P1600: ANTIGENS OF THE DUFFY BLOOD GROUP SYSTEM AND RISK OF COVID-19 INFECTION

Background: The Duffy blood group antigens are transmembrane glycoproteins, represented by two specificities (Fy^a and Fy^b), also known as atypical chemokine receptor 1 (ACKR1). These structures are located not only on the red blood cell membrane, but also on the vascular endothelium, alveoli, epithelium of the renal tubules, and cerebellar neurons. The biological role of the Duffy system is to bind inflammatory chemokines and inhibit excessive leukocyte activation. The antigens also serve as receptors for viruses and malaria plasmodia to enter the cell. Therefore, the study of the participation of the Duffy blood group system in the development of COVID-19 infection is of particular interest.

Aims: The aim of study was to compare the distribution of Duffy blood group antigens in individuals with and without COVID-19.

Methods: The distribution of antigens of the Duffy blood group system was studied in 329 donors of blood components using equipment and reagents from BioRad (USA), OrthoClinicalDiagnostics (USA). The study was held from February 2020 to February 2021 (before the start of vaccination). 71 people had COVID-19, 258 didn’t. Age ranged from 20 to 63 years, median 38 years. Reliability of the diagnosis of COVID-19 is confirmed by a positive PCR test result and/or the presence of class G antibodies to the SARS-Cov2 virus. Statistical processing was performed using Fisher’s exact test.

Results: The Fy^a antigen was detected in 75.2% of those who did not become ill and in 60.6% of those who had COVID-19 (p<0.05). The frequency of Fy^b in donors with and without a new coronavirus infection was comparable, 78.9% and 77.5% respectively. The disease was less common in the individuals with the Fy^a phenotype. The COVID-19 incidence in them was 18.1%, while without the Fy^a antigen it reached 30.4% (p=0.02). Carriage of the Fy^b antigen had no effect on the incidence of the disease, 21.9% in individuals with the presence of Fy^b and 20.5% without it.

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Summary/Conclusion: The Fy^a antigen showed a protective effect against COVID-19, its absence increased the risk of the disease by 1.5 times. The obtained results indicate the impact of blood group systems on the risk of COVID-19 infection, but the issue requires further study.