Association of Haptoglobin Heterozygosity (HP۱-۲) with the Risk of COVID-۱۹ Infection in a Sample of the Iranian Population

Background: COVID-۱۹ is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects the respiratory system and occasionally the gastrointestinal system, and it was declared a pandemic in ۲۰۲۰. Haptoglobin is an acute-phase protein and a potent antioxidant in the body, which exerts its antioxidant effect by binding to free hemoglobin. Haptoglobin has three main variants (Hp۱-۱, Hp۱-۲, Hp۲-۲), each with different antioxidant capacities. The purpose of this study is to investigate frequency of the haptoglobin variants in COVID-۱۹ patients compared to a control group. Methods: This study was conducted on ۱۴۸ COVID-۱۹ patients and ۱۴۵ healthy individuals from the Sistan and Baluchestan province. DNA was isolated from whole blood using the salt precipitation method, and the determination of haptoglobin genotypes (Hp۱-۱, Hp۱-۲, and Hp۲-۲) was performed using Conventional PCR. Results: This study analyzed haptoglobin (HP) genotypes in COVID-۱۹ patients and controls, finding no significant difference in HP variant frequencies between groups (p= ۰.۵۲۹). However, the HP۱-۲ genotype was associated with a twofold increased COVID-۱۹ risk in men (OR=۲.۰۶۹, p= ۰.۰۲۱), and the HP۱ allele significantly raised infection risk (OR= ۱.۶۲, p= ۰.۰۳۹). Hospitalizations and respiratory symptoms were significantly higher in COVID-۱۹ patients (p= ۰.۰۰۰۱ and p= ۰.۰۱۷۶, respectively). Conclusions: These results suggest that haptoglobin variants are not risk factors for COVID-۱۹ infection in the overall population (both males and females). However, men with the HP۱-۲ genotype are ۱.۹ times more likely to develop COVID-۱۹ infection compared to men with HP۱-۱ and HP ۲-۲ genotypes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Acute phase proteins ، SARS-CoV-۲ ، Antioxidant activity ، Haptoglobin protein