ACS Chemical Neuroscience· 2020Q1
Expression of the SARS-CoV-2 Entry Proteins, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, in Cells of the Olfactory Epithelium: Identification of Cell Types and Trends with Age
- 448citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2020year
Short summary
Sustentacular cells in the mouse olfactory epithelium express ACE2 and TMPRSS2, the key proteins for SARS-CoV-2 entry, suggesting they are the primary target for the virus in the olfactory system.
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Key points
- Sustentacular cells in the olfactory epithelium express ACE2 and TMPRSS2, the necessary proteins for SARS-CoV-2 entry.
- Olfactory receptor neurons express little to no ACE2 or TMPRSS2.
- Expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 increases in older animals.
- Multiple molecular techniques (RNAseq, RT-PCR, Western blot, immunocytochemistry) were used to confirm protein expression.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that there is a loss of smell in many patients, including in infected but otherwise asymptomatic individuals. The underlying mechanisms for the olfactory symptoms are unclear. Using a mouse model, we determined whether cells in the olfactory epithelium express the obligatory receptors for entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by using RNAseq, RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, Western blot, and immunocytochemistry. We show that the cell surface protein ACE2 and the protease TMPRSS2 are expressed in sustentacular cells of the olfactory epithelium but not, or much less, in most olfactory receptor neurons. These data suggest that sustentacular cells are involved in SARS-CoV-2 virus entry and impairment of the sense of smell in COVID-19 patients. We also show that expression of the entry proteins increases in animals of old age. This may explain, if true also in humans, why individuals of older age are more susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2020 · DOI ↗
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Field: Sensory Systems
Sensory SystemsNeuroscience