ACE2 expression in organs and systems most frequently affected in COVID-19.

The New Neander's Medical
ACE2 expression in organs and systems most frequently implicated in COVID-19 complications. The gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and testis have the highest ACE2 expressions. In some organs, different cell types have remarkably distinct expressions, e.g. in the lungs, alveolar epithelial cells have higher ACE2 expression levels than bronchial epithelial cells; in the liver, ACE2 is not expressed in hepatocytes, Kupffer cells nor endothelial cells, but is detected in cholangiocytes, which canexplain liver injury to some extent. Furthermore, ACE2 expression is enriched on enterocytes of the small intestine compared to the colon. ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; BNP, B-type natriuretic peptide; CRP, C- reactive protein; IL, interleukin; N/L, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; PT, prothrombin time; aPTT, activated partial thromboplastin time. Source: Vabret, 2020.

Last update and review: August 10, 2020.

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A short summary.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a plasma membrane-bound ectoenzyme.
In the lungs, alveolar epithelial cells have higher ACE2 expression levels than bronchial epithelial cells.
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Selected references:
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A short summary.

Viruses use peptides expressed on cellular membrane as “receptors” to enter host cells and then downregulate the expression of these peptides. SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2 use angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to infect host cells. Cells that do not express ACE2 can not be infected. Cells that have only limited expression of ACE2 are not permissive for viral infection and replication. In this article, we share some of our notes and a figure that discuss the expression of ACE2 in different human organs.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a plasma membrane-bound ectoenzyme.

Figure 2 Opposing cardiovascular effects of the two major peptides of the renin– angiotensin system, Ang II and Ang-(1–7). The intersection between these two arms of the system is the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), since this enzyme can cleave the vasoconstrictor/proliferative peptide Ang II to form the vasodilator/antiproliferative fragment Ang-(1–7). AT1, Ang II type 1 receptor; Mas, Ang-(1–7) receptor. Ang, angiotensin. Source: Santos, Journal of Endocrinology (2013)216, R1–R17.
Figure 2 Opposing cardiovascular effects of the two major peptides of the renin– angiotensin system, Ang II and Ang-(1–7). The intersection between these two arms of the system is the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), since this enzyme can cleave the vasoconstrictor/proliferative peptide Ang II to form the vasodilator/antiproliferative fragment Ang-(1–7). AT1, Ang II type 1 receptor; Mas, Ang-(1–7) receptor. Ang, angiotensin. Source: Santos, Journal of Endocrinology (2013)216, R1–R17.

In the lungs, alveolar epithelial cells have higher ACE2 expression levels than bronchial epithelial cells.

Vabret et al., 2020 (1):

ACE2 expression in organs and systems most frequently implicated in COVID-19 complications. The gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and testis have the highest ACE2 expressions. In some organs, different cell types have remarkably distinct expressions, e.g. in the lungs, alveolar epithelial cells have higher ACE2 expression levels than bronchial epithelial cells; in the liver, ACE2 is not expressed in hepatocytes, Kupffer cells nor endothelial cells, but is detected in cholangiocytes, which canexplain liver injury to some extent. Furthermore, ACE2 expression is enriched on enterocytes of the small intestine compared to the colon. ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; BNP, B-type natriuretic peptide; CRP, C- reactive protein; IL, interleukin; N/L, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; PT, prothrombin time; aPTT, activated partial thromboplastin time.

ACE2 expression in organs and systems most frequently implicated in COVID-19 complications. The gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and testis have the highest ACE2 expressions. In some organs, different cell types have remarkably distinct expressions, e.g. in the lungs, alveolar epithelial cells have higher ACE2 expression levels than bronchial epithelial cells; in the liver, ACE2 is not expressed in hepatocytes, Kupffer cells nor endothelial cells, but is detected in cholangiocytes, which canexplain liver injury to some extent. Furthermore, ACE2 expression is enriched on enterocytes of the small intestine compared to the colon. ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; BNP, B-type natriuretic peptide; CRP, C- reactive protein; IL, interleukin; N/L, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; PT, prothrombin time; aPTT, activated partial thromboplastin time. Source: Vabret, 2020.
ACE2 expression in organs and systems most frequently implicated in COVID-19 complications. Source: Vabret, 2020.

Related:

Viruses use peptide expressed on cellular membrane as “receptors” to enter host cells and then downregulate the expression of these peptides. SARS-CoV-1,2 and ACE2.
SARS-CoV utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to infect host cells. What is ACE2?

Selected references:

1. 1. Vabret et al. Immunology of COVID-19: current state of the science. Immunity(2020), doi:doi.org/10.1016/ j.immuni.2020.05.002.

Published by The New Neander's Medical