Variation in ACE2 levels are not related to outcomes from COVID-19

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base

A paper published in JID looking at ACE2 receptor levels, used by SARS-CoV-2 to establish infection, was not related to outcome of infection.

The study reported no significant differences in the levels of ACE2 receptor levels related to age or sex from 58 samples from lung tissue. There was no link between variation in levels and levels of SARS-CoV-2 or in the outcomes from COVID-19.

Other factors are therefore the likely cause of the higher risks of COVID-19 in older people and in men.

Reference

Li K et al. Inter-subject variation in ACE2 protein expression in human airway epithelia and its relationship to SARS-CoV-2 infection.  JID. jiab383,doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab383. (21 July 2021).
https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jiab383/6325140