Original Research

Role of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 polymorphisms in clinical severity and outcomes of COVID-19 in Egypt

Walaa Samy, Osama A. Gaber, Rania M. Amer, Nahawand A. El-Deeb, Ahmed A. Abdelmoaty, Ahmed L. Sharaf, Ahmed M. El-Gebaly, Rasha Mosbah, Maha E. Alsadik, Amal Fawzy, Alshymaa A. Ahmed
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine | Vol 13, No 1 | a2375 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v13i1.2375 | © 2024 Walaa Samy, Osama A. Gaber, Rania M. Amer, Nahawand A. El-Deeb, Ahmed A. Abdelmoaty, Ahmed L. Sharaf, Ahmed M. El-Gebaly, Rasha Mosbah, Maha E. Alsadik, Amal Fawzy, Alshymaa A. Ahmed | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 21 November 2023 | Published: 27 August 2024

About the author(s)

Walaa Samy, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Osama A. Gaber, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Rania M. Amer, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Nahawand A. El-Deeb, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Ahmed A. Abdelmoaty, Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Ahmed L. Sharaf, Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Ahmed M. El-Gebaly, Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Rasha Mosbah, Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Zagazig University Hospitals, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Maha E. Alsadik, Chest Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Amal Fawzy, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Alshymaa A. Ahmed, Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Abstract

Background: The clinical presentations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exhibit significant variation, ranging from asymptomatic cases to mortality resulting from severe pneumonia. Host genetics can partially explain this variation.

Objective: This study evaluated possible associations between severity and outcome of COVID-19 and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2285666 in the ACE2 gene and SNP rs2070788 in the TMPRSS2 gene.

Methods: The study included a sample of 100 consecutive adult patients admitted to the COVID-19 Isolation and Intensive Care Units of the Zagazig University Hospitals, Zagazig, Egypt from July 2021 to November 2021. For rs2285666, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was carried out. For rs2070788, real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed.

Results: For rs2285666, the GA genotype was the most frequent among female patients (39% [16/41]) and the A genotype was more prevalent among male patients (54.2% [32/59]). For rs2070788, the AA genotype was the most frequent among all patients (46% [46/100]). No rs2285666 or rs2070788 genotypes or allele frequencies had significant associations with either severity or outcomes of patients.

Conclusion: This study found no significant associations of COVID-19 severity or outcomes of patients with genotypes or allele frequencies of the rs2285666 SNP in the ACE2 gene or the rs2070788 SNP of the TMPRSS2 gene. The search for other genetic associations with COVID-19 infection is still required.

What this study adds: The study reveals that host genetics explain the variation observed in the disease. Specific genetic variants can confer either increased susceptibility or resistance to the disease.


Keywords

ACE2 gene; TMPRSS2 gene; single nucleotide polymorphisms; COVID-19; severity; outcome

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

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