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Respiratory Research
Published in: Respiratory Research 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Bronchial Asthma | Letter to the Editor

Expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors in the respiratory tract of healthy individuals, smokers and asthmatics

Authors: Magdalena Matusiak, Christian M. Schürch

Published in: Respiratory Research | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is causing a pandemic with currently > 29 million confirmed cases and > 900,000 deaths worldwide. The locations and mechanisms of virus entry into the human respiratory tract are incompletely characterized. We analyzed publicly available RNA microarray datasets for SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors and cofactors ACE2, TMPRSS2, BSG (CD147) and FURIN. We found that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are upregulated in the airways of smokers. In asthmatics, ACE2 tended to be downregulated in nasal epithelium, and TMPRSS2 was upregulated in the bronchi. Furthermore, respiratory epithelia were negative for ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 protein expression while positive for BSG and furin, suggesting a possible alternative entry route for SARS-CoV-2.
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Metadata
Title
Expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors in the respiratory tract of healthy individuals, smokers and asthmatics
Authors
Magdalena Matusiak
Christian M. Schürch
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Respiratory Research / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1465-993X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-020-01521-x

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