Sympathetic remodeling and altered angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 localization occur in patients with cardiac disease but are not exacerbated by severe COVID-19

CONCLUSIONS: Heterogeneity of sympathetic innervation, which occurs in cardiac disease and is not increased by severe COVID-19, could contribute to arrhythmogenesis. The dominant localization of ACE2 to pericytes suggests that these cells would be the primary target for potential cardiac infection by SARS-CoV-2. Regional changes in ACE2 staining by myocytes and pericytes could have complex effects on cardiac pathophysiology.PMID:38101169 | DOI:10.1016/j.autneu.2023.103134

Source: Autonomic Neuroscience - December 15, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Creighton L Kellum Logan G Kirkland Tasha K Nelson Seth M Jewett Eric Rytkin Igor R Efimov Donald B Hoover Paul V Benson Brant M Wagener Source Type: research