Genetic variants rs1800629 in TNF and rs2228145 in IL6R: Association with adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) and SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies in western Mexico population that received AZD1222 vaccine

Introduction

In this research, we evaluated the association of genetic variants rs1800629 in TNF and rs2228145 in IL6R with production of neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and the frequency of adverse effects following immunisation (AEFIs) in adult population from Western of Mexico that received AZD1222 vaccination.

Methods

117 adults were evaluated [33 years (23–40), 65% women]. The self-reported frequency of AEFIs was recorded and the percentage of post-vaccination neutralising antibodies was quantified. The identification of rs1800629 variant in TNF and rs2228145 in IL6R was performed by qPCR.

Results

The genotype frequencies of rs1800629 variant were: GG (86%) and GA (14%), and for rs2228145 variant were: AA (20%), CA (48%), and CC (32%). The percentage of post-vaccination antibodies was similar between men and women (median, 97.24%). An association was found between the frequency of AEFIs with the sex; being adynamia (P = .0243), chills (P = .0085), arthralgia (P = .0227), and pain in application area (P = .0096) more frequent in women. The GA genotype of rs1800629 variant showed an association with fever (P = .0131) and arthralgia (P = .0058) post-vaccination, but no relationship was found with the production of neutralising antibodies after AZD1222 vaccination. The rs2228145 variant was not associated with the production of antibodies nor with the AEFIs reported.

Conclusion

The genetic variants rs1800629 in TNF and rs222815 in IL6R are not associated with the production of neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after receiving AZD1222 scheme in population from western of Mexico; however, the results suggest that rs1800629 variant increases the frequency of post-vaccination events, particularly fever and arthralgia.