ACE2 expression in adipose tissue is associated with cardio-metabolic risk factors and cell type composition-implications for COVID-19.
Julia El-Sayed MoustafaAnne U JacksonSarah M BrotmanLi GuanSergio VillicañaAmy L RobertsAntonino ZitoLori BonnycastleMichael R ErdosNarisu NarisuHeather M StringhamRyan WelchTingfen YanTimo A LakkaStephen ParkerJaakko TuomilehtoJeffrey SeowCarl GrahamIsabella HuettnerSam AcorsNeophytos KouphouSamuel WadgeEmma L DuncanClaire J StevesKatie J DooresMichael H MalimFrancis S CollinsPäivi PajukantaMichael BoehnkeHeikki A KoistinenMarkku LaaksoMario FalchiJordana T BellLaura J ScottKaren L MohlkeKerrin S SmallPublished in: International journal of obesity (2005) (2022)
Our results demonstrate that individuals with cardio-metabolic features known to increase risk of severe COVID-19 have lower background ACE2 levels in this highly relevant tissue. Reduced adipose tissue ACE2 expression may contribute to the pathophysiology of cardio-metabolic diseases, as well as the associated increased risk of severe COVID-19.