biostudies-literatureBenetti ETelethon1602-1614https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7366459biostudies-literatureUnknown28(11)In December 2019, an initial cluster of interstitial bilateral pneumonia emerged in Wuhan, China. A human-to-human transmission was assumed and a previously unrecognized entity, termed coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) due to a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was described. The infection has rapidly spread out all over the world and Italy has been the first European country experiencing the endemic wave with unexpected clinical severity in comparison with Asian countries. It has been shown that SARS-CoV-2 utilizes angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as host receptor and host proteases for cell surface binding and internalization. Thus, a predisposing genetic background can give reason for interindividual disease susceptibility and/or severity. Taking advantage of the Network of Italian GEuropean journal of human genetics : EJHGACE2 gene variants may underlie interindividual variability and susceptibility to COVID-19 in the Italian population.PMC7366459GTB12001TGM16S01GTB18001Aucella FCarella MMasucci LMerla GScotton PGLudovisi SMantovani SCoviello DARusso RRiva AAmitrano SBergantini LDonati AOgnibene AMinardi CMencarelli MAGuidelli LBaldassarri MAndolfo IMandala MTita RCaldarelli GPBennet DBrusco ADesanctis ENigro VAnedda FVenturelli SGabrieli AScaggiante RBassetti MFeri MD'Alessandro MIolascon AMarcantonio SDaga SMenatti EMusacchia FLena FMatullo GScolletta SGiliberti AMagro PPiacentini PPippucci TPalmieri MFabbiani MRenieri ASpargi GVaghi MAntinori AAsselta RBaratti STartaglia MMontagnani FBandini MDi Biagio AGuerrini SPerna RTrezza AFava FMerlini ECiolfi ATorella ASeri MSita MQuiros-Roldan MESpagnesi MBargagli ESpertilli CBruttini MCastori MSiano MGiorli ACanaccini AAnemoli VPinto AMFrediani BRusconi STacconi DTrotta TMazzei MATommasi AGiannattasio FPanese SZucchi PEmiliozzi ABirolo GGEN-COVID Multicenter StudyZanelli GCorridi MMari FGabbi CPiscopo CAndretta FDi Sarno LCoiro GRaggi PDella Monica MParravicini PVergori AMondelli MUSpiga ONencioni CCastelli FVerzuri ACastelli DRizzo CLParisi SGSanguinetti MFrancisci DValentino FFranchi FValente SD'Arminio Monforte AScala RCroci LDoddato GCroci SCossarizza AGirardis MFurini SConticini ESalerni LMarconi CCantarini LSchiaroli ECapasso MMarciano CFallerini CCameli PBenetti EFiorentino GMeloni IRossetti BMussini CBruselles AFrullanti EPolesini IfalseACE2 gene variants may underlie interindividual variability and susceptibility to COVID-19 in the Italian population.In December 2019, an initial cluster of interstitial bilateral pneumonia emerged in Wuhan, China. A human-to-human transmission was assumed and a previously unrecognized entity, termed coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) due to a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was described. The infection has rapidly spread out all over the world and Italy has been the first European country experiencing the endemic wave with unexpected clinical severity in comparison with Asian countries. It has been shown that SARS-CoV-2 utilizes angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as host receptor and host proteases for cell surface binding and internalization. Thus, a predisposing genetic background can give reason for interindividual disease susceptibility and/or severity. Taking advantage of the Network of Italian G2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Nov2026-05-03T00:06:55.328Z2020-09-12T07:04:40ZS-EPMC73664593268112110.1038/s41431-020-0691-z