RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Oral epithelial expression of angiotensin converting enzyme-2: Implications for COVID-19 diagnosis and prognosis
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.06.22.165035
DO 10.1101/2020.06.22.165035
A1 Mythily Srinivasan
A1 Susan L Zunt
A1 Lawrence I Goldblatt
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/06/23/2020.06.22.165035.abstract
AB The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-2 as the host receptor for target cell entry. The extent and distribution of ACE-2 has been associated with the clinical symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19. Here we show by immunofluorescence analysis that the ACE2 is abundantly expressed in oral mucosa, particularly in the surface epithelial cells suggesting that these cells could represent sites of entry for SARS-CoV-2. Further, together with the reports on ACE2 ectodomain shedding, we discuss the rationale for the hypothesis that the ACE-2 measurement in saliva could be a marker for COVID-19 infection during early phase following SARS-CoV-2 exposure.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.