Publication: The Risk of COVID-19 in People Having a Particular Set of Gene
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
These risk factors of advancing age, male gender and co-existing health conditions
like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity do not fully explain why
some people have no or mild symptoms whereas others have severe symptoms.
Genomewide association study (GWAS) identify a 3p21.31 gene cluster as a genetic
susceptibility locus in patients with COVID-19 with respiratory failure. They also
found a higher risk among persons with blood group A and protective effect for blood
group O than among patients with other blood groups. The particular haplotype in a
region of chromosome 3 is contributed to modern humans by neandertals. Another
Neanderthal haplotype on chromosome 12 is associated with a 22% reduction in
relative risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19. The ApoE e4e4 homozygous
genotype was found to increase the risk of severe COVID-19. Change in angiotensin
converting enzyme (ACE) 2 gene was also found to be associated with increased risk
of COVID-19, cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions.
KEY WORDS
Blood group, Chromosome 3, Chromosome 12, Angiotensin converting enzyme
Description
Dhakal B, Makaju R, Dhakal R
Department of pathology
Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital,
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences,
Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Keywords
Blood group, Chromosome 3, Chromosome 12, Angiotensin converting enzyme