Intronic Variants of the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Gene Modulate Plasma ACE2 Levels and Possibly Confer Protection against Severe COVID-19.

ABSTRACT: Membrane-bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor acts as the entry point for the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Polymorphisms in the ACE2 gene may alter viral binding, regulate the expression of ACE2, and thus, affect disease severity. In this study, 68 COVID-19 patients with varying degrees of severity and 40 healthy controls were enrolled. The genetic landscape of the ACE2 gene was explored by whole exome sequencing of 29 individuals, and specific regions of ACE2 were analyzed for the rest of the participants via PCR, followed by barcode-tagged sequencing. The mean soluble ACE2 level in the plasma of healthy controls and patients did not vary significantly but was higher in the patient group (3.77 ± 1.55 ng/mL vs. 3.94 ± 1.42 ng/mL). Analysis of

SUBMITTER: Ahmed R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10622595 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature