Angiotensin System Polymorphisms' in SARS-CoV-2 Positive Patients: Assessment Between Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients: A Pilot Study

• Published in: Pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine 2021-01, Vol.14, p.621-629
• Main Authors: Cafiero, Concetta, Rosapepe, Felice, Palmirotta, Raffaele, Re, Agnese, Ottaiano, Maria Pia, Benincasa, Giulio, Perone, Romina, Varriale, Elisa, D'Amato, Gerardo, Cacciamani, Andrea, Micera, Alessandra, Pisconti, Salvatore
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ace; ACE2; agt; agtr1; Aldosterone; Angiotensin; Angiotensin I; Angiotensin II; Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; Angiotensinogen; Asymptomatic; Blood pressure; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cytokine storm; Cytokines; Diabetes; Enzymes; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic polymorphisms; Genomes; Genotype & phenotype; Haplotypes; Health aspects; Hypertension; Infections; Inflammation; Kidneys; Lung diseases; Males; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Original Research; Peptidyl-dipeptidase A; Pneumonia; Polymorphism; polymorphisms; Population; raas; Renin; sars-cov-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Single-nucleotide polymorphism; Software; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 1178-7066; 1178-7066
• DOI: 10.2147/PGPM.S303666

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), a metabolic cascade regulating pressure and circulating blood volume, has been considered the main system involved in the pathogenesis of severe lung injury and organs decline in COVID-19 patients. The angiotensin I-converting enzyme ( ), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ( ), angiotensinogen (AGT) and receptors angiotensin II receptor type 1 ( ) are key factors for SARS-CoV-2 entering in the cells, sodium and water retention with an increase blood pressure, promotion of fibrotic and inflammatory phenomena resulting in a cytokine storm. In this pilot study, the frequencies of six polymorphisms in the and genes were analysed in symptomatic patients affected by COVID-19 and compared with the results obtained from asymptomatic subjects. Thus, we have identified that rs2074192 ( ), rs1799752 ( ) and rs699 ( ) SNPs could potentially be a valuable tool for predicting the clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. A genetic predisposition may be prospected for severe internal organ damages and poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19 disease, as observed in symptomatic vs asymptomatic. This study provides evidence that analysis of RAAS polymorphisms could be considered the key point in understanding and predicting the SARS-CoV-2 course infection.