the link between obesity and risk of Covid-19 It is a proven scientific evidence since the beginning of the pandemicbut the mechanisms involved in this duality are still poorly understood, although the adipose tissue has been proposed as a relevant actor in this association. Specialists from the Biomedical Research Center of the Obesity and Nutrition Network (CYBEROBN) show that an epigenetic regulation of ACE2 gene in the visceral adipose tissue of obese patients could have the answer.
Thus, brands methylation –a key epigenetic mechanism in the regulation of gene expression– of ACE2 in adipose tissue may provide useful tools to identify individuals at risk and predict the progression of their disease. In addition, these marks can be detected in a minimally invasive sample in the leukocytes blood.
The association between obesity and a predisposition to greater severity of covid-19 could be mediated by an epigenetic regulation of the ACE2 gene, where the analysis of mechanisms such as DNA methylation could be a good risk biomarker
“We analyzed whether epigenetic changes in adipose tissue could help explain the increase in mortality by the covid-19 of individuals with obesity, since these changes are dynamic and reversible and may represent therapeutic goals for the prevention of related disorders”, he explains. Ana B. Crujeirasscientist at the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS).
The new analysis was performed on subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue and reflected on blood leukocytes from patients with obesity compared to those of normal weight and after a weight loss based on a nutritional or surgical program.
Andrea G. Izquierdo and Ana Belén Crujeiras (right), main authors. /CYBEROBN
Good risk biomarker
In total, ACE2 methylation levels were studied in 98 samples of overweight or obese patients and normal weight volunteers. The first followed a treatment of taper based on a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD), a balanced low-calorie diet, or had surgery to induce weight loss.
“These results suggest that the association between obesity and predisposition to greater severity of covid-19 may be mediated by an epigenetic regulation of the ACE2 gene, where the analysis of mechanisms such as DNA methylation may be a good idea. risk biomarker and thus open a potential path for new therapies in personalized medicine”, concludes Crujeiras.
Reference:
Izquierdo AG, Carreira MC, Boughanem H, Navarrete JM, Nicoletti CF, Oliver P, et al. Adipose tissue and blood leukocytes ACE2 DNA-methylation in obesity and after weight loss. Eur J Clin Invest. Sep 2021. Volume 52, Issue 2 February 2022. doi: 10.1111/eci.13685. PubMed PMID: 34582564.
