Multiomic analysis reveals cell-type-specific molecular determinants of COVID-19 severity

Sai Zhang, Johnathan Cooper-Knock, Annika K Weimer, Minyi Shi, Lina Kozhaya, Derya Unutmaz, Calum Harvey, Thomas H Julian, Simone Furini, Elisa Frullanti, Francesca Fava, Alessandra Renieri, Peng Gao, Xiaotao Shen, Ilia Sarah Timpanaro, Kevin P Kenna, J Kenneth Baillie, Mark M Davis, Philip S Tsao, Michael P Snyder

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

The determinants of severe COVID-19 in healthy adults are poorly understood, which limits the opportunity for early intervention. We present a multiomic analysis using machine learning to characterize the genomic basis of COVID-19 severity. We use single-cell multiome profiling of human lungs to link genetic signals to cell-type-specific functions. We discover >1,000 risk genes across 19 cell types, which account for 77% of the SNP-based heritability for severe disease. Genetic risk is particularly focused within natural killer (NK) cells and T cells, placing the dysfunction of these cells upstream of severe disease. Mendelian randomization and single-cell profiling of human NK cells support the role of NK cells and further localize genetic risk to CD56bright NK cells, which are key cytokine producers during the innate immune response. Rare variant analysis confirms the enrichment of severe-disease-associated genetic variation within NK-cell risk genes. Our study provides insights into the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 with potential therapeutic targets.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)598-614.e6
JournalCell Systems
Volume13
Issue number8
Early online date3 Jun 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Aug 2022

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • COVID-19
  • GWAS
  • Mendelian randomization
  • NK cell
  • gene discovery
  • genome-wide association study
  • machine learning
  • network analysis
  • rare variant analysis
  • single-cell multiomic profiling

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