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Open Access 01-12-2021 | SARS-CoV-2 | Original Article

Modulation of ACE-2 mRNA by inflammatory cytokines in human thyroid cells: a pilot study

Authors: Francesca Coperchini, Gianluca Ricci, Laura Croce, Marco Denegri, Rubina Ruggiero, Laura Villani, Flavia Magri, Luca Chiovato, Mario Rotondi

Published in: Endocrine | Issue 3/2021

Abstract

Introduction

Angiotensin-converting-enzyme-2 (ACE-2) was demonstrated to be the receptor for cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. ACE-2 mRNA was identified in several human tissues and recently also in thyroid cells in vitro.

Purpose

Aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the ACE-2 mRNA levels in human thyroid cells in primary cultures.

Methods

Primary thyroid cell cultures were treated with IFN-γ and TNF-α alone or in combination for 24 h. ACE-2 mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR. As a control, the levels of IFN-γ inducible chemokine (CXCL10) were measured in the respective cell culture supernatants.

Results

The mean levels of ACE-2 mRNA increased after treatment with IFN-γ and TNF-α in all the thyroid cell preparations, while the combination treatment did not consistently synergically increase ACE-2-mRNA. At difference, CXCL10 was consistently increased by IFN-γ and synergically further increased by the combination treatment with IFN-γ + TNF-α, with respect to IFN-γ alone.

Conclusions

The results of the present study show that IFN-γ and, to a lesser extent TNF-α consistently increase ACE-2 mRNA levels in NHT primary cultures. More interestingly, the combined stimulation (proven to be effective according to the synergic effect registered for CXCL10) produces different responses in terms of ACE-2 mRNA modulation. These results would suggest that elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines could facilitate the entering of the virus in cells by further increasing ACE-2 expression and/or account for the different degree of severity of SARS-COV-2 infection. This hypothesis deserves to be confirmed by further specific studies.

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Title: Modulation of ACE-2 mRNA by inflammatory cytokines in human thyroid cells: a pilot study
Authors: Francesca Coperchini
Gianluca Ricci
Laura Croce
Marco Denegri
Rubina Ruggiero
Laura Villani
Flavia Magri
Luca Chiovato
Mario Rotondi
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Cytokines
Published in: Endocrine / Issue 3/2021
Print ISSN: 1355-008X
Electronic ISSN: 1559-0100
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-021-02807-w

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Abstract

Introduction

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