Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39056224›Full record

ArticleCNS neuroscience & therapeutics2024

Shared genetics and causal association between plasma levels of SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2 and Alzheimer's disease.

Yan Zhang, Fang Xu, Tao Wang, Zhifa Han, Hong Shang, Kevin Han, Ping Zhu, Shan Gao, Xiaojie Wang, Yanli Xue and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in CNS neuroscience & therapeutics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. ACE2: Friend or Foe in Post-COVID-19 Neurodegeneration?International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Yan ZhangDepartment of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
Fang XuDepartment of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, National Center for Neurological Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Tao WangAcademy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Zhifa HanCenter of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Acadamy of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Beijing, China.
Hong ShangDepartment of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Kevin HanDepartment of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
Ping ZhuBeijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Shan GaoBeijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Xiaojie WangDepartment of Neurology, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Yanli XueSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Chen HuangDr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao SAR, China.
Yan ChenDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China.
Guiyou LiuBeijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0002-1126-2888

Funding

National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD)U24AG021886 · NIA · INDIANA UNIV-PURDUE UNIV AT INDIANAPOLIS · PI TATIANA M. FOROUD · 2002 to 2026
$119.8M
NATIONAL ALZHEIMERS COORDINATING CENTER (NACC)U01AG016976 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI KUKULL, WALTER ANTHONY · 1999 to 2020
$72.8M
Alzheimer's Disease Genetics ConsortiumU01AG032984 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI SCHELLENBERG, GERARD DAVID · 2009 to 2024
$60.4M
CHARGE Consortium: Omics Discovery for CVD and Aging PhenotypesR01HL105756 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI Bruce M Psaty, NICHOLAS L SMITH · 2011 to 2026
$9.5M
Collaborative GWAS of Dementia, AD and related MRI and Cognitive EndophenotypesR01AG033193 · NIA · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · PI SESHADRI, SUDHA · 2009 to 2016
$4.4M
Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals' Mission Plan SML20150802Beijing Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar JQ21022Beijing Ten Thousand Talents Project 2020A15Funds of Academic Promotion Programme of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences 2019PT007Funds of Academic Promotion Programme of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences 2019QL016Mathematical Tianyuan Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China 12026414National Natural Science Foundation of China 81901181National Natural Science Foundation of China 82071212Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province LH2019H076NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL105756NIA NIH HHS R01 AG033193NIA NIH HHS U01 AG016976NIA NIH HHS U01 AG032984NIA NIH HHS U24 AG021886Science and Technology Beijing One Hundred Leading Talent Training Project Z141107001514006Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is the highest risk of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality. However, it remains largely unclear about the link between AD and COVID-19 outcomes. ACE2 is an entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Circulating ACE2 is a novel biomarker of death and associated with COVID-19 outcomes.

methodsHere, we explored the shared genetics and causal association between AD and plasma ACE2 levels using large-scale genome-wide association study, gene expression, expression quantitative trait loci, and high-throughput plasma proteomic profiling datasets.

resultsWe found a significant causal effect of genetically increased circulating ACE2 on increased risk of AD. Cross-trait association analysis identified 19 shared genetic variants, and three variants rs3104412, rs2395166, and rs3135344 at chromosome 6p21.32 were associated with COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and severity. We mapped 19 variants to 117 genes, which were significantly upregulated in lung, spleen, and small intestine, downregulated in brain tissues, and involved in immune system, immune disease, and infectious disease pathways. The plasma proteins corresponding to LST1, AGER, TNXB, and APOC1 were predominantly associated with COVID-19 infection, ventilation, and death.

conclusionTogether, our findings suggest the shared genetics and causal association between AD and plasma ACE2 levels, which may partially explain the link between AD and COVID-19.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2COVID-19Genome-Wide Association StudyAgedBiomarkersFemaleGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseHumansMalePolymorphism, Single NucleotideQuantitative Trait LociSARS-CoV-2ACE2 protein, humanAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2BiomarkersACE2Alzheimer's diseaseCOVID‐19expression quantitative trait locigene expressiongenome‐wide association studySARS‐CoV‐2

Identifiers

PMID39056224
PMCPMC11273102

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.