Potential Role of TLR3 and RIG-I Genes Expression in Surviving COVID-19 Patients with Different Severity of Infection

Abstract

      Immunological genes, including TLR3 and RIG-I, have recently been established to have linked to predisposition to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its severity. The purpose of this case-control study (100 recovered COVID 19 cases and 100 healthy individuals) was to determine the role of gender, age, TLR3 and RIG-I genes in COVID-19 aggressiveness. TLR3 and RIG-I gene expression was detected using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). COVID-19 infection intensity increased with age and no statistical difference between males and females (p>0.05) was found. TLR3 and RIG-I gene expression levels were higher in patients compared to healthy which is positively connected to infection severity development. The aforementioned genes have a favorable relationship in screening COVID-19 infection.  According to receiver operating characteristic curve these genes have high sensitivity in assessing COVID-19 infection. This study found that age, TLR3 and RIG-I genes may play a role in COVID-19 predisposition worsening.