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Cardiorenal Tissues Express SARS-CoV-2 Entry Genes and Basigin (BSG/CD147) Increases With Age in Endothelial Cells

Blerina Ahmetaj-Shala1, Ricky Vaja1, Santosh S Atanur2,3

  • 1Cardiorespiratory Interface, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.

JACC. Basic to Translational Science
|October 19, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Advancing age increases the risk of severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Research suggests that increased expression of the basigin (BSG) gene in blood vessel cells may explain why older individuals face a higher risk of severe COVID-19.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Infectious Disease
  • Aging Research

Background:

  • Severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is linked to vascular and cardiovascular inflammation and thrombosis.
  • Advancing age is the primary risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of host genes in cardiovascular tissues and endothelial cells in the context of COVID-19.
  • To explore age-related changes in gene expression, specifically focusing on SARS-CoV-2 receptor pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of transcriptomic databases to identify gene expression patterns.
  • Examination of gene expression in cardiovascular tissues and endothelial cells.
  • Comparison of gene expression profiles across different age groups.

Main Results:

  • Cardiovascular tissues and endothelial cells express genes like angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and basigin (BSG), which are implicated in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • The ACE2/TMPRSS2 and BSG/PPIA pathways are localized to lung epithelium and vessel endothelium, respectively.
  • While most host gene expression remains stable with age, ACE2 decreases in some tissues, and BSG increases in endothelial cells.

Conclusions:

  • Increased BSG expression in endothelial cells with age may contribute to the heightened risk of severe COVID-19 in older individuals.
  • The findings highlight BSG as a potential factor in age-related COVID-19 severity.

Keywords:
ACE2, angiotensin converting enzyme 2ADAM17, ADAM metallopeptidase domain 17BSG, basiginCOVID-19COVID-19, coronavirus disease-2019CTSB, cathepsin BCTSL, cathepsin LGTEx, Genotype-Tissue ExpressionPBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cellsPPIA, peptidylprolyl isomerase APPIB, peptidylprolyl isomerase BSARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2TMPRSS2, transmembrane serine protease 2agecardiovascularendothelial cells

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