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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.05.23.107334

Lung epithelial stem cells express SARS-CoV-2 entry factors: implications for COVID-19

Valyaeva, A. A.·Zharikova, A. A.·Kasianov, A. S.·Vassetzky, Y. S.·Sheval, E. V.
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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 can infiltrate the lower respiratory tract, resulting in severe respiratory failure and a high death rate. Normally, the airway and alveolar epithelium can be rapidly reconstituted by multipotent stem cells after episodes of infection. Here, we analyzed published RNA-seq datasets and demonstrated that cells of four different lung epithelial stem cell types express SARS-CoV-2 entry factors, including Ace2. Thus, stem cells can be potentially infected by SARS-CoV-2, which may lead to defects in regeneration capacity partially accounting for the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its consequences.

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Valyaeva, A. A., Zharikova, A. A., Kasianov, A. S., Vassetzky, Y. S., Sheval, E. V.. 2020-05-23. Lung epithelial stem cells express SARS-CoV-2 entry factors: implications for COVID-19. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.23.107334

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