SARS-CoV-2受体ACE2的单细胞RNA表达谱在小鼠呼吸道中的表达分布

Expression distribution of single cell RNA expression profile of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in mouse respiratory tract

目的了解SARS-CoV-2受体血管紧张素转化酶2(angiotensin-converting enzyme 2,ACE2)在小鼠呼吸道及口腔(包括舌头和颊黏膜上皮)的分布。方法利用单细胞公共数据库和最新的单细胞RNASeq技术,对小鼠气管,肺脏进行单细胞数据可视化分析,对颊黏膜上皮进行重新聚类分析。结果小鼠肺脏少量II型肺泡上皮细胞(AT2)表达ACE2,与人体相似,气管中各类型细胞散在表达ACE2,在小鼠舌头的角质形成细胞(41.74%)表达ACE2,在小鼠的分化期口腔颊黏膜上皮细胞中表达ACE2,并且与肺脏ACE2+AT2相同,也表达病毒进程相关基因,部分基因呈现特异性表达。结论冠状病毒可能定植于口腔中,并通过舌头黏膜等口腔器官分泌物进行传播。

Objective To understand the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in the respiratory tract and oral cavity(including tongue and buccal mucosal epithelium)of mouse.Methods Using the single-cell public database and the latest single-cell RNA-Seq technology to visualize the single-cell data analysis of the mouse trachea and lung,and to perform re-cluster analysis on the epithelium of buccal mucosa.Results A small number of alveolar type 2(AT2)cells in the lungs of mice expressed ACE2,similar to human.All types of cells in the trachea were scattered to express ACE2,and ACE2 was expressed in keratinocytes(41.74%)of the tongue of mice.ACE2 was expressed in the oral buccal mucosal epithelial cells of mice during differentiation which was the same as lung ACE2+AT2.Genes related to viral processes were also expressed while some genes were specifically expressed.Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 may be colonized in the oral cavity and transmitted through oral secretions of tongue or buccal mucosa.