COVID-19 spreading across world correlates with C677T allele of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene prevalence

• Main Authors: Iannella, R. (Author), Kaleci, S. (Author), Manfredini, M. (Author), Oliva, G. (Author), Ozben, T. (Author), Pastorino, L. (Author), Ponti, G. (Author), Tomasi, A. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: John Wiley and Sons Inc 2021
• Subjects: 5,10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (FADH2); allele; Alleles; Article; C677 T mutation prevalence; C677T gene; coronavirus disease 2019; correlational study; COVID-19; COVID-19 vulnerability; disease predisposition; disease severity; disease transmission; enzymology; epidemiology; ethnic group; Ethnic Groups; gene; gene frequency; Gene Frequency; gene mutation; genetic correlation; genetic polymorphism; genetic predisposition; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; genetic variability; genetics; Hispanic; Homocysteine; homocysteine metabolism; human; Humans; incidence; metabolism; methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (NADPH2); Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); mortality; mortality rate; MTHFR gene; predictive value; prevalence; Prevalence; trend study
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 Background: Homocysteine assessment has been proposed as a potential predictive biomarker for the severity of COVID-19 infection. The purpose of this review was to analyze the correlation between the prevalence of MTHFR C677 T gene polymorphism and COVID-19 incidence and mortality worldwide. Methods: Data regarding MTHFR C677 T gene mutation were obtained from the interrogation of the Genome Aggregation Database (genomAD), which is publicly available from the web“https://gnomad.broadinstitute.org.” COVID-19 cases, including prevalence and mortality, were obtained from“https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus” 27 August 2020. Results: There is a clear trend toward the worldwide prevalence of MTHFR 677 T and COVID-19 incidence and mortality. The prevalence of MTHFR 677 T allele in the Latino population, and the incidence and mortality for COVID-19 was higher for this ethnic group than that reported for most other populations globally. Statistical analysis showed a relatively strong correlation between C677 T and death from coronavirus. Conclusions: Genetic polymorphism of MTHFR C677 T may modulate the incidence and severity of COVID-19 pandemic infection. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC