Study Reveals Genetic Variant Protecting Men Under 75 from Severe COVID-19
Researchers from NYU Grossman School of Medicine have identified a genetic variant (IL1RN) linked to a reduced risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 among men under 75. Published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases on March 13, the study highlights the protective role of a variant of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) gene, known as rs419598, in dampening inflammation associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study, which analyzed blood samples from 2,589 hospitalized COVID-19 patients at NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital in Manhattan, found that men possessing the IL1RN variant were significantly less likely to experience severe illness or mortality. Specifically, men aged 19 to 74 with the rs419598 variant exhibited an 80% reduced risk of death from COVID-19. This protective effect was attributed to the variant’s ability to modulate inflammation, preventing the excessive tissue damage often observed in severe cases of COVID-19. Lead investigator Dr. Mukundan G. Attu...