STUDY OF THE RS4240157 VARIANT OF THE ACE2 GENE IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT COVID-19 INFECTION

INTRODUCTION: The study investigates the rs4240157 variant of the ACE2 gene in pregnant women, both with and without COVID-19 infection, to understand its relationship with infection severity and post-COVID syndrome. The ACE2 gene, a primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2, is crucial for the virus’s entry into cells. Variants of this gene may affect COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Given the significant physiological changes during pregnancy, understanding this gene’s role could provide insights into the increased morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 in pregnant women. AIMS: The main objective is to analyze the presence of the rs4240157 variant of the ACE2 gene in pregnant women with or without SARS-CoV-2 infection and its relationship with infection severity and post-COVID syndrome. Specific objectives include testing the effectiveness of the protocol for analyzing the rs4240157 variant through allele-specific PCR, comparing the percentage of the genetic variant in infected and non-infected groups, and correlating the variant’s presence with common COVID-19 symptoms and post-COVID syndrome across different trimesters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 122 pregnant women, 41 with COVID-19 and 81 without. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples, and allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) was used to detect the rs4240157 variant. The participants’ symptoms, medical history, pregnancy complications, and the trimester during which they tested positive were recorded through interviews. The study compared the frequency of symptoms and the severity of COVID-19 across different genotypes (CC, CT, TT) and trimesters. RESULTS: The study found no significant differences in allelic and genotypic frequencies between infected and non-infected groups, suggesting that the rs4240157 variant does not substantially impact COVID-19 susceptibility. Symptom analysis showed higher prevalence and severity in the first trimester, with common symptoms including fever, headache, loss of taste, sore throat, and shortness of breath. The second trimester exhibited a general decrease in symptom frequency, while the third trimester showed moderate symptom prevalence. Genotype analysis revealed that the CC genotype had the lowest symptom frequencies, indicating potential resistance to severe symptoms. The CT genotype had higher frequencies of fever, headache, loss of taste, sore throat, and shortness of breath, suggesting increased susceptibility. The TT genotype also showed high frequencies for fever, headache, and loss of taste but lower for sore throat and none for shortness of breath. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study concludes that the rs4240157 variant of the ACE2 gene may not significantly impact COVID-19 susceptibility in pregnant women. However, the CC genotype might confer some resistance to severe symptoms, while the CT genotype could be associated with increased susceptibility. The first trimester showed the highest severity of symptoms, highlighting the need for heightened monitoring and potential interventions during this period. The findings suggest that further research with larger sample sizes is necessary to confirm these preliminary insights and enhance understanding of COVID-19’s impact on pregnant women.

KEYWORDS: 1.COVID-19; 2.pregnancy; 3.ACE2 gene; 4.rs4240157 variant; 5.SARS-CoV-2