ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Obesity was consistently associated with a poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19. Epigenetic mechanisms were proposed as the link between obesity and comorbidities risk. AIM: To evaluate the methylation levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene, the main entry receptor of SARS-CoV-2, in different depots of adipose tissue (AT) and leukocytes (PBMCs) in obesity and after weight loss therapy based on a very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD), a balanced hypocaloric diet (HCD) or bariatric surgery (BS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA methylation levels of ACE2 were extracted from our data sets generated by the hybridization of subcutaneous (SAT) (n = 32) or visceral (VAT; n = 32) adipose tissue, and PBMCs (n = 34) samples in Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChips. Data were compared based on the degree of obesity and after 4-6 months of weight loss either by following a nutritional or surgical treatment and correlated with ACE2 transcript levels. RESULTS: As compared with normal weight, VAT from patients with obesity showed higher ACE2 methylation levels. These differences were mirrored in PBMCs but not in SAT. The observed obesity-associated methylation of ACE2 was reversed after VLCKD and HCD but not after BS. Among the studied CpG sites, cg16734967 and cg21598868, located at the promoter, were the most affected and correlated with BMI. The observed DNA methylation pattern was inversely correlated with ACE2 expression. CONCLUSION: Obesity-related VAT shows hypermethylation and downregulation of the ACE2 gene that is mirrored in PBMCs and is restored after nutritional weight reduction therapy. The results warrant the necessity to further evaluate its implication for COVID-19 pathogenesis.
Subject(s)
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/genetics , Intra-Abdominal Fat/metabolism , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism , Obesity/genetics , Receptors, Coronavirus/genetics , Subcutaneous Fat/metabolism , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism , Bariatric Surgery , COVID-19 , DNA Methylation , Diet, Ketogenic , Diet, Reducing , Female , Gene Expression Regulation , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity/metabolism , Obesity/therapy , Obesity, Morbid/genetics , Obesity, Morbid/metabolism , Obesity, Morbid/therapy , Receptors, Coronavirus/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2 , Weight LossABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & AIMS: The worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has already caused a substantial public health burden. Increasing number of studies linked obesity to more severe COVID-19 consequence and mortality, challenging health systems worldwide, especially in emerging countries like Brazil. Herein, we aimed to search the literature and present the current intersection between obesity and COVID-19 in the Brazilian population. METHODS: One hundred twenty-five articles were initially searched after duplicate removal, and nine were finally included in our analysis. RESULTS: Our findings emphasized the magnitude of COVID-19 infection in Brazil and the impact of obesity as a risk factor that aggravates the prognosis of outpatients or hospitalized patients. We also demonstrated social aspects of COVID-19 that could act enhancing the obesity condition in Latin American countries. CONCLUSIONS: A more careful look at the available data could help to understand better the dynamic between obesity and COVID-19, focusing on the Brazilian population and could eventually guide management strategies and therapies for COVID-19 in the future.