PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ortiz-Fernández, Lourdes
AU  - Sawalha, Amr H
TI  - Genetic variability in the expression of the SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry factors across populations
AID  - 10.1101/2020.04.06.027698
DP  - 2020 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2020.04.06.027698
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/04/14/2020.04.06.027698.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/04/14/2020.04.06.027698.full
AB  - The entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells is dependent upon angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which serves as a functional attachment receptor for the viral spike glycoprotein, and the serine protease TMPRSS2 which allows fusion of the viral and host cell membranes. We devised a quantitative measure to estimate genetic determinants of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression and applied this measure to >2,500 individuals. Our data show significant variability in genetic determinants of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression among individuals and between populations, and demonstrate a genetic predisposition for lower expression levels of both key viral entry genes in African populations. These data suggest that genetic factors might lead to lower susceptibility for SARS-CoV-2 infection in African populations and that host genetics might help explain inter-individual variability in disease susceptibility and severity of COVID-19.