ACE2-Mediated Infection of Immortalized Human Visceral Adipocytes by SARS-CoV-2.

ABSTRACT: Adipocytes can be infected by SARS-CoV-2, potentially contributing to the obesity-associated severity of COVID-19. Circumstantial evidence points to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the necessary receptor for adipocyte infection, but this has not been demonstrated experimentally. Using differentiated immortalized human preadipocyte lines that we developed, we found that visceral adipocytes express higher levels of ACE2 and are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 spike (S)-mediated luciferase-VSV infection than subcutaneous adipocytes. Overexpression of ACE2 significantly increased infection, whereas knockout of ACE2 significantly decreased S-mediated infection. Visceral adipocytes at baseline were susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2 (Delta variant); however, increased levels of vira

SUBMITTER: Gourronc FA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12567992 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature