Expression analysis of DDC, dACE2, and EPO genes in Moroccan COVID-19 patients: links to viral load and demographics.

IF 1.2 4区医学 Q4 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Journal of Infection in Developing Countries Pub Date : 2025-09-30 DOI:10.3855/jidc.21079

Oumaima Laazaazia, Ahd Ouladlahsen, Safaa Aqillouch, Haya Altawalah, Rachid Noureddine, M'hammed Sarih, Pascal Pineau, Abderrahmane Maaroufi, Mustapha Lkhider, Sayeh Ezzikouri

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Abstract

Introduction: Interactions between host and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are incompletely understood. Studies have highlighted the roles of L-dopa decarboxylase (DDC), interferon-inducible truncated isoform of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (dACE2), and immunomodulatory hypoxia-regulated gene erythropoietin (EPO) in viral infections. This study investigated the expression levels of DDC, dACE2, and EPO in 136 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and 88 controls.

Methodology: Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to quantify mRNA levels of DDC, dACE2, and EPO; and the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs.

Results: Significantly elevated levels of dACE2 (p = 0.003), DDC (p = 0.004), and EPO (p = 0.006) were observed in patients compared to controls. No correlation with the viral load (DDC: r = 0.12, p = 0.136; EPO: r = 0.02, p = 0.802; dACE2: r = 0.05, p = 0.491), and no associations with age or gender (all p > 0.05) were noted. There were positive correlations between DDC and dACE2 mRNA levels in infected (r = 0.31, p = 0.0002) and uninfected individuals (r = 0.25, p = 0.015); and between DDC and EPO in infected (r = 0.22, p = 0.008) and uninfected individuals (r = 0.27, p = 0.010). There was a positive correlation between dACE2 and EPO mRNA levels in both groups (infected: r = 0.22, p = 0.007; uninfected: r = 0.38, p = 0.0002).

Conclusions: DDC, dACE2, and EPO may contribute to COVID-19 pathogenesis through mechanisms independent of viral load, age, or gender.

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摩洛哥COVID-19患者DDC、dACE2和EPO基因的表达分析：与病毒载量和人口统计学的联系

宿主与严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2 （SARS-CoV-2）之间的相互作用尚未完全了解。研究强调了左旋多巴脱羧酶（DDC）、干扰素诱导的血管紧张素转换酶2 （dACE2）的截断异构体和免疫调节缺氧调节基因促红细胞生成素（EPO）在病毒感染中的作用。本研究研究了136例2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）患者和88例对照组中DDC、dACE2和EPO的表达水平。方法：采用实时定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）定量DDC、dACE2、EPO mRNA水平；以及鼻咽拭子中的SARS-CoV-2病毒载量。结果：与对照组相比，患者dACE2 （p = 0.003）、DDC （p = 0.004）和EPO （p = 0.006）水平显著升高。与病毒载量无相关性（DDC: r = 0.12, p = 0.136; EPO: r = 0.02, p = 0.802; dACE2: r = 0.05, p = 0.491），与年龄或性别无相关性（均p < 0.05）。感染个体（r = 0.31, p = 0.0002）和未感染个体（r = 0.25, p = 0.015） DDC和dACE2 mRNA水平呈正相关；感染组和未感染组DDC和EPO之间存在差异（r = 0.22, p = 0.008）（r = 0.27, p = 0.010）。两组dACE2与EPO mRNA水平呈正相关（感染组：r = 0.22, p = 0.007；未感染组：r = 0.38, p = 0.0002）。结论：DDC、dACE2和EPO可能通过独立于病毒载量、年龄或性别的机制参与COVID-19的发病机制。

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来源期刊

Journal of Infection in Developing Countries INFECTIOUS DISEASES-

CiteScore

3.70

自引率

5.30%

发文量

239

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries (JIDC) is an international journal, intended for the publication of scientific articles from Developing Countries by scientists from Developing Countries. JIDC is an independent, on-line publication with an international editorial board. JIDC is open access with no cost to view or download articles and reasonable cost for publication of research artcles, making JIDC easily availiable to scientists from resource restricted regions.