Scientists at Boston children’s hospital and mit in the US have identified the mechanism of infection by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the cell types that are most vulnerable to the virus. They also found that one of the main protective systems of the body proved to be ineffective against the infection and, on the contrary, it contributes to disease. The study is published in the journal Cell.
Experts have studied cells of different tissue types that are affected by the virus, including the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, lungs and intestines. It is known that SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells connected to the receptor ACE2, TMPRSS2 using an enzyme.
the Scientists sequenced the RNA transcripts (products of gene activity) to find out which of the 20 thousand genes involved in the tissues of various organs. It turned out that only a small proportion of cells (less than ten percent) have both ACE2 and TMPRSS2. These cells are goblet cells in the mucosa of the nose, alveolocyte type II in the lungs and lining the small intestine the enterocytes.
in addition, it was found that interferon, which is involved in protecting the body from virus, stimulates the production of ACE2, giving the virus new opportunities to penetrate into the cell. The use of interferons, which are now being tested as a means from COVID-19, may enhance infection in some patients.
