Expression of the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor ACE2 in Human Retina and Diabetes—Implications for Retinopathy

• DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.7.6
• Publication Date: 2021-06-04T15:07:52Z
• Authors: Lingli Zhou; Zhenhua Xu; James Guerra; Avi Z. Rosenberg; Paride Fenaroli; Charles G. Eberhart; Elia J. Duh
• Keywords: Ganglion cell layer; Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2

Purpose: To investigate the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), receptor for SARS-CoV-2 in human retina. Methods: Human post-mortem eyes from 13 non-diabetic control cases and 11 diabetic retinopathy were analyzed ACE2. compare vascular ACE2 between different organs that involve diabetes, was investigated renal specimens nondiabetic nephropathy patients. Expression TMPRSS2, a cell-surface protease facilitates entry, also retinas. Primary retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) primary pericytes (HRPCs) further used to confirm Results: We found expressed multiple nonvascular neuroretinal cells, including ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform nuclear photoreceptor outer segments both specimens. Strikingly, we observed significantly more positive vessels By contrast, another end-stage organ affected by kidney, showed apical tubular epithelial but no glomerular or peritubular capillaries. Western blot analysis protein lysates HRECs HRPCs confirmed TMPRSS2 present neuronal perivascular Müller glia. Conclusions: Together, these results indicate retina expresses TMPRSS2. Moreover, there are increased