Inhaled corticosteroids and angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 in COPD

Finney et  al1 elegantly showed in mice that inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) down-regulated the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 entry receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) via suppression of type 1 interferon. It was also found that in 36 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary dis ease (COPD), the use of ICS was associated with reduced expression of ACE2 compared with non-ICS users, whereas ACE2 expression is increased in cultured bronchial epithelial cells from patients with COPD and in turn suppressed by fluticasone propionate.
Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research