Jun 9, 2020Paper

ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are expressed on the human ocular surface, suggesting susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection

BioRxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
Lingli ZhouElia J Duh

Abstract

Conjunctival signs and symptoms are observed in a subset of patients with COVID-19, and SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in tears, raising concerns regarding the eye both as a portal of entry and carrier of the virus. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ocular surface cells possess the key factors required for cellular susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 entry/infection. We analyzed human post-mortem eyes as well as surgical specimens for the expression of ACE2 (the receptor for SARS-CoV-2) and TMPRSS2, a cell surface-associated protease that facilitates viral entry following binding of the viral spike protein to ACE2. Across all eye specimens, immunohistochemical analysis revealed expression of ACE2 in the conjunctiva, limbus, and cornea, with especially prominent staining in the superficial conjunctival and corneal epithelial surface. Surgical conjunctival specimens also showed expression of ACE2 in the conjunctival epithelium, especially prominent in the superficial epithelium, as well as the substantia propria. All eye and conjunctival specimens also expressed TMPRSS2. Finally, western blot analysis of protein lysates from human corneal epithelium obtained during refractive surgery confirmed expression of ACE2 and TMPRS...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 27, 2020·Indian Journal of Ophthalmology·Rohit ShettySharon D'Souza
Jun 24, 2020·Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft·Clemens LangeGünther Schlunck
Sep 10, 2020·Curēus·Uday Jain
Jul 30, 2020·Food and Environmental Virology·Muhammad Torequl Islam
Aug 26, 2020·Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology·Walter J LukiwJames M Hill
Oct 6, 2020·Current Eye Research·Céline TrigauxJohannes Menzel-Severing
Nov 4, 2020·Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft·Clemens LangeGünther Schlunck
Jul 18, 2020·Medical Hypotheses·Keith ZimmermanRadouil Tzekov
Nov 3, 2020·Frontiers in Endocrinology·Hermine Muniangi-MuhituGuy A Rutter
Mar 2, 2021·Frontiers in Physiology·Dalton de Freitas SantoroLauro Augusto de Oliveira

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