GM allotypes and COVID-19. A pilot study performed on Sicilian patients

Authors

Mattia Emanuela Ligotti, Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Anna Calabrò, Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Giulia Accardi, Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Anna Aiello, Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Calogero Caruso, Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyFollow
Claudia Colomba, Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy;
Danilo Di Bona, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation , University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
Giovanni Duro, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, Palermo, Italy;
Aryan M Namboodiri, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
Antonino Tuttolomondo, Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Janardan P Pandey, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
Giuseppina Candore, Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy;

Abstract

Several studies suggest that genetic variants that influence the onset, maintenance and resolution of the immune response might be fundamental in predicting the evolution of COVID-19. In the present paper, we analysed the distribution of GM allotypes (the genetic markers of immunoglobulin γ chains) in symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients and in healthy controls, all born and residing in Sicily. Indeed, the role played by GM allotypes in immune responses and infection control is well known. Our findings show that the GM23 allotype is significantly reduced in healthy controls. Interestingly, in a previous study, Sicilians carrying the GM23 allotype were associated with the risk of developing a symptomatic Human Cytomegalovirus infection. However, a note of caution should be considered, due to the small sample size of patients and controls.

Recommended Citation

Ligotti, Mattia Emanuela; Calabrò, Anna; Accardi, Giulia; Aiello, Anna; Caruso, Calogero; Colomba, Claudia; Di Bona, Danilo; Duro, Giovanni; Namboodiri, Aryan M; Tuttolomondo, Antonino; Pandey, Janardan P; and Candore, Giuseppina (2022) "GM allotypes and COVID-19. A pilot study performed on Sicilian patients," Translational Medicine @ UniSa: Vol. 24 : Iss. 2 , Article 5.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.37825/2239-9747.1039

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