Intronic Variants of the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Gene Modulate Plasma ACE2 Levels and Possibly Confer Protection against Severe COVID-19

<div>The proposed mechanism of the protective role played by the 18T deletion variants by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). (a) The <i>ACE2</i> gene with 18T (WT) and normal expression of the ACE2 receptor. (b) The <i>ACE2</i> gene with T2del. The transcripts are targeted by NMD protein, resulting in mRNA decay and lower expression of ACE2.</div>

BioMed Research International

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Figure 7

Figure 7: Intronic Variants of the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Gene Modulate Plasma ACE2 Levels and Possibly Confer Protection against Severe COVID-19 

Figure 7 | Intronic Variants of the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Gene Modulate Plasma ACE2 Levels and Possibly Confer Protection against Severe COVID-19 