Saeed Muhammad Noaman, Rehman Maha, Nughman Muhammad, Khan Niamat, Ahmed Faiyaz, Ullah Saad, Shojonov Muzaffar, Madaminov Bekzod, Naeem Rehan, Kinki Abdela Befa
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, 26000, Pakistan.
Saeed International Hospital Islamabad, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan.
Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 28;15(1):31775. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-15455-1.
The COVID-19 pandemic gave insight into how host genetics influence the ability to get infected and how severe the infection will be if contracted. Among these, the HLA polymorphisms and ABO blood groups are known to influence the immune system. This study examines the correlation between HLA-B genotypes, blood groups, and the severity of COVID-19. A total of 984 COVID-19 patient samples and control samples were collected from different regions of Pakistan. Throat and nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained for molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2, and blood samples were collected for HLA-B genotyping and ABO blood group analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted using the Phenol-Chloroform method, and HLA-B genotyping was performed using the OLERUP SSP HLA typing kit. The study identified a significant association between HLA-B07:02 and increased COVID-19 susceptibility (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.6-3.9, p < 0.001), whereas HLA-B15:01 was associated with a protective effect (OR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4-0.9, p = 0.01). Blood group A was also linked to higher infection risk, while blood group O conferred protection. A strong correlation was observed between co-morbidities (hypertension, diabetes) and severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study provides convincing evidence that HLA-B polymorphisms and ABO blood groups play a significant role in COVID-19 susceptibility and severity.
新冠疫情让人们深入了解了宿主基因如何影响感染能力以及感染后病情的严重程度。其中，已知人类白细胞抗原（HLA）多态性和ABO血型会影响免疫系统。本研究旨在探讨HLA - B基因型、血型与新冠病情严重程度之间的相关性。从巴基斯坦不同地区共收集了984份新冠患者样本和对照样本。采集咽喉和鼻咽拭子用于新冠病毒的分子检测，采集血液样本用于HLA - B基因分型和ABO血型分析。采用酚 - 氯仿法提取基因组DNA，使用OLERUP SSP HLA分型试剂盒进行HLA - B基因分型。研究发现，HLA - B07:02与新冠易感性增加显著相关（比值比：2.5，95%置信区间：1.6 - 3.9，p < 0.001），而HLA - B15:01具有保护作用（比值比：0.6，95%置信区间：0.4 - 0.9，p = 0.01）。A型血也与较高的感染风险相关，而O型血具有保护作用。观察到合并症（高血压、糖尿病）与严重新冠病情结果之间存在强相关性。本研究提供了令人信服的证据，表明HLA - B多态性和ABO血型在新冠易感性和严重程度中起重要作用。
