Why the study?
Although COVID-19-related subacute thyroiditis has been described, direct proof of ACE-2 mRNA expression in thyroid cells was lacking.
Is the mRNA encoding for the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE-2 expressed in human thyroid cells?
Population
Thyroid tissue samples from 15 patients undergoing thyroidectomy for benign nodules and primary thyroid cell cultures
Design
In vitro ex vivo laboratory study using RT-PCR
Key result
ACE-2 mRNA was abundantly expressed in all human thyroid tissue samples and primary cultured thyroid follicular cells, identifying the thyroid as a potential target for SARS-CoV-2 entry.
Authors
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May explain COVID-19 thyroiditis; hypothesis-generating for direct viral entry, needing clinical confirmation.
Is the mRNA encoding for the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE-2 expressed in human thyroid cells?
The demonstration of ACE-2 mRNA expression in thyroid follicular cells provides a potential mechanistic basis for COVID-19-related subacute thyroiditis.
Rotondi et al. (2020) studied Benign thyroid nodules (n=15). ACE-2 mRNA expression vs. Housekeeping genes (GAPDH, β-actin) was evaluated on ACE-2 mRNA expression level (Cycles⁻¹). ACE-2 mRNA was abundantly expressed in all human thyroid tissue samples and primary cultured thyroid follicular cells, identifying the thyroid as a potential target for SARS-CoV-2 entry.