Association of Polymorphisms of the IL-17A and IL-17F Genes with Increased Risk of Hypertension and Obesity in Mexican Patients with COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2). COVID-19 can cause a cytokine release syndrome in which cytokines, including interleukin 17 (IL-17), are massively secreted in response to a specific stimulus. This can contribute to mortality and severe forms of COVID-19. The study aimed to determine the association of SARS-CoV2 infection with the IL-17A rs2275913 and IL-17F rs763780 variants, as well as with the associated comorbidities in COVID-19-positive Mexican patients. The study included 178 patients positive to COVID-19 and 177 COVID-19 negative subjects. For genotyping, the samples were amplified with a TaqMan® probe. There was no association between the AA genotype and A allele of IL-17A variant or the IL-17F C allele with the presence of COVID-19. In regard to comorbidities, a statistically significant association was found between IL-17A rs2275913 AA genotype and hypertension, as well as with the presence of obesity (P = 0.003, OR 23, 95% CI: 2.97-178.092 and P = 0.025, OR 28, 95% CI: 1.52-178.029, respectively) in patients with COVID-19. In conclusion, rs2275913 IL-17A polymorphism in COVID-19 patients seems to confer a higher susceptibility to the presence of hypertension and obesity, increasing the risk of premature cardiovascular disease in this population. However, more studies should be conducted for a better understanding of their relation.