Distinct Disease Severity Between Children and Older Adults With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impacts of ACE2 Expression, Distribution, and Lung Progenitor Cells

Abstract

Compared to children, ACE2 positive cells are generally decreased in older adults and mainly presented in the lower pulmonary tract. The lung progenitor cells are also decreased. These risk factors may impact disease severity and recovery from pneumonia caused by SARS-Cov-2 infection in older patients.