The association between TMPRSS2 gene rs2070788 and rs12329760 variants and COVID-19 susceptibility and severity: A study from Jordan

Symptoms of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), range from asymptomatic to life-threatening, affecting the respiratory system and many other organs, and involved in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, particularly its viral entry, is the enzyme transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). In response, in this study, polymorphisms in the TMPRSS2 gene (rs2070788 and rs12329760) were examined for their association with COVID-19 susceptibility and severity in Jordanians. The study participants (n = 861) included 427 individuals who had never contracted COVID-19 (control group) and 434 who had experienced the disease (case group). The case group was subsequently divided into two subgroups: severe (n = 166) and non-severe (n = 268) COVID-19. The results show that rs2070788 is associated with disease susceptibility in all inheritance models (P < 0.05), as well as an association between rs12329760 and COVID-19 disease severity in both the dominant and over-dominant models (P < 0.05). Further, a higher body mass index (BMI) and older age were associated with disease severity (p < 0.05), though females were less likely to develop severe COVID-19 and to be hospitalized. In conclusion, polymorphisms in the TMPRSS2 gene may be considered a potential predictor of COVID-19 outcomes in the Jordanian population. The study findings could be used to manage similar viral infections in Jordan in the future.