18/7/24
Lack of association between classical HLA genes and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection
Marchal A, Cirulli ET, Neveux I, Bellos E, Thwaites RS, Schiabor Barrett KM, Zhang Y, Nemes-Bokun I, Kalinova M, Catchpole A, Tangye SG, Spaan AN, Lack JB, Ghosn J, Burdet C, Gorochov G, Tubach F, Hausfater P; COVID Human Genetic Effort; COVIDeF Study Group; French COVID Cohort Study Group; CoV-Contact Cohort; COVID-STORM Clinicians; COVID Clinicians; Orchestra Working Group; Amsterdam UMC Covid-19 Biobank; NIAID-USUHS COVID Study Group; Dalgard CL, Zhang SY, Zhang Q, Chiu C, Fellay J, Grzymski JJ, Sancho-Shimizu V, Abel L, Casanova JL, Cobat A, Bolze A
Human genetic studies of critical COVID-19 pneumonia have revealed the essential role of type I interferon-dependent innate immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conversely, an association between the HLA-B∗15:01 allele and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in unvaccinated individuals was recently reported, suggesting a contribution of pre-existing T cell-dependent adaptive immunity. We report a lack of association of classical HLA alleles, including HLA-B∗15:01, with pre-omicron asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in unvaccinated participants in a prospective population-based study in the United States (191 asymptomatic vs. 945 symptomatic COVID-19 cases). Moreover, we found no such association in the international COVID Human Genetic Effort cohort (206 asymptomatic vs. 574 mild or moderate COVID-19 cases and 1,625 severe or critical COVID-19 cases). Finally, in the Human Challenge Characterisation study, the three HLA-B∗15:01 individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 developed symptoms. As with other acute primary infections studied, no classical HLA alleles favoring an asymptomatic course of SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified.