Emilsson, Valur, Gudmundsson, Elias F, Aspelund, Thor, Jonsson G, Brynjolfur, Gudjonsson, Alexander, Laurner, Lenore J, Lamb, John, Gudmundsdottir, Valborg, Jennings, Lori and Gudnason, Vilmundur (2020) ACE2 levels are altered in comorbidities linked to severe outcome in COVID-19 Subtitle: ACE2 serum levels are increased in metabolic disease. https://medrxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.06.04.20122044v1.

Abstract

Importance Recent reports have shown that hypertension, kidney disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease are the among the most common comorbidities associated with severe outcome from the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which may be related to the frailty and/or medication use of this patient population. However, it´s possible that individuals with these comorbidities have altered serum levels of ACE2, the cellular entry point for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Objective To examine if individuals that manifest with comorbidities associated with severe outcome from COVID-19 have altered circulating levels of ACE2.
Design, Setting, and Participants A single center population-based study of 5457 Icelanders from the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility Reykjavik Study (AGES-RS) of the elderly (mean age 75±6 years) investigated with respect to hypertension, T2D, obesity or CHD.
Main Outcomes and Measures Associations of serum levels of ACE2 were examined in the AGES-RS study population according to body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2), hypertension, type 2 diabetes (T2D), CHD and other relevant phenotypes.
Results ACE2 levels were significantly elevated in the sera from smokers and individuals suffering from T2D and/or obesity, while males had reduced ACE2 levels
Conclusions and Relevance ACE2 levels are upregulated in some patient groups with comorbidities linked to COVID-19 and as such may have an emerging role as a circulating biomarker for severity of outcome in COVID-19.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	SARS-CoV2, COVID-19, ACE2
Date Deposited:	07 Jul 2020 00:45
Last Modified:	07 Jul 2020 00:45
URI:	https://oak.novartis.com/id/eprint/42801