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Single-cell RNA-seq data analysis on the receptor ACE2 expression reveals the potential risk of different human organs vulnerable to 2019-nCoV infection
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2020
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Autoimmune DiseaseViral PathogenesisImmunologyReceptor Ace2 ExpressionAntiviral ResponseAutoimmunityDifferent Human OrgansMedicinePotential Risk
The novel coronavirus 2019‑nCoV infects human cells through the ACE2 receptor, with lung cells as primary targets, but non‑respiratory symptoms suggest additional organ involvement. The study aims to map organ‑level infection risk by analyzing single‑cell RNA‑seq data across major human physiological systems. Researchers processed scRNA‑seq datasets from respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, and urinary systems to quantify ACE2 expression in individual cell types. They identified lung, heart, esophagus, kidney, bladder, and ileum as vulnerable organs, pinpointing specific cell types such as AT2, myocardial, proximal tubule, epithelial, and urothelial cells, and produced a risk map that may guide further pathogenesis research.
Abstract It has been known that, the novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, which is considered similar to SARS-CoV, invades human cells via the receptor angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2). Moreover, lung cells that have ACE2 expression may be the main target cells during 2019-nCoV infection. However, some patients also exhibit non-respiratory symptoms, such as kidney failure, implying that 2019-nCoV could also invade other organs. To construct a risk map of different human organs, we analyzed the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets derived from major human physiological systems, including the respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, and urinary systems. Through scRNA-seq data analyses, we identified the organs at risk, such as lung, heart, esophagus, kidney, bladder, and ileum, and located specific cell types (i.e., type II alveolar cells (AT2), myocardial cells, proximal tubule cells of the kidney, ileum and esophagus epithelial cells, and bladder urothelial cells), which are vulnerable to 2019-nCoV infection. Based on the findings, we constructed a risk map indicating the vulnerability of different organs to 2019-nCoV infection. This study may provide potential clues for further investigation of the pathogenesis and route of 2019-nCoV infection.