Expression of ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor, in Lung Tissue of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

• Published in: Diabetes (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 69; no. 12; pp. 2691 - 2699
• Main Authors: Wijnant, Sara R.A., Jacobs, Merel, Van Eeckhoutte, Hannelore P., Lapauw, Bruno, Joos, Guy F., Bracke, Ken R., Brusselle, Guy G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Diabetes Association 01.12.2020
• Subjects: ACE2; Aldosterone; Alveoli; Angiotensin; Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 - genetics; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 - metabolism; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - virology; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Epithelium; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Infectivity; Lung - metabolism; Lung cancer; Lung diseases; Obstructive lung disease; Paraffin; Polymerase chain reaction; Protein expression; Proteins; Renin; RNA, Messenger; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Tumors

Increased expression of pulmonary ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, could contribute to increased infectivity of COVID-19 in patients with diabetes, but ACE2 expression has not been studied in lung tissue of subjects with diabetes. We therefore studied ACE2 mRNA and protein expression in lung tissue sa...