Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expression in COPD and IPF fibroblasts: the forgotten cell in COVID-19.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol
; 320(1): L152-L157, 2021 01 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1054733
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome leading to death in susceptible individuals. For those who recover, post-COVID-19 complications may include development of pulmonary fibrosis. Factors contributing to disease severity or development of complications are not known. Using computational analysis with experimental data, we report that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)- and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-derived lung fibroblasts express higher levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entry and part of the renin-angiotensin system that is antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory. In preclinical models, we found that chronic exposure to cigarette smoke, a risk factor for both COPD and IPF and potentially for SARS-CoV-2 infection, significantly increased pulmonary ACE2 protein expression. Further studies are needed to understand the functional implications of ACE2 on lung fibroblasts, a cell type that thus far has received relatively little attention in the context of COVID-19.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
/
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
/
Fibroblasts
/
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol
Journal subject:
Molecular Biology
/
Physiology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ajplung.00455.2020
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