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Review
. 2021 Aug 30;45(4):404-424.
doi: 10.3906/biy-2104-67. eCollection 2021.

Host variations in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Doruk Altiok  1 , Elif Zeynep Savci  1 , Büşra Özkara  1 , Kamil Alkan  1 , Dilara Sultan Namdar  1 , Gizem Tunçer  1   1 , Buğrahan Regaip Kilinç  1   1 , Evren Suiçmez  1 , Güneysu Çetin  1 , Sinan Ünal  1 , Beyza Dönmüş  1 , Zeynep Yağmur Karagülleoğlu  1 , Dilruba Beyza Uncuoğlu  1 , Cansu Tekeli  1 , Hanife Ayşegül Mendi  1 , Vahdi Umut Bengi  1 , Güldane Cengiz Seval  1 , Pelin Kiliç  1   1 , Evrim Güneş Altuntaş  1 , Devrim Demir-Dora  1   1   1
Affiliations
Review

Host variations in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Doruk Altiok et al. Turk J Biol. .

Abstract

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the zoonotic pathogen that causes the "Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19)", and COVID-19 itself is yet to be thoroughly understood. Both the disease as well as the mechanisms by which the host interacts with the SARS-CoV-2 have not been fully enlightened. The epidemiological factors -e.g. age, sex, race-, the polymorphisms of the host proteins, the blood types and individual differences have all been in discussions about affecting the progression and the course of COVID-19 both individually and collectively, as their effects are mostly interwoven. We focused mainly on the effect of polymorphic variants of the host proteins that have been shown to take part in and/or affect the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Additionally, how the procedures of diagnosing and treating COVID-19 are affected by these variants and what possible changes can be implemented are the other questions, which are sought to be answered.

Keywords: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2); SARS-CoV-2; host genetics; polymorphisms; toll-like receptors (TLR); transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2).

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors declare there are no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The possible origin of SARS-CoV-2 and its similarities: An illustration showing the genomic similarities shared by SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and bat-CoV RaTg13. The illustration also displays the disputed origin of the SARS-CoV-2: the bat and/or the pangolin (Lam et al., 2020; Othman et al., 2020).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Epidemiological status in Turkey (patients/deaths). Pie charts showing the sex distribution of the reported cases and reported deaths in Turkey. Epidemiological data are taken from the “COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report (19 October 2020 – 25 October 2020)” published by the Ministry of Health of Turkey. These distributions may help to assess both the sex and ethnicity-based differences in prognosis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
ACE2 expression in lung tissues.
Figure 4
Figure 4
ACE2 expression discrepancies. Population, sex and age discrepancies in terms of ACE2 expressions in the thyroid, stomach, pancreas, breast and liver. With the aforementioned tissues considered, no difference was found between the sexes, between the young and elderly populations and between the Asian and non-Asian populations.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Human TMPRSS2 expression. Illustration showing the tissues where TMPRSS2 is expressed. The human TMPRSS2 mRNA is expressed in numerous tissues - including the prostate, breast, bile duct, kidney, colon, small intestine, pancreas, ovary, salivary gland, stomach, and lung- more often in epithelial cells.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Epidemiological status in Italy (Patients). A pie chart displaying the sex distribution of patients in Italy. Constructed with the data from Istituto Superiore di Sanità of Italy.1 Containing discrepancies in comparison with the 9-month earlier study of Asselta et al., (2020) (Asselta et al., 2020). These distributions may help to assess both the sex-based and ethnicity-based differences in prognosis.
Figure 7
Figure 7
TLR types and localizations. Illustration showing the endosomal and cell surface toll-like receptor (TLR) types.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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