito WR, de Brito WB, Dos Santos Ferreira F, Santana EGM, da Costa Lopes J, da Silva Graça Amoras E, Lima SS, Dos Santos EF, da Costa FP, de Sarges KML, Cantanhede MHD, de Brito MTFM, da Silva ALS, de Meira Leite M, de Nazaré do Socorro de Almeida Viana M, Rodrigues FBB, da Silva R, Viana GMR, do Socorro Souza Chaves T, de Oliveira Lameira Veríssimo A, da Silva Carvalho M, Henriques DF, da Silva CP, Nunes JAL, Costa IB, Brasil-Costa I, Quaresma JAS, Cayres-Vallinoto IMV, Reis LO, Falcão LFM, Dos Santos EJM, Vallinoto ACR, and Queiroz MAF
- Subjects
- Humans, Male, Female, Middle Aged, Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Genotype, Adult, Interferon-gamma genetics, Interferon-gamma blood, Severity of Illness Index, COVID-19 genetics, COVID-19 blood, COVID-19 virology, Fas Ligand Protein genetics, fas Receptor genetics, SARS-CoV-2
- Abstract
The apoptotic molecule Fas and its ligand FasL are involved in the process of T-lymphocyte death, which may lead to lymphopenia, a characteristic of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we investigated the influence of polymorphisms in the FAS and FASL genes, FAS and FASL gene expression, and plasma cytokine levels on COVID-19 severity and long COVID occurrence. A total of 116 individuals with severe COVID-19 and 254 with the non-severe form of the disease were evaluated. In the post-COVID-19 period, samples from 196 individuals with long COVID and 67 from people who did not have long COVID were included. Genotyping and quantification of gene expression were performed via real-time PCR, and cytokine measurement was performed via flow cytometry. The AA genotype for FAS rs1800682 (A/G) and the TT genotype for FASL rs763110 (C/T) were associated with increased FAS and FASL gene expression, respectively ( p < 0.005). Higher plasma IFN-γ levels were associated with higher FAS and FASL gene expression ( p < 0.05). Among individuals with non-severe COVID-19, carriers of the AA genotype for FAS rs1800682 (A/G) had higher levels of FAS expression, more symptoms, and higher IFN-γ levels ( p < 0.05). No association of the evaluated markers with long COVID were observed. The AA genotype of FAS rs1800682 (A/G) and the TT genotype of FASL rs763110 (C/T) influence the levels of FAS and FASL gene expression. Higher gene expression of FAS and FASL may lead to greater inflammation in COVID-19 patients, with higher levels of IFN-γ and T lymphocyte death.
- Published
- 2025
- Full Text
- View/download PDF