Original Article
Study of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 polymorphisms in COVID-19 patients

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2021.08.009Get rights and content
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Abstract

Background

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) plays an important role in immune responses to infections, especially in the development of acquired immunity. Given the high degree of polymorphisms that HLA molecules present, some will be more or less effective in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection. We wanted to analyze whether certain polymorphisms may be involved in the protection or susceptibility to COVID-19.

Methods

We studied the polymorphisms in HLA class I (HLA-A, -B and -C) and II (HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1) molecules in 450 patients who required hospitalization for COVID-19, creating one of the largest HLA-typed patient cohort to date.

Results

Our results show that there is no relationship between HLA polymorphisms or haplotypes and susceptibility or protection to COVID-19.

Conclusion

Our results may contribute to resolve the contradictory data on the role of HLA polymorphisms in COVID-19 infection.

Keywords

HLA polymorphisms
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2

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1

These authors contributed equally to the work.