CYP19A1 mediated sex hormone metabolism promotes severe disease outcome in SARS-CoV-2 infected male golden hamsters

ABSTRACT: Male sex belongs to one of the risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcome. However, underlying mechanisms that could affect sex dependent disease outcome are yet unknown. Here, we identified the CYP19A1 gene encoding for the testosterone-to-estradiol metabolizing enzyme CYP19A1 (alias aromatase) as a host factor that contributes to worsened disease outcome in male hamsters. SARS-CoV-2 infection increases CYP19A1 transcription most prominently in the lungs of male animals, which correlates with reduced circulating testosterone and increased circulating estradiol levels. Dysregulated sex hormone levels in male golden hamsters are associated with reduced lung function compared to females. Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected hamsters with letrozole, a clinically approved CYP19A1 inhibitor, supporte

INSTRUMENT(S): NextSeq 550

ORGANISM(S): Mesocricetus auratus

SUBMITTER: Daniel Wibberg 

PROVIDER: E-MTAB-11162 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress