Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene Polymorphism and susceptibility to Covid-19 infection

ABSTRACT (COVID-19), SARS-CoV-2 originated from Wuhan, China and has led to a worldwide pandemic. COVID-19 is a novel emerging infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 characterized as atypical pneumonia. Most of the cases were epidemiologically linked to the seafood and animal market. Novel Coronavirus strains are spread from person to person through contaminated droplets from a person who is sick with the illness (through coughing or sneezing) or contaminated hands. The virus can spread through touching an infected surface. The incubation period extends from 1 to 14 days (that means the amount of time from being exposed to the virus to showing symptoms). The symptoms are: Sore throat, Fever, Shortness of breath, Cough, Headache. Most of the patients with COVID-19 have mild or moderate disease, however up to 5-10% present with severe and even life-threatening disease course. The entry of SARS-CoV-2, the agent that causes COVID-19, into the cell occurs by binding viral spike proteins to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors of the host membrane. It was suggested that increased susceptibility to COVID-19 infection is associated with the expression of the target ACE2 receptor in the epithelium exposed to the virus the aim of this article is to summarize the latest literature and explore how ACE2 variants influence an individual’s susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection.