Exome-wide association study to identify rare variants influencing COVID-19 outcomes: Results from the Host Genetics Initiative

Abstract

Host genetics is a key determinant of COVID-19 outcomes. Previously, the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative genome-wide association study used common variants to identify multiple loci associated with COVID-19 outcomes. However, variants with the largest impact on COVID-19 outcomes are expected to be rare in the population. Hence, studying rare variants may provide additional insights into disease susceptibility and pathogenesis, thereby informing therapeutics development. Here, we combined whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing from 21 cohorts across 12 countries and performed rare variant exome-wide burden analyses for COVID-19 outcomes. In an analysis of 5,085 severe disease cases and 571,737 controls, we observed that carrying a rare deleterious variant in the SARS-CoV-2 sensor toll-like receptor TLR7 (on chromosome X) was associated with a 5.3-fold increase in severe disease (95% CI: 2.75–10.05, p = 5.41x10^-7). This association was consistent across sexes. These results further support TLR7 as a genetic determinant of severe disease and suggest that larger studies on rare variants influencing COVID-19 outcomes could provide additional insights. COVID-19 clinical outcomes vary immensely, but a patient’s genetic make-up is an important determinant of how they will fare against the virus. While many genetic variants commonly found in the populations were previously found to be contributing to more severe disease by the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative, it isn’t clear if more rare variants found in less individuals could also play a role. This is important because genetic variants with the largest impact on COVID-19 severity are expected to be rarely found in the population, and these rare variants require different technologies to be studies (usually whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing). Here, we combined sequencing results from 21 cohorts across 12 countries to perform a rare variant association study. In an analysis comprising 5,085 participants with severe COVID-19 and 571,737 controls, we found that the gene for toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) on chromosome X was an important determinant of severe COVID-19. Importantly, despite being found on a sex chromosome, this observation was consistent across both sexes.