MUC22, HLA-A, and HLA-DOB variants and COVID-19 in resilient super-agers from Brazil

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Background: cluster genes; inflammasome activation; genes of interleukins; and chemokines receptors. On the other hand, little is known about the resistance mechanisms against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we addressed polymorphisms in the MHC region associated with Covid-19 outcome in super elderly resilient patients as compared to younger patients with a severe outcome. Methods: SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by RT-PCR test. Aiming to identify candidate genes associated with host resistance, we investigated 87 individuals older than 90 years who recovered from Covid-19 with mild symptoms or who remained asymptomatic following positive test for SARS-CoV-2 as compared to 55 individuals younger than 60 years who had a severe disease or died due to Covid-19, as well as to the general elderly population from the same city. Whole-exome sequencing and an in-depth analysis of the MHC region was performed. All samples were collected in early 2020 and before the local vaccination programs started. Results: is two times more frequent among the resilient super elderly (p = 0.00002, OR = 2.24). Conclusion: might play an important protective role against severe Covid-19, by reducing overactive immune responses in the senior population.