Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 SNPs as Common Genetic Loci and Optimal Early Identification Genetic Markers for COVID-19.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is implicated as a host cell receptor that causes infection in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and its genetic polymorphisms in the ACE2 gene may promote cardiovascular disease and systemic inflammatory injury in COVID-19 patients. Hence, the genetic background may potentially explain the broad interindividual variation in disease susceptibility and/or severity.

Methods

Genetic susceptibility to COVID-19 was analyzed by examining single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ACE2 in 246 patients with COVID-19 and 210 normal controls using the TaqMan genotyping assay.

Results

We demonstrated that the ACE2 SNPs rs4646142, rs6632677, and rs2074192 were associated with COVID-19 (for all, p  <  0.05), and the differences in the ACE2 SNPs rs4646142 and rs6632677 were correlated with COVID-19-related systemic inflammatory injury and cardiovascular risk. Specifically, rs4646142 was associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), prealbumin (PAB), apolipoprotein A (APOA), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and acid glycoprotein (AGP) levels. Rs6632677 was also associated with elevated CRP, acid glycoprotein (AGP), and haptoglobin (HPT).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the ACE2 SNPs rs4646142 and rs6632677 may be common genetic loci and optimal early identification genetic markers for COVID-19 with cardiovascular risk.

SUBMITTER: Ma Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9415427 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature