Detection of SARS-COV-2 receptor ACE-2 mRNA in thyroid cells: a clue for COVID-19-related subacute thyroiditis
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Detection of SARS‑COV‑2 receptor ACE‑2 mRNA in thyroid cells: a clue for COVID‑19‑related subacute thyroiditis M. Rotondi1,2 · F. Coperchini1 · G. Ricci1 · M. Denegri3 · L. Croce1,2 · S. T. Ngnitejeu4 · L. Villani5 · F. Magri1,2 · F. Latrofa6 · L. Chiovato1,2 Received: 2 September 2020 / Accepted: 25 September 2020 © The Author(s) 2020
Abstract 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. Keywords Thyroid · Thyrocytes · SARS-COV-2 · COVID-19 · ACE-2
Introduction * L. Chiovato [email protected] 1
Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, PV, Italy
2
Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Via S. Maugeri 4, 27100 Pavia, PV, Italy
3
Unit of Molecular Cardiology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
4
Department of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, PV, Italy
5
Unit of Pathology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, PV, Italy
6
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, PI, Italy
SARS-COV-2 is a pathogenic agent, belonging to the coronavirus family, responsible for the current global world pandemic [1]. The clinical picture of COVID-19 disease is in par
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