Lack of association of angiotensin II type 1 receptor A1166C gene polymorphism with the risk of end-stage renal disease

Allele С (rs5186) of at1r is associated with the severity of COVID-19 in the Ukrainian population

INTRODUCTION

The severity of SARS-CoV-2 induced coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) depends on the presence of risk factors and the hosts' gene variability. There are preliminary results that gene polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system can influence the susceptibility to and mortality from COVID-19. Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) might be a gene candidate that exerts such influence. The aim of this study was to elaborate on the association between A1166C at1r polymorphic variants and the susceptibility to and severity of COVID-19 in the Ukrainian population.

METHODS

The study population consisted of the Ukrainian population (Poltava region) with COVID-19, divided into three clinical groups in accordance with oxygen requirement: patients without oxygen therapy (n = 110), with non-invasive (n = 136) and invasive (n = 36) oxygen therapy. The A1166C polymorphism of the at1r was determined by polymerase chain reaction with subsequent restrictase analysis. In an attempt to better explain the role of the A1166C at1r polymorphism we compared its association with COVID-19, essential hypertension (n = 79), renoparenchimal hypertension (n = 30) and dyscirculatory encephalopathy (n = 112). The data for this comparison were obtained by meta-analysis.

RESULTS

We observed significant differences in the frequency of AA, AC and CC genotypes in the groups of COVID-19 patients with non-invasive and invasive oxygen therapy in comparison with control subjects as well as in the frequency of combined AC + CC genotype between the groups of COVID-19 patients with any types of oxygen therapy and patients without oxygen therapy. The frequency of the 1166C allele was higher in COVID-19 patients with invasive oxygen therapy (OR = 2.06; CI (1.20-3.53); p = 0.013). We obtained important results indicating that there were no differences between the frequency of at1r polymorphisms in patients with cardiovascular disease and severe COVID-19 with invasive oxygen therapy as well as those who died due to COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicated the presence of an association between the A1166C at1r polymorphisms and the severity of COVID-19 in the Ukrainian population. It seems that in carriers of 1166C at1r, the severity of COVID-19 and oxygen dependency is higher as compared to the A allele carriers, possibly, due to cardiovascular disorders.

Unravelling the Lesser Known Facets of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Hypertension is an important risk factor in various pathologies. Despite enormous advancements in health sciences, the number of hypertensive individuals is increasing worldwide. The complex interplay between genetic and epigenetic factors seems to be a promising pathway to exploring the pathophysiology of hypertension.

RECENT FINDINGS

Various single gene and genome wide association studies have generated huge but non-reproducible data that highlights the role of some additional but as yet unidentified factor(s) in disease outcome. Dietary pattern and epigenetic mechanism (mainly DNA methylation) have shown a profound effect on blood pressure regulation. Angiotensin II and its receptors are known to play an important role in maintaining blood pressure; hence, a larger section of antihypertensive drugs targets the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), besides maintaining blood pressure, also has a role in cancer progression. Besides other pathways, RAS still remains the main player in blood pressure regulation. Additionally, AT1R has recently emerged as a molecule with diverse roles ranging from physiologic to cancer progression.

Susceptibility and progression of end stage renal disease are not associated with angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene polymorphism

CONTEXT

The role of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) gene polymorphism, A1166C, has been shown to be associated with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and its progression. There is also some evidence that HLA class II alleles are associated with ESRD independent of other factors.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between AT1R gene polymorphism in the susceptibility and progression to ESRD in patients with chronic renal failure and to investigate if the AT1R genotypes and HLA-DR alleles predict the time to ESRD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Genotyping was performed in 50 ESRD patients and 44 control subjects for the AT1R A1166C gene polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). ESRD patients were examined for HLA-DRB1 alleles according to a reverse hybridization line probe assay.

RESULTS

Allele and genotype frequencies of the AT1R polymorphism did not differ significantly between ESRD patients and controls. Furthermore, there was no association between the AT1R gene polymorphism or HLA-DRB1 alleles with the time to the occurrence of end stage failure.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

We concluded that the AT1R genotype does not contribute to the genetic susceptibility of ESRD and is not associated with progression of chronic kidney failure to ESRD.

The role of genetic polymorphisms of the Renin-Angiotensin System in renal diseases: A meta-analysis

Renal failure has a complex phenotype resulting from an underlying kidney disease as well as environmental and genetic factors. In the present study we performed a systematic review and meta-analyses to evaluate the association of the A1166C polymorphism of Angiotensin II type 1 Receptor gene (AGTR1) with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) and Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) as well as the association of A1332G polymorphism of Angiotensin II type 2 Receptor (AGTR2) gene with Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR). We found that neither AGTR1 Α1166C, nor AGTR2 A1332G polymorphisms were significantly associated with any of the aforementioned renal diseases, suggesting that they cannot be used as predictive markers in either general or subgroup ethnic populations.