Tissue distribution of ACE2 protein, the functional receptor for SARS coronavirus. A first step in understanding SARS pathogenesis.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Laboratory-based human tissue protein localization study (bench research)
PubMed 15141377 · doi:10.1002/path.1570
What was done
Investigated the anatomical localization and distribution of ACE2 protein (the functional receptor for SARS-CoV) across multiple human tissues and organs, including oral and nasal mucosa, nasopharynx, lung, stomach, small intestine, colon, skin, lymph nodes, thymus, bone marrow, spleen, liver, kidney, and brain.
What was found
ACE2 protein was prominently localized to the surface of lung alveolar epithelial cells and enterocytes of the small intestine. It was also detected in arterial and venous endothelial cells as well as arterial smooth muscle cells across all evaluated organs. No quantitative counts or expression metrics were provided in the abstract.
Why it matters
Identifying the tissue expression profile of ACE2 established the physiological basis for SARS-CoV respiratory and gastrointestinal tropism and highlighted vascular endothelial involvement in SARS pathogenesis.
Limits
The abstract reports no quantitative values, donor sample sizes, or demographic details of the human tissue sources. In vitro localization does not directly prove in vivo infection dynamics or clinical susceptibility across varying physiological states.
Cited by
- context The ACE2 receptor is primarily located in two places: the lungs and the gastrointestinal system.