Journal
ISCIENCE
Volume 23, Issue 12, Pages -Publisher
CELL PRESS
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101839
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Funding
- University of Geneva
- Swiss National Science Foundation [31003A_172878, 310030_189153]
- Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) [31003A_172878, 310030_189153] Funding Source: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
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Reports indicate an association between COVID-19 and anosmia, as well as the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virions in the olfactory bulb. To test whether the olfactory neuroepithelium may represent a target of the virus, we generated RNA-seq libraries from human olfactory neuroepithelia, in which we found substantial expression of the genes coding for the virus receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and for the virus internalization enhancer TMPRSS2. We analyzed a human olfactory single-cell RNA-seq dataset and determined that sustentacular cells, which maintain the integrity of olfactory sensory neurons, express ACE2 and TMPRSS2. ACE2 protein was highly expressed in a subset of sustentacular cells in human and mouse olfactory tissues. Finally, we found ACE2 transcripts in specific brain cell types, both in mice and humans. Sustentacular cells thus represent a potential entry door for SARS-CoV-2 in a neuronal sensory system that is in direct connection with the brain.
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