A Multilayer Immune-Inflammatory Genetic Biomarkers in IRF5 Pathway as Contributors in Patient’s Outcome with COVID-19

Background: COVID-19 is a disease produced by a viral infection peculiar to the SARS-CoV-2 and which produces an intense inflammatory response after the infectious process with participation of immune pathways, like IRF5, that could enhance post-infection actions. Thus, understanding the aspects of pathophysiological pathways for IRF5 involved in immunoinflammatory responses is essential to search for biomarkers that can help to identify early patients who would have the worst outcome. Methods and Findings: A comparative study between two groups of patients with cases of COVID-19 divided considering the number of days on which the patient had manifestations that led him to hospitalization (7 days). Blood samples were collected to evaluate IL-6 and DNA. Polymorphisms in IRF5 pathways genes (TLR7, IRF5, IL6, IFNA, IFNB1, IFNG) were genotyping by TaqMan® assay using Real-Time PCR (Applied Biosystems). The rs2069849 showed the G allele more frequently in a group that present less than seven days of symptoms, and the same SNP was correlated with highest serum levels of IL-6. Conclusions: Our results suggest that IL6 gene polymorphism, involved in the IRF5 pathway, can be associated with the worst patient’s outcome in COVID-19. The rs2069849 in the IL6 gene have been linked and could, in the future, be used as biomarker.