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The most relevant genetic factor in coronavirus transmission is the gene coding for the cell surface protein angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which the coronavirus uses to enter airway cells. Variations in the ACE2 gene that alter the receptor could make it easier or harder for the virus to get into cells. The ACE2-expressing cells in lung tissues are more pronounced in East Asians than other populations, according to the new study published in Nature, which may suggest different susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 from different populations under the similar conditions. Fig. 1c shows Africans are more susceptible to Covid-19 than Caucasians but less susceptible to Covid-19 than East Asians. Allele frequencies of ACE2 could be much lower among Scandinavians and more research is needed.
Fig. 1: The coding-region variants and eQTL variants for ACE2 in East Asian and other populations.
In summary, we systematically analyzed coding-region variants in ACE2 and the eQTL variants, which may affect the expression of ACE2 using the GTEx database to compare the genomic characteristics of ACE2 among different populations. Our findings indicated that no direct evidence was identified genetically supporting the existence of coronavirus S-protein binding-resistant ACE2 mutants in different populations (Fig. 1a). The data of variant distribution and AFs may contribute to the further investigations of ACE2, including its roles in acute lung injury and lung function12. The East Asian populations have much higher AFs in the eQTL variants associated with higher ACE2 expression in tissues (Fig. 1c), which may suggest different susceptibility or response to 2019-nCoV/SARS-CoV-2 from different populations under the similar conditions.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41421-020-0147-1
Fig. 1: The coding-region variants and eQTL variants for ACE2 in East Asian and other populations.
In summary, we systematically analyzed coding-region variants in ACE2 and the eQTL variants, which may affect the expression of ACE2 using the GTEx database to compare the genomic characteristics of ACE2 among different populations. Our findings indicated that no direct evidence was identified genetically supporting the existence of coronavirus S-protein binding-resistant ACE2 mutants in different populations (Fig. 1a). The data of variant distribution and AFs may contribute to the further investigations of ACE2, including its roles in acute lung injury and lung function12. The East Asian populations have much higher AFs in the eQTL variants associated with higher ACE2 expression in tissues (Fig. 1c), which may suggest different susceptibility or response to 2019-nCoV/SARS-CoV-2 from different populations under the similar conditions.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41421-020-0147-1
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