2023-07-23 06:17:37
Title: Genetic Link Found in Long Covid Patients: Study
Subtitle: Altered gene on chromosome six could increase risk of long-term effects after Covid-19 infection
Date: July 1, 2023
A recent international study conducted by researchers from 16 countries has shed new light on the long-term effects experienced by some individuals after contracting the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The study, published as a preprint on July 1, 2023, identifies changes on chromosome six in long-term Covid-19 patients, potentially explaining why some people suffer from prolonged symptoms while others recover quickly.
Long Covid is a term used to describe the persistence of symptoms four weeks after infection, while post-Covid refers to symptoms that persist for three months or longer. These conditions encompass a range of symptoms affecting various organs, including the lungs, heart, brain, and muscles. The study suggests that the formation of antibodies during the infection may inadvertently create problems, leading to ongoing inflammation and other complications.
The genetic research indicates that a particular alteration near the FOXP4 gene on chromosome six is associated with both severe acute Covid-19 infection and an increased risk of developing Long Covid. This genetic change affects the various cell types of the lungs, potentially explaining the respiratory symptoms experienced by long-term patients. The study estimates that carriers of this genetic change have approximately a 1.6-fold increased risk of developing Long Covid.
Lead author Kerstin Ludwig from the Institute of Human Genetics at the University of Bonn explained that the altered gene is one of the reasons why some individuals continue to experience shortness of breath, fatigue, and weakness long after recovering from Covid-19. However, not all individuals with this genetic change will experience long-term effects, as it merely increases the risk.
To conduct this study, nearly 6,500 people with Long Covid were genetically screened, while over a million individuals who had recovered from Covid-19 without long-term effects served as controls. The meta-analysis of data from 24 different studies represents the most extensive analysis of the genetics of Long Covid to date.
The FOXP4 gene alteration on chromosome six is not limited to Covid-19-related effects. Previous studies have shown that this genetic change affects overall lung function and increases the risk of lung cancer. Approximately 1-2 out of 100 individuals in Europe carry this gene mutation, while the prevalence in Asia is higher at 20 out of 100 people. However, it remains uncertain whether this gene mutation contributes to a higher incidence of Long Covid among Asians.
While this study provides significant insights into the genetic component of Long Covid, researchers believe that other genes may also play a role. Further genetic screenings and investigations are required to understand the full picture. Additionally, researchers aim to explore the impact of pre-existing conditions, age, and gender, as Long Covid appears to affect younger individuals and women more frequently. Due to the diverse range of symptoms associated with Long Covid, experts believe there are multiple underlying disease processes that require further investigation.
As our understanding of Long Covid deepens, this research offers hope for better identifying individuals at risk of long-term effects and potentially developing targeted interventions to alleviate these symptoms.]
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