The Association of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme ۲ Polymorphism and SARS-CoV-۲ Infection in the Iraqi Population

The quick and advancing prevalence of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-۲ produced a global crisis surge with a profound impact on human health and worldwide economic constancy. The virus is known as one strain of coronavirus, which causes the respiratory infection responsible for the current pandemic of COVID-۱۹. The virus spike protein has a high binding affinity to human ACE۲, depending on crystallization analysis and biochemical interaction studies. Studies consistently reveal that rs۲۲۸۵۶۶۶, a polymorphism found in ACE۲, diverse significantly between Europeans and Asians, changing ACE۲ expression. The alternating allele TT of rs۲۲۸۵۶۶۶ SNP increased gene expression to ۵۰%; thus, it may have a role in SARS-COV-۲ infection vulnerability. This study aimed to investigate rs۲۲۸۵۶۶۶ SNP association with SARS-CoV۲ infection as a first report in the Iraqi population. Fifty (۲۰ Male/۳۰ Female) Covid-۱۹ patients with severe symptoms with mean age (of ۴۱.۵±۱۰.۷) and ۵۰ (۲۰ Male/۳۰ Female) healthy people as a control group with mean age (of ۴۱.۵±۱۰.۷) were included in this study. Sample of a patient tested as a mutant genotype (TT) by RFLP assay. The results reveal a MAF value of ۰.۳ for this gene in Iraqi samples, more than Europeans (۰.۲) and less than East Asians (۰.۵۵). The codominant model had significant OR of both alleles CT and TT (OR=۴.۲۶ & ۶.۷; P-value=۰.۰۱۲ & ۰.۰۲۳ respectively). In conclusion, there is an association between increased severity of SARS-Cov-۲ infection and rs۲۲۸۵۶۶۶ polymorphism of the codominant genotype model of the Iraqi population. However, several other factors may affect disease severity, such as ethnic group differences, sex, comorbidity, virus strain, and others.

Keywords:

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme ۲ , Polymorphism , SARS-CoV-۲