COVID-19 morbidity and mortality have significant gender disparities, with higher prevalence and mortality in men. SARS-CoV-2 enters the lungs through the ACE2 enzyme, a member of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Although there are no data for the lung, the expressions of RAS components in other tissues are modulated by sex hormones, androgens, and estrogens. However, there are no data on sex-specific differences in ACE2 expression. If there is a sex difference in the expression of ACE2 in the lung, this could theoretically explain the gender disparity in COVID-19 disease. More importantly, although modulation of ACE2 will certainly not provide a cure for the COVID-19 disease, modulation of ACE2 by sex hormone modulators, if they affect the expression of ACE2, could potentially be developed into a supportive therapy for COVID-19 patients.
【저자키워드】 ACE2, lung, COVID 19, Sex difference, androgens, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Mortality, Sex, Gender, Sex hormones, RAS, COVID-19 disease, renin-angiotensin system, Prevalence, morbidity and mortality, ACE2 expression, expression, patients, Estrogens, modulation, enzyme, component, Affect, men, explain, other tissue, modulated, therapy for COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 disparity, difference, the SARS-CoV-2,