Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 1 Polymorphisms and Lipid Profile in Mexican Patients With COVID-19.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is present in a diverse type of cells and plays an important role in lung physiology and pathophysiology. Angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) are part of the RAS system. There are still controversies about the association of I/D polymorphisms of ACE1 with COVID-19 severity. The goal of the study was to determine whether there is an association of the I/D polymorphism with severity of COVID-19 in Mexican patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included voluntary participants: 53 healthy individuals negative to RT-PCR COVID-19 (control), and 165 patients positive to COVID-19. Severity was defined by the need of hospitalization, invasive ventilation, shock, or multiple organ failure. The patient group consisted of 28 asymptomatic, 82 with mild, and 55 with severe COVID-19. I/D polymorphism was determined by PCR. Rutinary laboratory tests were performed in all the participants. RESULTS: DD polymorphism was significantly associated with severe COVID-19, independently of comorbidities, or any other variable. Receiver operator characteristic curves demonstrated association of low total cholesterol, low high-density lipoproteins, and high c-reactive protein with severity of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The DD polymorphism was associated with the course of the infection and severity of COVID-19 in a sample of Mexican patients.

High plasma CXCL10 levels are associated with HCV-genotype 1, and higher insulin resistance, fibrosis, and HIV viral load in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

BACKGROUND: CXCL10 may contribute to the host immune response against the hepatitis C virus (HCV), liver disease progression, and response to HCV antiviral therapy. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship among virological, immunological, and clinical characteristics with plasma CXCL10 levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study on 144 patients. CXCL10 and insulin were measured using an immunoassay kit. The degree of insulin resistance was estimated for each patient using the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) method. Insulin resistance was defined as a HOMA index higher than or equal to 3.8. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to platelet ratio (APRI), FIB-4, Forns index, HGM1, and HGM2 were calculated. RESULTS: The variables associated with log(10) CXCL10 levels by univariate analysis were age (b=0.013; p=0.023), prior AIDS-defining condition (b=0.127; p=0.045), detectable plasma HIV viral load (b=0.092; p=0.006), log(10) HOMA (b=0.216; p=0.002), HCV-genotype 1 (b=0.114; p=0.071), and liver fibrosis assessed by all non-invasive indexes (log(10) APRI (b=0.296; p=0.001), log(10) FIB-4 (b=0.436; p<0.001), log(10) Forns index (b=0.591; p<0.001), log(10) HGM1 (b=0.351; p=0.021), and log(10) HGM2 (b=0.215; p=0.018)). However, in multivariate analysis, CXCL10 levels were only associated with HOMA, detectable plasma HIV viral load, HCV-genotype 1 and FIB-4 (R-square=0.235; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Plasma CXCL10 levels were influenced by several characteristics of patients related to HIV and HCV infections, insulin resistance, and liver fibrosis, indicating that CXCL10 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of both HCV and HIV infections.