tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Transfusion
. 2021 Jun 20.
doi: 10.1111/trf.16567. Online ahead of print.
Lewis and ABO histo-blood types and the secretor status of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 implicate a role for ABO antibodies in susceptibility to infection with SARS-CoV-2
Eva Maria Matzhold[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Andrea Berghold[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Maria Karin Berta Bemelmans[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chiara Banfi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Evelyn Stelzl[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Harald Hans Kessler[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ivo Steinmetz[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Robert Krause[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Herbert Wurzer[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Peter Schlenke[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Thomas Wagner[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) targets the respiratory and gastric epithelium, causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Tissue antigen expression variations influence host susceptibility to many infections. This study aimed to investigate the closely linked Lewis (FUT3) and ABO histo-blood types, including secretor (FUT2) status, to infections with SARS-CoV-2 and the corresponding severity of COVID-19.
Study design and methods: Patients (Caucasians, n = 338) were genotyped for ABO, FUT3 and FUT2, and compared to a reference population of blood donors (n = 250,298). The association between blood types and severity of COVID-19 was addressed by dividing patients into four categories: hospitalized individuals in general wards, patients admitted to the intensive care unit with and without intubation, and deceased patients. Comorbidities were considered in subsequent analyses.
Results: Patients with blood type Lewis (a-b-) or O were significantly less likely to be hospitalized (OR 0.669, CI 0.446-0.971, OR 0.710, CI 0.556-0.900, respectively), while type AB was significantly more prevalent in the patient cohort (OR 1.519, CI 1.014-. 2.203). The proportions of secretors/nonsecretors, and Lewis a + or Lewis b + types were consistent between patients and controls. The analyzed blood groups were not associated with the clinical outcome as defined.
Discussion: Blood types Lewis (a-b-) and O were found to be protective factors, whereas the group AB is suggested to be a risk factor for COVID-19. The antigens investigated may not be prognostic for disease severity, but a role for ABO isoagglutinins in SARS-CoV-2 infections is strongly suggested. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: ABO; COVID-19; Lewis; Secretor; host-pathogen interaction.
. 2021 Jun 20.
doi: 10.1111/trf.16567. Online ahead of print.
Lewis and ABO histo-blood types and the secretor status of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 implicate a role for ABO antibodies in susceptibility to infection with SARS-CoV-2
Eva Maria Matzhold[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Andrea Berghold[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Maria Karin Berta Bemelmans[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chiara Banfi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Evelyn Stelzl[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Harald Hans Kessler[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ivo Steinmetz[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Robert Krause[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Herbert Wurzer[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Peter Schlenke[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Thomas Wagner[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34151460
- DOI: 10.1111/trf.16567
Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) targets the respiratory and gastric epithelium, causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Tissue antigen expression variations influence host susceptibility to many infections. This study aimed to investigate the closely linked Lewis (FUT3) and ABO histo-blood types, including secretor (FUT2) status, to infections with SARS-CoV-2 and the corresponding severity of COVID-19.
Study design and methods: Patients (Caucasians, n = 338) were genotyped for ABO, FUT3 and FUT2, and compared to a reference population of blood donors (n = 250,298). The association between blood types and severity of COVID-19 was addressed by dividing patients into four categories: hospitalized individuals in general wards, patients admitted to the intensive care unit with and without intubation, and deceased patients. Comorbidities were considered in subsequent analyses.
Results: Patients with blood type Lewis (a-b-) or O were significantly less likely to be hospitalized (OR 0.669, CI 0.446-0.971, OR 0.710, CI 0.556-0.900, respectively), while type AB was significantly more prevalent in the patient cohort (OR 1.519, CI 1.014-. 2.203). The proportions of secretors/nonsecretors, and Lewis a + or Lewis b + types were consistent between patients and controls. The analyzed blood groups were not associated with the clinical outcome as defined.
Discussion: Blood types Lewis (a-b-) and O were found to be protective factors, whereas the group AB is suggested to be a risk factor for COVID-19. The antigens investigated may not be prognostic for disease severity, but a role for ABO isoagglutinins in SARS-CoV-2 infections is strongly suggested. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: ABO; COVID-19; Lewis; Secretor; host-pathogen interaction.