Estrogen regulates the expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in differentiated airway epithelial cells
Kimberly E. Stelzig, Fabrizio Canepa-Escaro, Marta Schiliro, Sergejs Berdnikovs, Y. S. Prakash, Sergio E. Chiarella
2020American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology208 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF
Abstract
There is marked sexual dimorphism in the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Here we report that estrogen can regulate the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a key component for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cell entry, in differentiated airway epithelial cells. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms by which sex steroids regulate SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.
Topics & Concepts
CoronavirusInfectivityBiologyEstrogenVirusCell biologyPandemicCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Viral entryEstrogen receptorVirologyCancer researchImmunologyViral replicationInternal medicineEndocrinologyMedicineDiseaseGeneticsInfectious disease (medical specialty)Breast cancerCancerCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchCOVID-19 Impact on Reproduction