Gene Expression of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Receptor in Skin and the Implications for COVID-19.
Adv Skin Wound Care
; 34(1): 31-35, 2021 Jan.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-978610
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor is a critical step for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to enter target cells. This enzyme is expressed in many human tissues including the lungs, but no research has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 can infect human skin or subcutaneous fat tissue, despite the increasing number of reported skin manifestations. The aim of this study was to investigate ACE2 gene expression in skin using a public database.METHODS:
A search of transcriptomic data sets from a public gene expression database to investigate ACE2 gene expression in human tissues.RESULTS:
Human skin keratinocytes and basal cells express more ACE2 than lung epithelial cells. In contrast, both fibroblasts and melanocytes from human skin express less ACE2 than human lung epithelial cells.CONCLUSIONS:
The high expression of ACE2 in keratinocytes and basal cells of human skin indicates that they may be directly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection via the ACE2 receptor, especially in conditions of skin barrier dysfunction, and are therefore a potential target for the coronavirus.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Skin
/
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Adv Skin Wound Care
Journal subject:
Nursing
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
01.ASW.0000722748.73437.7d
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