Modulation of ACE-2 mRNA by inflammatory cytokines in human thyroid cells: a pilot study.
Endocrine
; 74(3): 638-645, 2021 12.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1384606
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Angiotensin-converting-enzyme-2 (ACE-2) was demonstrated to be the receptor for cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. ACE-2 mRNA was identified in several human tissues and recently also in thyroid cells in vitro.PURPOSE:
Aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the ACE-2 mRNA levels in human thyroid cells in primary cultures.METHODS:
Primary thyroid cell cultures were treated with IFN-γ and TNF-α alone or in combination for 24 h. ACE-2 mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR. As a control, the levels of IFN-γ inducible chemokine (CXCL10) were measured in the respective cell culture supernatants.RESULTS:
The mean levels of ACE-2 mRNA increased after treatment with IFN-γ and TNF-α in all the thyroid cell preparations, while the combination treatment did not consistently synergically increase ACE-2-mRNA. At difference, CXCL10 was consistently increased by IFN-γ and synergically further increased by the combination treatment with IFN-γ + TNF-α, with respect to IFN-γ alone.CONCLUSIONS:
The results of the present study show that IFN-γ and, to a lesser extent TNF-α consistently increase ACE-2 mRNA levels in NHT primary cultures. More interestingly, the combined stimulation (proven to be effective according to the synergic effect registered for CXCL10) produces different responses in terms of ACE-2 mRNA modulation. These results would suggest that elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines could facilitate the entering of the virus in cells by further increasing ACE-2 expression and/or account for the different degree of severity of SARS-COV-2 infection. This hypothesis deserves to be confirmed by further specific studies.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Thyroid Gland
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Endocrine
Journal subject:
Endocrinology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12020-021-02807-W
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