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Proteome-wide Mendelian randomization identifies causal links between blood proteins and severe COVID-19.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Millischer, Vincent  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1919-9649
Nicholson, Timothy R  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2350-2332
Taams, Leonie S 

Abstract

In November 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic death toll surpassed five million individuals. We applied Mendelian randomization including >3,000 blood proteins as exposures to identify potential biomarkers that may indicate risk for hospitalization or need for respiratory support or death due to COVID-19, respectively. After multiple testing correction, using genetic instruments and under the assumptions of Mendelian Randomization, our results were consistent with higher blood levels of five proteins GCNT4, CD207, RAB14, C1GALT1C1, and ABO being causally associated with an increased risk of hospitalization or respiratory support/death due to COVID-19 (ORs = 1.12-1.35). Higher levels of FAAH2 were solely associated with an increased risk of hospitalization (OR = 1.19). On the contrary, higher levels of SELL, SELE, and PECAM-1 decrease risk of hospitalization or need for respiratory support/death (ORs = 0.80-0.91). Higher levels of LCTL, SFTPD, KEL, and ATP2A3 were solely associated with a decreased risk of hospitalization (ORs = 0.86-0.93), whilst higher levels of ICAM-1 were solely associated with a decreased risk of respiratory support/death of COVID-19 (OR = 0.84). Our findings implicate blood group markers and binding proteins in both hospitalization and need for respiratory support/death. They, additionally, suggest that higher levels of endocannabinoid enzymes may increase the risk of hospitalization. Our research replicates findings of blood markers previously associated with COVID-19 and prioritises additional blood markers for risk prediction of severe forms of COVID-19. Furthermore, we pinpoint druggable targets potentially implicated in disease pathology.

Description

Funder: Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre


Funder: Addenbrooke’s Charities Trust


Funder: NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)


Funder: Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust


Funder: King’s College London

Keywords

Biomarkers, Blood Proteins, COVID-19, Causality, Genome-Wide Association Study, Hospitalization, Humans, Mendelian Randomization Analysis, Mortality, Pandemics, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Prognosis, Proteome, Respiratory Insufficiency, Risk Factors, SARS-CoV-2, Severity of Illness Index

Journal Title

PLoS Genet

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1553-7390
1553-7404

Volume Title

18

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (UKRI/MRC)
Medical Research Council (MRC/UKRI MR/V007181//1)
Medical Research Council (MR/T028750/1)
Wellcome Trust (ISSF201902/3)
Lundbeckfonden (R276-2018-4581)
MRC Newton Fund (MR/S019960/1)
MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (MR/R015406/1)
National Institute for Health Research (153195 17/60/67, 126156 17/63/11, and 200907)