SARS-CoV-2 induced expression changes in ACE2 and associated genes
[2020-07-07] Fadason et al. (2020) A preprint by Fadason et al. [1] discusses a mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 could alter gene expression of ACE2 and associated genes and produce a host environment that favors its replication. In doing so, it looks like the virus not only 'takes out' ACE2 by binding with its catalytic domain (see update below), it may also decrease ACE2 expression. I am not familiar with this type of alteration of chromatin structure and I don't know how long lasting the changes could be. Some epigenetic alterations can be quite long lasting, even multi-generational. S everal genes in the network that are also affected impact lipid metabolism and gluconeogenesis. Gluconeogenesis can also be a response to hypoxia [2] and is a common feature of the acute phase response in both infection and injury [5]. The article does not discuss changes in collectrin expression. The collectrin and ACE2 genes are located on the X chro