Repeated ethanol exposure and withdrawal alters angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expression in discrete brain regions: Implications for SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion.

ABSTRACT:

Background

People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) may be at higher risk for COVID-19. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) are required for cellular entry by SARS-CoV-2, but information on their expression in specific brain regions after alcohol exposure is limited. We sought to clarify how chronic alcohol exposure affects ACE2 expression in monoaminergic brainstem circuits and other putative SARS-CoV-2 entry points.

Methods

Brains were examined for ACE2 using immunofluorescence after 4 weeks of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapor inhalation. We also examined TMPRSS2, Cathepsin L, and ADAM17 by Western blot and RAS pathway mediators and pro-inflammatory markers via RT-qPCR.

Results

ACE2 was increased in most brain r

SUBMITTER: Balasubramanian N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9878009 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature