Expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry factors in lung epithelial stem cells and its potential implications for COVID-19
Anna A. Valyaeva, Anastasia A. Zharikova, Artem S. Kasianov, Yegor Vassetzky, Eugene V. Sheval
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 can infiltrate the lower respiratory tract, resulting in severe respiratory failure and a high death rate. Normally, the airway and alveolar epithelium can be rapidly reconstituted by multipotent stem cells after episodes of infection. Here, we analyzed published RNA-seq datasets and demonstrated that cells of four different lung epithelial stem cell types express SARS-CoV-2 entry factors, including Ace2. Thus, stem cells can be potentially infected by SARS-CoV-2, which may lead to defects in regeneration capacity partially accounting for the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its consequences.
Topics & Concepts
Stem cellLungRespiratory epitheliumRespiratory tractRespiratory systemCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)BiologyRegeneration (biology)EpitheliumCoronavirusSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)ImmunologyMedicinePathologyCell biologyInternal medicineDiseaseAnatomyInfectious disease (medical specialty)Respiratory Support and MechanismsNeonatal Respiratory Health ResearchRespiratory viral infections research