Polymorphism of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Gene ( rs 2285666 ) and its susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and severity of the disease

Abstract

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms may alter severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binding or entry and increase lung or other organ tissue damage in the most prevalent genes, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and its close relative, ACE1. The goal of this study was to look at the severity of the illness, the involvement of the ACE2 gene polymorphism, and its vulnerability to coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) infection. Forty patients, both male and female, with a diagnosis of COVID-19, ages 25 to 70, participated in this retrospective case-control research, which was divided into two groups (Group II: diagnosed as mild COVID-19, and Group III: diagnosed with severe COVID-19) and 20 individuals as a control group. Compared to groups II and I, group III’s ACE2 serum level was considerably lower (p < 0.05). Ferritin, D-dimer, procalcitonin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and fibrinogen all showed a significant negative connection (p < 0.05). Significant positive correlations were found with oxygen saturation and relative lymphocyte presence (p < 0.05). Serum ACE2 and ferritin levels can significantly predict patients with SARS-CoV-2, respectively, at cutoff values of 23 and 75, with 90% and 92% sensitivity, 85% and 90% specificity. C-reactive protein, ferritin, procalcitonin, IL-6, and D-dimer showed a significant increase in patients with the GG genotype than the AA and GA genotypes in groups II and III (p < 0.05). ACE2 is the primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entrance into many bodily cells and is crucial to the pathophysiology of COVID-19. It may be a useful biomarker for assessing the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2, as demonstrated by the fact that COVID-19 patients had much lower blood levels of the virus than healthy controls.