AUTHOR=Gajate-Arenas Malena , García-Pérez Omar , Chao-Pellicer Javier , Domínguez-De-Barros Angélica , Dorta-Guerra Roberto , Lorenzo-Morales Jacob , Córdoba-Lanus Elizabeth 

TITLE=Differential expression of antiviral and immune-related genes in individuals with COVID-19 asymptomatic or with mild symptoms

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1173213

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1173213

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>COVID-19 is characterized by a wide range of symptoms where the genetic background plays a key role in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, the relative expression of <italic>IRF9, CCL5, IFI6, TGFB1, IL1B, OAS1</italic>, and <italic>TFRC</italic> genes (related to immunity and antiviral activity) was analyzed in upper airway samples from 127 individuals (97 COVID-19 positive and 30 controls) by using a two-step RT-PCR. All genes excepting <italic>IL1B</italic> (p=0.878) showed a significantly higher expression (p&lt;0.005) in COVID-19 cases than in the samples from the control group suggesting that in asymptomatic-mild cases antiviral and immune system cells recruitment gene expression is being promoted. Moreover, <italic>IFI6</italic> (p=0.002) and <italic>OAS1</italic> (p=0.044) were upregulated in cases with high viral loads, which could be related to protection against severe forms of this viral infection. In addition, a higher frequency (68.7%) of individuals infected with the Omicron variant presented higher viral load values of infection when compared to individuals infected with other variants (p&lt;0.001). Furthermore, an increased expression of <italic>IRF9</italic> (p&lt;0.001)<italic>, IFI6</italic> (p&lt;0.001), <italic>OAS1</italic> (p=0.011)<italic>, CCL5</italic>, (p=0.003) and <italic>TGFB1</italic> (p&lt;0.001) genes was observed in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 wildtype virus, which might be due to immune response evasion of the viral variants and/or vaccination. The obtained results indicate a protective role of <italic>IFI6</italic>, <italic>OAS1</italic> and <italic>IRF9</italic> in asymptomatic -mild cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection while the role of <italic>TGFB1</italic> and <italic>CCL5</italic> in the pathogenesis of the disease is still unclear. The importance of studying the dysregulation of immune genes in relation to the infective variant is stand out in this study.</p>