<i>TMPRSS2</i> and COVID-19: Serendipity or Opportunity for Intervention?
Konrad H. Stopsack, Lorelei A. Mucci, Emmanuel S. Antonarakis, Peter S. Nelson, Philip W. Kantoff
Abstract
Abstract TMPRSS2 is both the most frequently altered gene in primary prostate cancer and a critical factor enabling cellular infection by coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The modulation of its expression by sex steroids could contribute to the male predominance of severe infections, and given that TMPRSS2 has no known indispensable functions, and inhibitors are available, it is an appealing target for prevention or treatment of respiratory viral infections.
Topics & Concepts
SerendipityCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Intervention (counseling)TMPRSS2BetacoronavirusVirologyComputational biologyMedicineBiologyInternal medicineOutbreakPsychiatryDiseaseInfectious disease (medical specialty)PhilosophyEpistemologyCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchLong-Term Effects of COVID-19