Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Expression Is Detectable in Keratinocytes, Cutaneous Appendages, and Blood Vessels by
Clarisse Ganier1, Nasrat Harun, Imogen Peplow
1At the Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, UK, Clarisse Ganier, PhD, is Associate Researcher; Nasrat Harun, BSc, is Assistant Researcher; Imogen Peplow, BSc, is Assistant Researcher; Xinyi Du-Harpur, MBBChir, is PhD student; Callum Arthurs, BSc, is PhD student; Fiona M. Watt, PhD, is Director, Head of the Medical Research Council; and Magnus D. Lynch, MA, DPhil, MRCS, MRCP, is Consultant Dermatologist and Surgeon.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is expressed in human skin keratinocytes and vasculature. This finding suggests skin may be a potential entry point for SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells.
- Previous studies indicated ACE2 expression in human keratinocytes from bulk RNA sequencing data.
- This expression pattern may link to COVID-19-associated skin manifestations and viral entry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial localization of ACE2 mRNA in human skin in vivo.
- To determine if ACE2 is present in skin cells relevant to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing datasets.
- Multiplex RNA in situ hybridization to visualize ACE2 mRNA spatial distribution in human skin.
Main Results:
- ACE2 mRNA expression was confirmed in human skin keratinocytes.
- ACE2 expression was also identified in skin vasculature, including endothelial cells.
- These findings were supported by both transcriptomic data analysis and in situ hybridization.
Conclusions:
- Human skin keratinocytes and vasculature express ACE2, suggesting a potential cutaneous route for SARS-CoV-2 entry.
- ACE2 expression in vascular endothelial cells may contribute to COVID-19-related skin conditions like chilblain-like acral eruptions.
- The findings highlight the skin's role in COVID-19 pathogenesis, especially in compromised skin barriers.
