Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Rotondi, M.
• Coperchini, F.
• Ricci, G.
• Denegri, M.
• Croce, L.
• Ngnitejeu, S. T.
• Villani, L.
• Magri, F.
• Latrofa, F.
• Chiovato, L.

Titel

Detection of SARS-COV-2 receptor ACE-2 mRNA in thyroid cells: a clue for COVID-19-related subacute thyroiditis

Ist Teil von

• Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2021-05, Vol.44 (5), p.1085-1090

Ort / Verlag

Cham: Springer International Publishing

Erscheinungsjahr

2021

Quelle

SpringerLink

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Purpose SARS-COV-2 is a pathogenic agent belonging to the coronavirus family, responsible for the current global world pandemic. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) is the receptor for cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. ACE-2 is a type I transmembrane metallo-carboxypeptidase involved in the Renin-Angiotensin pathway. By analyzing two independent databases, ACE-2 was identified in several human tissues including the thyroid. Although some cases of COVID-19-related subacute thyroiditis were recently described, direct proof for the expression of the ACE-2 mRNA in thyroid cells is still lacking. Aim of the present study was to investigate by RT-PCR whether the mRNA encoding for ACE-2 is present in human thyroid cells. Methods RT-PCR was performed on in vitro ex vivo study on thyroid tissue samples (15 patients undergoing thyroidectomy for benign thyroid nodules) and primary thyroid cell cultures. Results The ACE-2 mRNA was detected in all surgical thyroid tissue samples ( n  = 15). Compared with two reporter genes (GAPDH: 0.052 ± 0.0026 Cycles −1 ; β-actin: 0.044 ± 0.0025 Cycles −1 ; ACE-2: 0.035 ± 0.0024 Cycles −1 ), the mean level of transcript expression for ACE-2 mRNA was abundant. The expression of ACE-2 mRNA in follicular cells was confirmed by analyzing primary cultures of thyroid cells, which expressed the ACE-2 mRNA at levels similar to tissues. Conclusions The results of the present study demonstrate that the mRNA encoding for the ACE-2 receptor is expressed in thyroid follicular cells, making them a potential target for SARS-COV-2 entry. Future clinical studies in patients with COVID-19 will be required for increase our understanding of the thyroid repercussions of SARS-CoV-2 infection.