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Publications

Journal Article Review Epublish

PubMed: 39997467 DOI: 10.3390/idr17010015

Genetics of Long COVID: Exploring the Molecular Drivers of Persistent Pulmonary Vascular Disease Symptoms.

Infect Dis Rep 17(1)

Authors: Sana Ayyoub, Navneet Kaur Dhillon, Olga Tura-Ceide

Affiliations

  • Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Girona, 17004 Girona, Spain.
  • Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Mail Stop 3007, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
  • Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
  • Translational Research Group on Cardiovascular Respiratory Diseases (CAREs), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI-CERCA), Martí i Julià, Hospital Park Building M2, 17190 Salt, Spain. Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), 28029 Madrid, Spain.

Abstract

Long COVID or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) are symptoms that manifest despite passing the acute infection phase. These manifestations encompass a wide range of symptoms, the most common being fatigue, shortness of breath, and cognitive dysfunction. Genetic predisposition is clearly involved in the susceptibility of individuals to developing these persistent symptoms and the variation in the severity and forms. This review summarizes the role of genetic factors and gene polymorphisms in the development of major pulmonary vascular disorders associated with long COVID. A comprehensive review of current literature was conducted to examine the genetic contributions to pulmonary complications following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Studies investigating genetic polymorphisms linked to pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary thromboembolism, and pulmonary vascular endothelialitis were reviewed and summarized. Findings show that specific genetic variants contribute to increased susceptibility to pulmonary vascular complications in long COVID patients. Variants associated with endothelial dysfunction, coagulation pathways, and inflammatory responses have been implicated in the development of pulmonary hypertension and thromboembolic events. Genetic predispositions influencing vascular integrity and immune responses appear to influence disease severity and progression. Understanding these mechanisms and genetic predispositions could pave the way for targeted therapeutic interventions to alleviate the burden on patients experiencing long COVID.

MeSH

Genes, Hypertension, Hypertension, Pulmonary, Genetics, Genetic Predisposition To Disease, Signs And Symptoms, Vascular Diseases, Polymorphism, Genetic, Thrombosis, Infections, Post-Acute Covid-19 Syndrome

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