Initial study on TMPRSS2 p.Val160Met genetic variant in COVID-19 patients

Laksmi Wulandari, Berliana Hamidah, Cennikon Pakpahan, Nevy Shinta Damayanti, Neneng Dewi Kurniati, Christophorus Oetama Adiatmaja, Monica Rizky Wigianita, Soedarsono, Dominicus Husada, Damayanti Tinduh, Cita Rosita Sigit Prakoeswa, Anang Endaryanto, Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih, Yasuko Mori, Maria Inge Lusida, Kazufumi Shimizu, Delvac Oceandy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health problem that causes millions of deaths worldwide. The clinical manifestation of COVID-19 widely varies from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia and systemic inflammatory disease. It is thought that host genetic variability may affect the host’s response to the virus infection and thus cause severity of the disease. The SARS-CoV-2 virus requires interaction with its receptor complex in the host cells before infection. The transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) has been identified as one of the key molecules involved in SARS-CoV-2 virus receptor binding and cell invasion. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the correlation between a genetic variant within the human TMPRSS2 gene and COVID-19 severity and viral load.

Results
We genotyped 95 patients with COVID-19 hospitalised in Dr Soetomo General Hospital and Indrapura Field Hospital (Surabaya, Indonesia) for the TMPRSS2 p.Val160Met polymorphism. Polymorphism was detected using a TaqMan assay. We then analysed the association between the presence of the genetic variant and disease severity and viral load. We did not observe any correlation between the presence of TMPRSS2 genetic variant and the severity of the disease. However, we identified a significant association between the p.Val160Met polymorphism and the SARS-CoV-2 viral load, as estimated by the Ct value of the diagnostic nucleic acid amplification test. Furthermore, we observed a trend of association between the presence of the C allele and the mortality rate in patients with severe COVID-19.

Conclusion
Our data indicate a possible association between TMPRSS2 p.Val160Met polymorphism and SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and the outcome of COVID-19.
Original languageEnglish
JournalHuman Genomics
Volume15
Issue number1
Early online date17 May 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2021

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Initial study on TMPRSS2 p.Val160Met genetic variant in COVID-19 patients'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this