Human ACE2 protein is a molecular switch controlling the mode of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) is the receptor mediating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. hACE2 expression is low in the lungs and is upregulated after SARS-CoV-2 infection. How such a hACE2-limited pulmonary environment supports efficient virus transmission and how dynamic hACE2 expression affects SARS-CoV-2 infection are unclear.

Methods

We generated stable cell lines with different expression levels of hACE2 to evaluate how the hACE2 expression level can affect SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Results

We demonstrated that the hACE2 expression level controls the mode of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The hACE2-limited cells have an advantage for SARS-CoV-2 shedding, which leads to cell-free transmission. By contrast

SUBMITTER: Yang CF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10571257 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature