Low expression of TMPRSS2-a SARS-CoV-2 internalization protease-associates with basal subtype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus that has caused the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. ACE2 and other genes utilized by SARS-CoV-2 to enter human cells have been shown to express in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. However, their expression pattern in different subtypes has not been investigated. Hence, in the current study, we have analyzed the expression of ACE2, TMPRSS2 and FURIN in 649 HNSCC patients from two independent cohorts. Our analysis showed significantly lower expression of TMPRSS2 while significantly increased expression of ACE2 and FURIN in HPV-negative HNSCC. Comparison of expression of these genes in the three subtypes of HNSCC patients (basal, classical and inflamed/mesenchymal) showed no significant diffe

SUBMITTER: Tiwari J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9117167 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature