ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression is reduced acutely in SARS-CoV-2 patients but returns to normal with recovery
Abstract During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was identified as the major entry receptor for the virus and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) as an important SARS-CoV-2 entry factor. Previous studies investigating the impact of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expressio...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96279-x |
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| author | Vanessa Hui En Chen Joshua K. Tay Rijan Gurung Smeetha Nair Douglas Jie Wen Tay Kai Sen Tan Roger S. Y. Foo Paul A. Tambyah |
| author_facet | Vanessa Hui En Chen Joshua K. Tay Rijan Gurung Smeetha Nair Douglas Jie Wen Tay Kai Sen Tan Roger S. Y. Foo Paul A. Tambyah |
| author_sort | Vanessa Hui En Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was identified as the major entry receptor for the virus and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) as an important SARS-CoV-2 entry factor. Previous studies investigating the impact of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression on SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in adults have yielded inconsistent results, thereby underscoring the need for further research in this domain. We obtained nasopharyngeal swabs from infected adults during the acute and late convalescent phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection and compared the expression of both genes with non-infected household member contacts. We found that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression is temporarily reduced during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection presumably due to viral disruption of transcription. Post-recovery, however, the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 was comparable to non-infected household contacts. The lack of significant differences in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression between SARS-CoV-2-positive adults and uninfected household controls suggests that factors influencing susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults may extend beyond ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the study’s limited sample size and the heterogeneity of COVID-19 cases. Other non-physiological factors, such as enhanced hygiene practices following the infection of a household member, may also contribute to absence of infection among healthy controls. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc9eb157cf0441729e1d434ed0006e2a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc9eb157cf0441729e1d434ed0006e2a2025-08-20T03:18:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-011511610.1038/s41598-025-96279-xACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression is reduced acutely in SARS-CoV-2 patients but returns to normal with recoveryVanessa Hui En Chen0Joshua K. Tay1Rijan Gurung2Smeetha Nair3Douglas Jie Wen Tay4Kai Sen Tan5Roger S. Y. Foo6Paul A. Tambyah7Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, National University of SingaporeCardiovascular-Metabolic Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of SingaporeInfectious Diseases Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of SingaporeInfectious Diseases Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of SingaporeCardiovascular-Metabolic Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, National University of SingaporeAbstract During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was identified as the major entry receptor for the virus and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) as an important SARS-CoV-2 entry factor. Previous studies investigating the impact of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression on SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in adults have yielded inconsistent results, thereby underscoring the need for further research in this domain. We obtained nasopharyngeal swabs from infected adults during the acute and late convalescent phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection and compared the expression of both genes with non-infected household member contacts. We found that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression is temporarily reduced during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection presumably due to viral disruption of transcription. Post-recovery, however, the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 was comparable to non-infected household contacts. The lack of significant differences in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression between SARS-CoV-2-positive adults and uninfected household controls suggests that factors influencing susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults may extend beyond ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the study’s limited sample size and the heterogeneity of COVID-19 cases. Other non-physiological factors, such as enhanced hygiene practices following the infection of a household member, may also contribute to absence of infection among healthy controls.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96279-xSARS CoV-2ACE2TMPRSS2 |
| spellingShingle | Vanessa Hui En Chen Joshua K. Tay Rijan Gurung Smeetha Nair Douglas Jie Wen Tay Kai Sen Tan Roger S. Y. Foo Paul A. Tambyah ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression is reduced acutely in SARS-CoV-2 patients but returns to normal with recovery Scientific Reports SARS CoV-2 ACE2 TMPRSS2 |
| title | ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression is reduced acutely in SARS-CoV-2 patients but returns to normal with recovery |
| title_full | ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression is reduced acutely in SARS-CoV-2 patients but returns to normal with recovery |
| title_fullStr | ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression is reduced acutely in SARS-CoV-2 patients but returns to normal with recovery |
| title_full_unstemmed | ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression is reduced acutely in SARS-CoV-2 patients but returns to normal with recovery |
| title_short | ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression is reduced acutely in SARS-CoV-2 patients but returns to normal with recovery |
| title_sort | ace2 and tmprss2 gene expression is reduced acutely in sars cov 2 patients but returns to normal with recovery |
| topic | SARS CoV-2 ACE2 TMPRSS2 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96279-x |
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