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WCID 2023

Sunita Girish

Sunita Girish, Speaker at Infection Conferences
B. J. Medical College, India
Title : The methylation status of vitamin d genes in correlation with Interleukin-6 levels in cytokine storm in severe covid-19 patients

Abstract:

Background

Cytokine storm in vitamin D deficient covid-19   is characterized by increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, where Vitamin D deficiency increases- the risk of Covid -19 severity. However, the epigenetic contribution of methylation of Vitamin D genes associated with vitamin D metabolism to the inflammatory status is poorly understood.

Method

In our study, we hypothesized that Vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for Covid -19, through epigenetic modifications in inflammatory markers. Therefore, we aimed to study the level of proinflammatory cytokines IL6 gene and methylation status of genes related to vitamin D metabolism in severe Covid-19 patients. and evaluate their association with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). We included 48 participants with severe Covid19 patients (RTPCR positive).

Result

We found that the majority of the studied vitamin D genes are hypo-methylated in Covid-19 patients. In addition, serum 25(OH)D was associated with methylation of key vitamin D genes and interleukin (IL)6 levels in severe Covid-19 patients. Our study suggests a potential correlation between epigenetic regulation of vitamin D affecting further levels of the inflammatory marker, IL6 – in Covid-19 patients, in which 25(OH)D may mediate this risk.

Conclusion

Therefore, vitamin D could affect the epigenetic status of IL6, which can be considered for additional preventive strategies in Covid -19 patients.

Biography:

Dr. Sunita Girish holds a Ph.D. in Medical Biochemistry from Pune University, which was awarded in 2005. The topic of their research was the antioxidant status in Leprosy. They currently hold the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at B.J.G.M.C. in Pune. In 2014, Dr. Sunita Girish was a BJGMC-JHU HIV-TB Fogarty fellow. Their research interests include studying the molecular mechanisms of TB latency, developing rapid molecular diagnostic methods for the detection of TB and drug resistance, and expanding laboratory capacity for the isolation and characterization of TB. Dr. Sunita Girish is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Genetics, specifically studying the Vitamin D methylation status in Covid patients.

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