Cytokine-Induced Modulation of SARS-CoV2 Receptor Expression in Primary Human Nasal Epithelial Cells

Mahnaz Ramezanpour; Harrison Bolt; Karen Hon; George Spyro Bouras; Alkis James Psaltis; Peter-John Wormald; Sarah Vreugde

doi:10.3390/pathogens10070848

Pathogens (Jul 2021)

Cytokine-Induced Modulation of SARS-CoV2 Receptor Expression in Primary Human Nasal Epithelial Cells

Mahnaz Ramezanpour,
Harrison Bolt,
Karen Hon,
George Spyro Bouras,
Alkis James Psaltis,
Peter-John Wormald,
Sarah Vreugde

Affiliations

Mahnaz Ramezanpour: Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (Basil Hetzel Institute), The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, AS 5011, Australia
Harrison Bolt: Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (Basil Hetzel Institute), The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, AS 5011, Australia
Karen Hon: Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (Basil Hetzel Institute), The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, AS 5011, Australia
George Spyro Bouras: Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (Basil Hetzel Institute), The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, AS 5011, Australia
Alkis James Psaltis: Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (Basil Hetzel Institute), The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, AS 5011, Australia
Peter-John Wormald: Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (Basil Hetzel Institute), The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, AS 5011, Australia
Sarah Vreugde: Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (Basil Hetzel Institute), The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, AS 5011, Australia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10070848
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 7
p. 848

Abstract

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Background: Viral entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) via the spike protein enables endocytosis into host cells using the ACE2 receptor and TMPRSS2. The frequent upper respiratory tract symptoms of COVID-19 and the localization of the virus to the nasopharynx, the most common site of swabbing, indicate that the sinonasal mucosa may play an important role in SARS-CoV2 infection and viral replication. Methods: This paper investigates the presence of ACE2 receptor and TMPRESS2 expression in the primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) from the following: chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and control (non-CRS) patients, and maps the expression changes when exposed to Th1, Th2, Th17-associated cytokines. Results: We found that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression was higher in control HNECs than CRSwNP HNECs, and that both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were downregulated further by Th2 cytokines in CRSwNP HNECs. Conclusions: This indicates an immune dysregulated state of CRSwNP mucosa, which normally contributes to a chronic inflammatory state, and might support an altered susceptibility to SARS-CoV2 infection and transmission.

Published in Pathogens

ISSN: 2076-0817 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/pathogens

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