Introduction
Variation in host genetic factors may play a role in immune response and severity of influenza. This study investigated the association of host genetic factors with the severity of influenza A H1N1 in an Iranian population.
Methods
Nasopharyngeal swab samples from 97 patients were evaluated by PCR(+) test. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the studied genes were studied with iPLEX platform. The association of host genetic variants with influenza severity was assessed by logistic regression analysis.
Findings
Participants with severe influenza had a higher mean age than those with mild influenza, but this was not significant (P=0.3764). In mild influenza group, mean BMI levels were slightly higher (mean difference=3.8 kg/m2), although it was not significant (Pt-test=0.1098). Logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of G/A genotype at rs1800629, rs1800871, rs1801274, rs361525 and rs8070740 increased the risk of severe H1N1 influenza infection compared to G/G genotype. This association was significant only for rs1800629 (P=0.097) and rs1801274 (P=0.062) (at 0.1 level). This association was similar for A/A genotypes with a lower magnitude. The effect of other genotypes on severity of H1N1 influenza infection was not statistically significant.
Conclusion
In a sample of Iranian adult population, an association was observed between different SNPs and susceptibility to severe A/H1N1 influenza infection. The rs8070740 allele affected both susceptibility and severity of A/H1N1 infection in the Iranian population. Influenza pathogenicity is influenced by a multigene set of host and pathogen.