{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,21]],"date-time":"2026-04-21T19:26:05Z","timestamp":1776799565247,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"24","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,15]],"date-time":"2024-12-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1734220800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Biruni University Scientific Research Coordination Unit (BIRATTO)","award":["Biruni-BAP-2020-01-09"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Biruni-BAP-2020-01-09"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Aim: Loss of smell, also known as anosmia, is a prevalent and often prolonged symptom following infection with SARS-CoV-2. While many patients regain olfactory function within weeks, a significant portion experience persistent anosmia lasting over a year post-infection. The underlying mechanisms responsible for this sensory deficit remain largely uncharacterized. Previous studies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), have identified genetic variants near the UGT2A1 and UGT2A2 genes that are linked to anosmia in COVID-19 patients. However, the role of epigenetic changes in the development and persistence of smell loss has not been well explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate epigenetic alterations in the form of DNA methylation in the UGT1A1 gene, which is a locus associated with olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients. Methods: We analysed DNA methylation patterns in blood samples from two carefully matched cohorts of 20 COVID-19 patients each, which are differentiated by their olfactory function\u2014those with normal smell (normosmia) and those suffering from smell loss (anosmia). The cohorts were matched for age and sex to minimize potential confounding factors. Results: Using quantitative analysis, we found significantly lower levels of DNA methylation in the UGT1A1 locus in the anosmia group compared to the normosmia group, with a 14% decrease in median methylation values in patients with smell loss (p &lt; 0.0001). These findings highlight potential epigenomic alterations in the UGT1A1 gene that may contribute to the pathogenesis of anosmia following COVID-19 infection. Our results suggest that the methylation status at this locus could serve as a biomarker for olfactory dysfunction in affected individuals. Conclusion: This study is among the first to describe epigenetic changes associated with smell loss in COVID-19, providing a foundation for future research into targeted interventions and potential therapeutic strategies aimed at reversing persistent anosmia. Further investigations involving larger cohorts and additional loci may help elucidate the complex interaction between genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors influencing long-term sensory impairment post-COVID-19.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics14242823","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,16]],"date-time":"2024-12-16T09:17:58Z","timestamp":1734340678000},"page":"2823","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["An Epigenetic Locus Associated with Loss of Smell in COVID-19"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3081-9004","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elif Sibel","family":"Aslan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biruni University, Merkezefendi, 75 Sk No:1-13 M.G., 34015 Istanbul, Turkey"},{"name":"Biruni University Research Center (B@MER), Biruni University, 34015 Istanbul, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6103-9078","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kenneth","family":"White","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Human Sciences, London Metropolitan University, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0567-7702","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gulsen","family":"Meral","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"President\u2019s Office, Department of Pediatrics, Nutrigenetics and Epigenetics Association, 34000 Istanbul, Turkey"},{"name":"Epigenetics Coaching, 262a Fulham Road, Suite 1, First Floor, Chelsea, London SW10 9EL, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Zeyneb Nur","family":"Akcay","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biruni University, Merkezefendi, 75 Sk No:1-13 M.G., 34015 Istanbul, Turkey"},{"name":"Biruni University Research Center (B@MER), Biruni University, 34015 Istanbul, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Aytug","family":"Altundag","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Biruni University, Merkezefendi, 75 Sk No:1-13 M.G., 34015 Istanbul, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Savas","family":"Gur","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Independent Researcher, 17000 \u00c7anakkale, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2119-3801","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mehmet","family":"Dokur","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, 11230 Bilecik, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mehmet Akif","family":"Baktir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, 38030 Kayseri, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4803-9137","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lutfiye","family":"Karcioglu Batur","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biruni University, Merkezefendi, 75 Sk No:1-13 M.G., 34015 Istanbul, Turkey"},{"name":"Biruni University Research Center (B@MER), Biruni University, 34015 Istanbul, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaip.2020.10.036","article-title":"The Importance of Considering Olfactory Dysfunction During the COVID-19 Pandemic and in Clinical Practice","volume":"9","author":"Desai","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. 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