Study of Association of the ace2 Polymorphisms rs2285666, rs879922, and rs1978124 with Muscle Strength in Sedentary Young Adult

Skeletal muscle is a plastic tissue with contractile capacity to generate force. Muscle mass plays a crucial role in determining muscle strength. However, the diversity of genetic features among individuals can significantly influence muscle mass development. Among these genetic factors are polymorphisms in the ace gen which codify for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), an enzyme that belongs to the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). In addition, there are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene (ace2), that codify for an enzyme that is part of the non-classical RAS axis, which has recently been shown to prevent atrophic and fibrotic processes in skeletal muscle. However, the influence of ace2 SNPs on skeletal muscle strength is unknown. This research aims to study the association between the SNPs rs879922, rs2285666, and rs1978124 of the ace2 gene with isometric muscle strength in sedentary young adults. Thirty-eight healthy sedentary men (18-25 years old) who met the exclusion criteria were recruited for the study. Anthropometric measurements were then taken, and a venous blood sample was extracted to determine the allele of each polymorphism studied. Skeletal muscle strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer. Our results show no differences in grip strength between alleles of ace2 polymorphisms nor in comparing the muscle strength between the most common haplotypes. We can conclude that there is no association of rs879922, rs2285666, and rs1978124 ace2 polymorphisms with isometric grip strength in sedentary young adults, nor is there an association between ace2 haplotypes and muscle strength.