Impact of I/D polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) gene on the severity of COVID-19 patients

Infect Genet Evol. 2021 Jul:91:104801. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104801. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has first emerged from China in December 2019 and causes coronavirus induced disease 19 (COVID-19). Since then researchers worldwide have been struggling to detect the possible pathogenesis of this disease. COVID-19 showed a wide range of clinical behavior from asymptomatic to severe acute respiratory disease syndrome. However, the etiology of susceptibility to severe lung injury is not yet fully understood. Angiotensin-converting enzyme1 (ACE1) convert angiotensin I into Angiotensin II that was further metabolized by ACE 2 (ACE2). The binding ACE2 receptor to SARS-CoV-2 facilitate its enter into the host cell. The interaction and imbalance between ACE1 and ACE2 play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of lung injury. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association of ACE1 I/D polymorphism with severity of Covid-19. The study included RT-PCR confirmed 269 cases of Covid-19. All cases were genotyped for ACE1 I/D polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction and followed by statistical analysis (SPSS, version 15.0). We found that ACE1 DD genotype, frequency of D allele, older age (≥46 years), unmarried status, and presence of diabetes and hypertension were significantly higher in severe COVID-19 patient. ACE1 ID genotype was significantly independently associated with high socio-economic COVID-19 patients (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.331-4.609). These data suggest that the ACE1 genotype may impact the incidence and clinical outcome of COVID-19 and serve as a predictive marker for COVID-19 risk and severity.

Keywords: ACE I/D polymorphism; ADRS; Covid-19; RT-PCR; SARS-COV2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Amino Acid Substitution*
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / genetics
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / metabolism
  • Aspartic Acid / genetics
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / genetics*
  • COVID-19 / mortality
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • Comorbidity
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / genetics
  • Humans
  • Hypertension
  • India / epidemiology
  • Isoleucine / genetics
  • Isoleucine / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / genetics*
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Isoleucine
  • Aspartic Acid
  • ACE protein, human
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2