Detection of SARS-COV-2 receptor ACE-2 mRNA in thyroid cells: a clue for COVID-19-related subacute thyroiditis

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation 2021-05, Vol.44 (5), p.1085-1090
• Main Authors: Rotondi, M., Coperchini, F., Ricci, G., Denegri, M., Croce, L., Ngnitejeu, S. T., Villani, L., Magri, F., Latrofa, F., Chiovato, L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACE2; Actin; Adult; Angiotensin; Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 - analysis; Carboxypeptidase; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - metabolism; Endocrinology; Female; Gene expression; Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Original; Original Article; Pandemics; Peptidyl-dipeptidase A; Polymerase chain reaction; Primary Cell Culture; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Receptors, Virus - analysis; Renin; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Thyrocytes; Thyroid; Thyroid gland; Thyroid Gland - chemistry; Thyroid Gland - cytology; Thyroidectomy; Thyroiditis; Thyroiditis, Subacute - etiology; Thyroiditis, Subacute - metabolism; Transcription
• ISSN: 1720-8386; 0391-4097; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.1007/s40618-020-01436-w

Purpose SARS-COV-2 is a pathogenic agent belonging to the coronavirus family, responsible for the current global world pandemic. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) is the receptor for cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. ACE-2 is a type I transmembrane metallo-carboxypeptidase involved in the Renin-Angiotensin pathway. By analyzing two independent databases, ACE-2 was identified in several human tissues including the thyroid. Although some cases of COVID-19-related subacute thyroiditis were recently described, direct proof for the expression of the ACE-2 mRNA in thyroid cells is still lacking. Aim of the present study was to investigate by RT-PCR whether the mRNA encoding for ACE-2 is present in human thyroid cells. Methods RT-PCR was performed on in vitro ex vivo study on thyroid tissue samples (15 patients undergoing thyroidectomy for benign thyroid nodules) and primary thyroid cell cultures. Results The ACE-2 mRNA was detected in all surgical thyroid tissue samples ( n  = 15). Compared with two reporter genes (GAPDH: 0.052 ± 0.0026 Cycles −1 ; β-actin: 0.044 ± 0.0025 Cycles −1 ; ACE-2: 0.035 ± 0.0024 Cycles −1 ), the mean level of transcript expression for ACE-2 mRNA was abundant. The expression of ACE-2 mRNA in follicular cells was confirmed by analyzing primary cultures of thyroid cells, which expressed the ACE-2 mRNA at levels similar to tissues. Conclusions The results of the present study demonstrate that the mRNA encoding for the ACE-2 receptor is expressed in thyroid follicular cells, making them a potential target for SARS-COV-2 entry. Future clinical studies in patients with COVID-19 will be required for increase our understanding of the thyroid repercussions of SARS-CoV-2 infection.