Search bioRxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.05.09.086165

ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are expressed on the human ocular surface, suggesting susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection

Zhou, L.·Xu, Z.·Castiglione, G. M.·Soiberman, U. S.·Eberhart, C. G.·Duh, E. J.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Purpose Conjunctival signs and symptoms are observed in a subset of patients with COVID-19, and SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in tears, raising concerns regarding the eye both as a portal of entry and carrier of the virus. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ocular surface cells possess the key factors required for cellular susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 entry/infection.Methods We analyzed human post-mortem eyes as well as surgical specimens for the expression of ACE2 (the receptor for SARS-CoV-2) and TMPRSS2, a cell surface-associated protease that facilitates viral entry following binding of the viral spike protein to ACE2.Results Across all eye specimens, immunohistochemical analysis revealed expression of ACE2 in the conjunctiva, limbus, and cornea, with especially prominent staining in the superficial conjunctival and corneal epithelial surface. Surgical conjunctival specimens also showed expression of ACE2 in the conjunctival epithelium, especially prominent in the superficial epithelium, as well as the substantia propria. All eye and conjunctival specimens also expressed TMPRSS2. Finally, western blot analysis of protein lysates from human corneal epithelium obtained during refractive surgery confirmed expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2.Conclusions Together, these results indicate that ocular surface cells including conjunctiva are susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2, and could therefore serve as a portal of entry as well as a reservoir for person-to-person transmission of this virus. This highlights the importance of safety practices including face masks and ocular contact precautions in preventing the spread of COVID-19 disease.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.View Full Text

Source connections

Explore related subjects

pathologyPreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Zhou, L., Xu, Z., Castiglione, G. M., Soiberman, U. S., Eberhart, C. G., Duh, E. J.. 2020-05-09. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are expressed on the human ocular surface, suggesting susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.09.086165

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

NAE1-Dependent Protein Neddylation Preserves Endothelial Identity and Vascular Integrity

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is a central driver of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, yet the post-translational mechanisms that preserve endothelial homeostasis remain incompletely understood. Protein neddylation, the covalent conjugation of a ubiquitin-like modifier, regulates diverse cellular processes, yet its physiological role in the vascular endothelium remains unknown. This study investigated whether protein neddylation is required to preserve endothelial identity and vascular homeostasis. Methods: We generated tamoxifen-inducible endothelial-specific Nae1 knockout mice to inhibit neddylation and combined bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell and single-nucleus transcriptomics, quantitative proteomics, biochemical analyses, and gain- and loss-of-function approaches to define the role of endothelial neddylation in vascular homeostasis and inflammatory injury. Results: Endothelial-specific Nae1 deletion caused rapid mortality associated with vascular leakage, platelet accumulation, inflammation, and multi-organ injury. Multi-omics analyses demonstrated profound loss of endothelial identity, characterized by suppression of core endothelial programs and activation of inflammatory, procoagulant, and pyroptotic pathways. Single-cell analyses revealed progressive endothelial dysfunction culminating in depletion of the endothelial population and remodeling of the vascular niche. Mechanistically, endothelial neddylation deficiency activated gasdermin D (GSDMD)- and gasdermin E (GSDME)-dependent pyroptosis, whereas dual inhibition of GSDMD and GSDME markedly attenuated inflammatory transcriptomic remodeling, vascular injury, hepatocyte death, immune cell infiltration, and platelet accumulation. Translational analyses demonstrated reduced endothelial neddylation in experimental endotoxemia and decreased expression of neddylation pathway components in human atherosclerosis and COVID-19 datasets. Conversely, restoration of endothelial neddylation partially reversed inflammatory endothelial transcriptomic reprogramming in vivo. Conclusions: NAE1-dependent protein neddylation is an essential regulator of endothelial identity and vascular integrity. Loss of endothelial neddylation promotes gasdermin-dependent pyroptosis and thrombo-inflammatory vascular injury, whereas restoration of the neddylation pathway mitigates inflammatory endothelial dysfunction. These findings identify endothelial neddylation as a fundamental mechanism maintaining vascular homeostasis and a potential therapeutic target for cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases.

pathology↗
bioRxiv2020

Deletion of Mcpip1 in Mcpip1AlbKO mice recapitulates the phenotype of human primary biliary cholangitis

Background & AimsPrimary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive destruction of the intrahepatic bile ducts. The immunopathology of PBC involves excessive inflammation; therefore, negative regulators of inflammatory response, such as Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1-Induced Protein-1 (MCPIP1, alias Regnase1) may play important roles in the development of PBC. The aim of this work was to verify whether Mcpip1 expression protects against development of PBC. MethodsGenetic deletion of Zc3h12a was used to characterize the role of Mcpip1 in the pathogenesis of PBC. 6-52-week-old Mcpip1fl/fl and Mcpip1AlbKO mice were used for immunohistochemical, biochemical and molecular tests. ResultsWe found that Mcpip1 deficiency in the liver recapitulates most of the features of human PBC, in contrast to mice with Mcpip1 deficiency in myeloid cells (Mcpip1LysMKO mice), which present with robust myeloid cell-driven systemic inflammation. In Mcpip1AlbKO livers, intrahepatic bile ducts displayed proliferative changes with inflammatory infiltration, bile duct destruction, and fibrosis leading to cholestasis. In plasma, increased concentrations of IgG, IgM, and AMA autoantibodies (anti-PDC-E2) were detected. Interestingly, the phenotype of Mcpip1AlbKO mice was robust in 6-week-old and 52-week-old mice, but milder in 12-24-week-old mice, suggesting early prenatal origin of the phenotype and age-dependent progression of the disease. Hepatic transcriptome analysis of 6-week-old and 24-week-old Mcpip1AlbKO mice showed 812 and 8 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively, compared with age-matched control mice, and revealed a distinct set of genes compared to those previously associated with development of PBC. ConclusionsThe phenotype of Mcpip1AlbKO mice recapitulates most of the features of human PBC, and demonstrates early prenatal origin and age-dependent progression of PBC. Therefore, Mcpip1AlbKO mice provide a unique model for the study of PBC. Lay summaryDeletion of hepatic Mcpip1 in Mcpip1AlbKO mice leads to development of PBC that recapitulates phenotype of human patients. These animals, show early prenatal origin and age-dependent progression of the disease. Thus, Mcpip1AlbKO mice provide a unique model for studying PBC.

pathology↗
bioRxiv2020

Serum metabolomic biomarkers of perceptual speed in cognitively normal and mildly impaired subjects with fasting state stratification

Cognitive decline is associated with both normal aging and early pathologies leading to dementia. Here we used quantitative profiling of metabolites involved in the regulation of inflammation, vascular function, neuronal function and energy metabolism, including oxylipins, endocannabinoids, bile acids, and steroid hormones to identify metabolic biomarkers of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Serum samples (n =210) were obtained from subjects with or without MCI opportunistically collected with incomplete fasting state information. To maximize power and stratify the analysis of metabolite associations with MCI by the fasting state, we developed an algorithm to predict subject fasting state when unknown (n =71). In non-fasted subjects, linoleic acid and palmitoleoyl ethanolamide levels were positively associated with perceptual speed. In fasted subjects, soluble epoxide hydrolase activity and tauro-alpha-muricholic acid levels were negatively associated with perceptual speed. Other cognitive domains showed associations with bile acid metabolism, but only in the non-fasted state. Importantly, this study shows unique associations between serum metabolites and cognitive function in the fasted and non-fasted states and provides a fasting state prediction algorithm based on measurable metabolites.

pathology↗