Analysis of ACE2 in polarized epithelial cells: surface expression and function as receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus.
The primary target of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is epithelial cells in the respiratory and intestinal tract. The cellular receptor for SARS-CoV, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), has been shown to be localized on the apical plasma membrane of polarized respiratory epithelial cells and to mediate infection from the apical side of these cells. Here, these results were confirmed and extended by including a colon carcinoma cell line (Caco-2), a lung carcinoma cell line (Calu-3) and Vero E6 cells in our analysis. All three cell types expressed human ACE2 on the apical membrane domain and were infected via this route, as determined with vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotypes containing the S protein of SARS-CoV. In a histological analysis of the respiratory tract, ACE2 was detected in the trachea, main bronchus and alveoli, and occasionally also in the small bronchi. These data will help us to understand the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV infection.
Ren
Xiaofeng
X
Institut für Virologie, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany.
Glende
Jörg
J
Institut für Virologie, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany.
Al-Falah
Marwan
M
Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany.
de Vries
Victor
V
Institut für funktionelle und angewandte Anatomie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Straße, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
Schwegmann-Wessels
Christel
C
Institut für Virologie, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany.
Qu
Xiuxia
X
Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.
Tan
Lei
L
Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.
Tschernig
Thomas
T
Institut für funktionelle und angewandte Anatomie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Straße, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
Deng
Hongkui
H
Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.
Naim
Hassan Y
HY
Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany.
Herrler
Georg
G
Institut für Virologie, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany.
D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; D000818:Animals; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D016764:Cell Polarity; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014709:Vero Cells
D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C000705307:ACE2 protein, human; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2