ACE2 Receptors: Gateway for COVID-19

The number of cases of COVID-19 continues to rise and rise and rise. As restrictions on shopping, dining, and entertainment have been reduced, and then sometimes reinstated, the debate over which businesses should be open, social distancing, and even whether to wear a mask continues. Let me make it simple for you: wear your mask to protect others from you and you from them. Period.

There has also been a tremendous rise in the research on COVID-19, specifically, the short-term and long-term effects of the virus on the body. This virus is different from others; it isn’t as simple is getting the flu or a severe cough, and then life returns to normal after a week or so. Research is finding some significant long-lasting effects on the body. The locations impacted seem to contain high numbers of the ACE2 receptor, the receptor used by the virus to enter our cells. We already knew the sinuses, lungs, and adjoining blood vessels contain significant numbers of ACE2 receptors as well as the kidneys.

Researchers for a data analytics company examined every published paper, over 100 million of them, to find out where ACE2 receptors have been found and then performed an analysis examining every potential interaction, over 45 quadrillion of them. They found that there are significant numbers of receptors on the tongue, the nasal passages, and the ciliated passages to the lungs. The most significant find was the enterocytes that line the small intestine. That means that should the virus get to those locations, it can potentially wreak havoc there. We’ll talk about some of the organs and systems that have been impacted by COVID-19 the next two days.

What are you prepared to do today?