Genomics of Type 1 Diabetes in Ukraine Initiative

616.379-008.64:575.1

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a complex autoimmune disorder with a strong genetic component. While ge-nome-wide association studies have identified over 90 loci associated with T1D, the contribution of rare, coding, and population-specific variants remains poorly explored. A new international collaborative effort, based in Ukraine in partnership with Uzhhorod National University and coordinated with Oakland University, was launched to enrol 20,000 individuals (10,000 clinically confirmed T1D cases and 10,000 ethnically/geographically matched controls) from Ukraine and neighbouring Poland, generate high-coverage whole-exome sequences (WES) and genome-wide genotypes, and create an open, GDPR-compliant data resource.Genomics of Type 1 Diabetes in Ukraine initiative established a nationwide network of endocrinologists linked to a –80 °C biobank and REDCap phenotyping platform at Uzhhorod National University (Uzhhorod, Ukraine). Peripheral-blood DNA is extracted locally; WES (Illumina No-vaSeq X, Twist capture) and array genotyping are performed at the Regeneron Genetics Center (NY, USA), with joint calling and quality control on the HPC cluster (Oakland University, MI, USA).Despite wartime logistical constraints, more than 12,000 volunteer participants were recruited across Ukraine, and high-quality exome and genotype data were generated for 10,000 samples for a case-control genome-wide association study. Association testing is underway to confirm the known and identify several new Eastern-European-specific coding variants; re-analysis of exomes also enabled molecular re-diagnosis of monogenic diabetes in multiple families.

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Coronavirus as a Trigger Of Graves’ Disease

Context

SARS-CoV-2 infection was declared a pandemic in 2020 and affected millions of people worldwide. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptors, through which coronavirus enters the cells of different organs, have been detected in the thyroid gland. The most common cause of thyrotoxicosis is Graves’ disease in which thyroid-receptors antibodies (TRAb) stimulate the TSH receptor, increasing thyroid hormone production and release.

Case presentation

A 22-year-old woman had symptoms of palpitation, tremor, muscle weakness, anxiety and sleep disturbance. 3 weeks before the onset of these symptoms, the patient suffered from COVID-19, which lasted 14 days and was characterized by a course of moderate severity with fever up to 38°C, general weakness without shortness of breath. The patient had no pre-existing thyroid problems. Her TSH was <0.01 mU/L, FT4, FT3 and TRAb were increased. Antithyroid drugs, glucocorticosteroids and β-blockers were prescribed. During 3 months of treatment doses of methimazole, methylprednisolone and bisoprolol were gradually reduced due to the improvement of the patient’s condition and thyroid tests normalization.

Conclusions

COVID-19 infection can cause Graves’ disease and thyrotoxicosis. The onset of this disease after SARS-CoV-2 does not depend on the presence of pre-existing thyroid pathology and requires the appointment of glucocortisteroids.

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