Genetic association of ACE2 rs2285666 (C>T) and rs2106809 (A>G) and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection among the Ghanaian population
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), enters human cells using the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor. ACE2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can influence susceptibility by affecting viral binding or gene expression. This study investigated the association between ACE2 SNPs, rs2285666 and rs2106809, and the SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility in a Ghanaian population. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted, using a magnetic bead-based method, from blood samples of a random-subset of 1,334 participants drawn from a two-stage cluster, population-based household cross-sectional SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence survey. Data collected included, socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, vaccination, and smoking status. Genotyping of the ACE2 SNPs was performed using Allele-Specific Oligonucleotide Polymerase Chain Reaction (ASO-PCR) combined with melting curve analysis. Logistic regression models were utilized to assess the association between the ACE2 SNPs and the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: The median age of participants was 33 [Interquartile range (IQR) = 24-46] years. Females accounted for the majority of the sampled population, 64.3%. SARS-CoV-2-IgG seropositivity was (58.4%, 95%CI: 52.6%-64.2%) among the male population and (54.1%, 95%CI: 49.54%-58.61%) in the female population. There were no significant differences in overall allele or genotype frequencies of ACE2 SNPs between SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositive and seronegative individuals for both females and males. Among females, those with the T allele of ACE2 rs2285666 had a 38% decreased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection under the dominant [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.62; 95%CI = 0.45-0.85, P = 0.003] and heterozygous advantage models (aOR = 0.62; 95%CI = 0.45-0.86, P = 0.004), after adjusting for confounders, but not thee recessive model (aOR = 0.41; 95%CI = 0.03-5.22, P = 0.490). No significant association was observed among males. Overall, the ACE2 rs2106809 was not associated with the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in both males and females. Conclusion: This study found no association between ACE2 rs2106809 genetic variant and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, whilst the rs2285666 T-allele was associated with a decreased frequency for SARS-CoV-2 infection among Ghanaian females. These findings enhance our understanding of genetic factors influencing SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility, which could help identify at-risk populations and inform more targeted public health interventions in future outbreaks.
Source: Frontiers in Genetics
Authors: Alexander Owusu Boakye, Christian Obirikorang, Anthony Afum-Adjei Awuah, Evans Asamoah Adu, Doris Winter, Eric Ebenezer Boham, Hakim Alani, Sylvester Kofi Newton, Nana Safi Toure Almoustapha, James Deke, Welbeck Odame Dzadey, Louis Adu-Amoah, Sally-Ann Kroduah, Mary Ama Grant, Gracelyn Asare, Amos Amoako-Adusei, Wibke Loag, Jenny Kettenbeil, Yaw Adu Sarkodie, Ebenezer Oduro-Mensah, Alfred Edwin Yawson, Stephen Apanga, Rose Odotei Adjei, Austin Gideon Adobasom-Anane, Eva Lorenz, Aurélia Souares, Oumou Maiga-Ascofaré, Jürgen May, Nicole S. Struck, John Humphery Amuasi
Institutions: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Ghana Health Service, University of Ghana, University for Development Studies, German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg University, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W4410729119