RT Journal Article
T1 Whole blood DNA methylation analysis reveals respiratory environmental traits involved in COVID-19 severity following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
A1 Barturen, Guillermo
A1 Carnero-Montoro, Elena
A1 Martinez-Bueno, Manuel
A1 Rojo-Rello, Silvia
A1 Sobrino, Beatriz
A1 Porras-Perales, Oscar
A1 Alcantara-Dominguez, Clara
A1 Bernardo, David
A1 Alarcon-Riquelme, Marta E
K1 DNA Methylation
K1 Cytokine Release Syndrome
K1 Transcription Factors
K1 Epigenomic
AB SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause an inflammatory syndrome (COVID-19) leading, in many cases, to bilateral pneumonia, severe dyspnea, and in ~5% of these, death. DNA methylation is known to play an important role in the regulation of the immune processes behind COVID-19 progression, however it has not been studied in depth. In this study, we aim to evaluate the implication of DNA methylation in COVID-19 progression by means of a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis combined with DNA genotyping. The results reveal the existence of epigenomic regulation of functional pathways associated with COVID-19 progression and mediated by genetic loci. We find an environmental trait-related signature that discriminates mild from severe cases and regulates, among other cytokines, IL-6 expression via the transcription factor CEBP. The analyses suggest that an interaction between environmental contribution, genetics, and epigenetics might be playing a role in triggering the cytokine storm described in the most severe cases.
PB Nature Publishing Group
YR 2022
FD 2022-08-06
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/19543
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/19543
LA en
NO Barturen G, Carnero-Montoro E, Martínez-Bueno M, Rojo-Rello S, Sobrino B, Porras-Perales Ó, et al. Whole blood DNA methylation analysis reveals respiratory environmental traits involved in COVID-19 severity following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nat Commun. 2022 Aug 6;13(1):4597
NO This work has been supported through Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades of the regional government of Andalucía, cofunded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund to MEAR (FEDER, CV20-10150), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC-COV19-016/202020E155) and Junta de Castilla y León (Proyectos COVID 07.04.467B04.74011.0 and Programa Estratégico Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, IBGM excellence programme references CLU-2029-02 and CCVC8485) to D.B., D.B. is also part of the CSIC’s Global Health Platform (PTI Salud Global), Consejería de Salud y Familias of the regional government of Andalucía (PECOVID-0072-2020) to E.C.M. G.B. is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII, Spanish Health Ministry) through the Sara Borrell subprogram (CD18/00153). The authors would like to particularly express their gratitude to the patients, nurses, and many others who helped directly or indirectly in the consecution of this study.
DS RISalud
RD Apr 11, 2025