COVID-19 as a worldwide selective event and bitter taste receptor polymorphisms: An ecological correlational study

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2021-04, Vol.177, p.204-210
• Main Authors: Parsa, Shima, Mogharab, Vahid, Ebrahimi, Mohsen, Ahmadi, Sayyed Reza, Shahi, Behzad, Mehramiz, Neema John, Foroughian, Mahdi, Zarenezhad, Mohammad, Kalani, Navid, Abdi, Mohammad Hashem, Javdani, Farshid, Keshavarz, Pouyan, Hatami, Naser
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alleles; Correlation of Data; COVID-19; COVID-19 - genetics; COVID-19 - mortality; Databases, Factual; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Humans; Mortality; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - genetics; TAS2R38 gene; Taste - genetics
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.070

Given the observed olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions in patients with COVID-19 and recent findings on taste receptors possible important activities in the immune system, we elected to estimate the correlation between COVID-19 mortality and polymorphism of a particular type of bitter taste receptor gene called TAS2R38, in a worldwide epidemiological point of view. Pooled rate of each of the rs713598, rs1726866, rs10246939, and PAV/AVI polymorphisms of the TAS2R38 gene was obtained in different countries using a systematic review methodology and its relationship with the mortality of COVID-19. Data were analyzed by the comprehensive meta-analysis software and SPSS. There was only a significant reverse Pearson correlation in death counts and PAV/AVI ratio, p = 0.047, r = −0.503. Also, a significant reverse correlation of PAV/AVI ratio and death rate was seen, r = −0.572 p = 0.021. rs10246939 ratio had a significant positive correlation with death rate, r = 0.851 p = 0.031. Further analysis was not significant. Our results showed that the higher presence of PAV allele than AVI, and a higher rate of G allele than A in rs10246939 polymorphism in a country, could be associated with lower COVID-19 mortality. While assessing all three polymorphisms showed a huge diversity worldwide. Due to extraoral activities of bitter taste receptor genes, especially in mucosal immunity, this gene seems to be a good candidate for future studies on COVID-19 pathophysiology. Also, the high worldwide diversity of TAS2R38 genes polymorphism and its possible assassination with mortality raises concerns about the efficiency of vaccine projects in different ethnicities.