Could sex/gender differences in ACE2 expression in the lungs contribute to the large gender disparity in the morbidity and mortality of patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus?

Majdič, Gregor (author)

COVID-19 morbidity and mortality have significant gender disparities, with higher prevalence and mortality in men. SARS-CoV-2 enters the lungs through the ACE2 enzyme, a member of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Although there are no data for the lung, the expressions of RAS components in other tissues are modulated by sex hormones, androgens, and estrogens. However, there are no data on sex-specific differences in ACE2 expression. If there is a sex difference in the expression of ACE2 in the lung, this could theoretically explain the gender disparity in COVID-19 disease. More importantly, although modulation of ACE2 will certainly not provide a cure for the COVID-19 disease, modulation of ACE2 by sex hormone modulators, if they affect the expression of ACE2, could potentially be developed into a supportive therapy for COVID-19 patients.

• Language: English
• Keywords: pneumonia viral, corona virus infection, epidemiology, peptidyl-dipeptidase A, androgens, estrogens, blood, sex factors, sex distribution, COVID-19
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.03 - Short Scientific Article
• Organization: VF - Veterinary Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: 3 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 10, art. 327
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-118708
• UDC: 616.24:616.9
• ISSN on article: 2235-2988
• DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00327
• COBISS.SI-ID: 20234499
• Publication date in RUL: 31.08.2020

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
• Shortened title: Front. cell. infect. microbiol.
• Publisher: Frontiers Media
• ISSN: 2235-2988
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523093785

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 31.08.2020

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: virusna pljučnica, corona virusna infekcija, epidemiologija, peptidil-dipeptidaza A, androgeni, estrogeni, kri, spolni faktorji, porazdelitev spolov, COVID-19

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P4-0053
• Name: Endokrini, imunski in encimski odzivi pri zdravih in bolnih živalih