In:
PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 21, No. 2 ( 2023-2-6), p. e3001989-
Abstract:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the cell-surface receptor for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While its central role in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathogenesis is indisputable, there remains significant debate regarding the role of this transmembrane carboxypeptidase in the disease course. These include the role of soluble versus membrane-bound ACE2, as well as ACE2-independent mechanisms that may contribute to viral spread. Testing these roles requires in vivo models. Here, we report humanized ACE2-floxed mice in which hACE2 is expressed from the mouse Ace2 locus in a manner that confers lethal disease and permits cell-specific, Cre-mediated loss of function, and LSL-hACE2 mice in which hACE2 is expressed from the Rosa26 locus enabling cell-specific, Cre-mediated gain of function. Following exposure to SARS-CoV-2, hACE2-floxed mice experienced lethal cachexia, pulmonary infiltrates, intravascular thrombosis and hypoxemia—hallmarks of severe COVID-19. Cre-mediated loss and gain of hACE2 demonstrate that neuronal infection confers lethal cachexia, hypoxemia, and respiratory failure in the absence of lung epithelial infection. In this series of genetic experiments, we demonstrate that ACE2 is absolutely and cell-autonomously required for SARS-CoV-2 infection in the olfactory epithelium, brain, and lung across diverse cell types. Therapies inhibiting or blocking ACE2 at these different sites are likely to be an effective strategy towards preventing severe COVID-19.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1545-7885
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.g005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.g006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.g007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.g008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.g009
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s009
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s010
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s011
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s012
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s013
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s014
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s015
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s016
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s017
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s018
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.s019
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.r001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.r002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.r003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001989.r004
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2126773-X
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