Gene expression analysis identifies genes associated with SARS-COV-2 receptors, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, in normal human lung tissues.

The COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) outbreak, which seriously affected people's lives across the world, has not been effectively controlled. Previous studies have demonstrated that SARS-COV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infecting host cells mainly rely on binding to receptor proteins, namely ACE2 and TMPRSS2. COVID-19 transmission is faster than the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pneumonia outbreak in 2002. This is mainly attributed to the different pathways of virus-infected host cells, coupled with patients' atypical clinical characteristics. SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets and contact, infecting lung tissues before damaging other body organs, such as the liver, brain, kidney and heart. The present study identified potential target genes for SARS-COV-2 receptors, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, in normal human lung tissue. The findings provide novel insights that will guide future drug development approaches for treatment of COVID-19.

Differential expression and immune correlation analysis of COVID-19 receptor ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes in all normal and tumor tissues.

The outbreak of COVID-19 seriously affected people's life and safety, and it has not been effectively controlled all over the world at present. The binding of S protein of SARS-COV-2 virus to ACE2 receptor requires the assistance of Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 (TMPRSS2), which can activate the S protein on the surface of virus and promote its binding to the ACE2 receptor. With the continuous accumulation of experience in the treatment of COVID-19 patients and the experimental studies of a large number of scientific researchers, it was found that COVID-19 patients had a higher mortality rate in patients with underlying diseases. Therefore, for COVID-19 patients with tumors, the mortality rate may be significantly higher than other people. Clinical studies had found that some patients were complicated with cytokine storm in clinical treatment, which was also the direct cause of death for some patients. The infiltration of immune cells and the release of a variety of cytokines were important factors causing cytokine storm. Therefore, for COVID-19 patients with tumors, it was of great clinical significance to explore the relationship between COVID-19 virus receptor ACE2, TMPRSS2 and immune cell infiltration, which can help clinicians to make some more appropriate treatment plans.