Expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in human primary conjunctival and pterygium cell lines and in mouse cornea
Expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in human primary conjunctival and pterygium cell lines and in mouse cornea
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DOI：
10.1038/s41433-020-0939-4
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发表时间：
2020-05-07
期刊：
影响因子：
3.9
通讯作者：
Ng, Tsz Kin
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Ma, Di;Chen, Chong-Bo;Ng, Tsz Kin
目的检测SARS冠状病毒2型受体血管紧张素转换酶2（ACE 2）和II型跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶2（TMPRSS 2）基因在人和小鼠眼细胞中的表达，并与其他组织细胞进行比较。方法收集翼状胬肉患者手术切除的结膜和原发性翼状胬肉组织。采用逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和SYBR绿色PCR检测人原代结膜和翼状胬肉细胞、人眼组织和其他组织细胞系、间充质干细胞以及小鼠眼组织和其他组织中ACE 2和TMPRSS 2基因的表达。结果RT-PCR结果显示，2条ACE 2基因引物在3株人结膜细胞和翼状胬肉细胞中有2株表达一致。两种引物扩增的TMPRSS 2基因仅在1/3的翼状胬肉细胞系中表达，而在所有结膜细胞中均不表达。与肺A549细胞相比，结膜和翼状胬肉细胞中观察到类似的表达。此外，与肺组织相比，小鼠角膜具有相当的Tmprss 2基因表达和较低但显著的Ace 2基因表达。结论考虑到ACE 2和TMPRSS 2在SARS-CoV-2感染中的必要性，我们的结果提示结膜感染SARS-CoV-2的可能性较小，而翼状胬肉感染SARS-CoV-2的可能性较大。由于Ace 2和Tmprss 2在角膜中的高表达和一致性，角膜而不是结膜更有可能被SARS-CoV-2感染。在临床实践中，预防SARS-CoV-2可能通过眼表感染是必要的。
Purpose To determine the expressions of SARS-CoV-2 receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and type II transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2) genes in human and mouse ocular cells and comparison to other tissue cells. Methods Human conjunctiva and primary pterygium tissues were collected from pterygium patients who underwent surgery. The expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes was determined in human primary conjunctival and pterygium cells, human ocular and other tissue cell lines, mesenchymal stem cells as well as mouse ocular and other tissues by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and SYBR green PCR. Results RT-PCR analysis showed consistent expression by 2 ACE2 gene primers in 2 out of 3 human conjunctival cells and pterygium cell lines. Expression by 2 TMPRSS2 gene primers could only be found in 1 out of 3 pterygium cell lines, but not in any conjunctival cells. Compared with the lung A549 cells, similar expression was noted in conjunctival and pterygium cells. In addition, mouse cornea had comparable expression of Tmprss2 gene and lower but prominent Ace2 gene expression compared with the lung tissue. Conclusion Considering the necessity of both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 for SARS-CoV-2 infection, our results suggest that conjunctiva would be less likely to be infected by SARS-CoV-2, whereas pterygium possesses some possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection. With high and consistent expression of Ace2 and Tmprss2 in cornea, cornea rather than conjunctiva has higher potential to be infected by SARS-CoV-2. Precaution is necessary to prevent possible SARS-CoV-2 infection through ocular surface in clinical practice.