Evaluating the Role of BglI rs739837 and TaqI rs731236 Polymorphisms in Vitamin D Receptor with SARS-CoV-2 Variants Mortality Rate

Abstract

A lack of vitamin D is a potential risk factor for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Variants in the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene, such as BglI rs739837 and TaqI rs731236, are associated with various viral infection progressions. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the BglI rs739837 and TaqI rs731236 polymorphisms and the mortality rate of COVID-19 based on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) variants. The genotyping of BglI rs739837 and TaqI rs731236 genotypes was analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism in 1734 improved and 1450 deceased patients positive for SARS-CoV-2. In this study, the rate of COVID-19 mortality was correlated with TaqI rs731236 TC and CC in the α variant and with TaqI rs731236 CC in the Delta variant, whereas no relationship was found in the Omicron BA.5 variant. In addition, the rate of COVID-19 mortality was associated with BglI rs739837 GT and TT in the Omicron BA.5 variant, while there was no association between BglI rs739837 and COVID-19 mortality in the α and Delta variants. The TG haplotype was more common in all SARS-CoV-2 variants, while the CT haplotype was associated with COVID-19 mortality in the Delta and Omicron BA.5 variants. In conclusion, this study indicated that the impacts of BglI rs739837 and TaqI rs731236 polymorphisms were related to SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, further research is still needed to approve our findings.

The Association of Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms with COVID-19 Severity

“…Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case-control study evaluating the association between VDR polymorphisms and severity of COVID-19 in the Greek population. Our findings are in line with other studies showing a positive association of the TaqI C allele with COVID-19 morbidity [ 16 , 29 ].…”

Pharmacological evaluation of vitamin D in COVID-19 and long COVID-19: recent studies confirm clinical validation and highlight metformin to improve VDR sensitivity and efficacy

“…The TaqI variant allele and the FF variant FokI genotype can alter response to vitamin D supplementation and are associated with a better response (Usategui-Martín et al 2022 ). Other researchers indicated that the mortality rate or severity of SARS-CoV-2 with different variants was associated with a low level of 25-OHD and that VDR SNPs regulate susceptibility to infection with COVID-19 (Camporesi et al 2022 ; Al-Gharawi et al 2023 ; Albu-Mohammed et al 2022 ; Protas et al 2023 ). Furthermore, it has been shown that patients with FokI and TaqI gene polymorphisms may be at higher risk of COVID-19 pandemic infection, and VD supplementation is recommended for individuals in the period surrounding or after the COVID-19 pandemic (Mamurova et al 2023 ; Zeidan et al 2023 ; Shawi et al 2023 ) .…”

Micronutrients, genetics and COVID-19

“…Another Iranian study analyzed two VDR genetic variants [rs739837 (BglI) and rs731236 (TaqI)] in patients infected with alpha, delta or omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Their results suggested that genetic variants may be either protective or risk factors in COVID-19 depending on the virus strain [41]. Yet another study from Iran enrolled 500 patients with COVID-19 (160 asymptomatic, 250 mild/moderate, and 90 severe/critical cases) to analyze eight variants in VDR gene as risk factors of severe COVID-19.…”