Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Int J Mol Sci. Mortality: Among Hormone-Modulated ACE2 Expression, Risk of Venous Thromboembolism and Hypovitaminosis D

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Int J Mol Sci. Mortality: Among Hormone-Modulated ACE2 Expression, Risk of Venous Thromboembolism and Hypovitaminosis D


    Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 22;21(8). pii: E2948. doi: 10.3390/ijms21082948.
    Sex-Specific SARS-CoV-2 Mortality: Among Hormone-Modulated ACE2 Expression, Risk of Venous Thromboembolism and Hypovitaminosis D.


    La Vignera S1, Cannarella R1, Condorelli RA1, Torre F1, Aversa A2, Calogero AE1.

    Author information




    Abstract

    Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) appears to have a higher mortality rate in presence of comorbidities and in men. The latter suggests the presence of a possible sex-dependent susceptibility. An enzymatic system involved in this different predisposition could be represented by angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). ACE2 is activated and down-regulated by the spike protein of the virus and allows the penetration of SARS-CoV-2 into epithelial cells and myocardium. Data on the experimental animal have shown that 17?-estradiol increases the expression and activity of ACE2 in both adipose tissue and kidney. Spontaneously hypertensive male mice have a higher myocardial ACE2 expression than females and its levels decrease after orchiectomy. In addition to this first aspect, the recent evidence of an increased frequency of venous thromboembolism in patients with COVID-19 (a clinical element associated with a worse prognosis) calls the attention on the safety of treatment with testosterone, in particular in hypogonadal men with greater genetic predisposition. Evidence that sex hormones are able to modulate the expression of ACE2 could help in interpreting epidemiological results and in designing more appropriate intervention strategies. Moreover, the vitamin D deficiency in elderly men may be worthy of further study regarding the epidemiological aspects of this different susceptibility and lethality between sexes.



    KEYWORDS:

    ACE2: venous thromboembolism; COVID-19; SARS-CoV2; gender differences; vitamin D deficiency


    PMID:32331343DOI:10.3390/ijms21082948
    Free full text

Working...
X