• Jia Sun, Luo Chen, Xiao-Ao Xiao, Mo-Qiu Jia, Xin-Yuan Wang, Han Jiao, and Yuanqing Gao.
• Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
• Nutrition. 2021 Oct 1; 90: 111226111226.

ObjectiveThe 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is threatening global health and is especially pronounced in patients with chronic metabolic syndromes. Meanwhile, a significant proportion of patients present with digestive symptoms since angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is the receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is highly expressed in the intestine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) and a maternal HFD on the intestinal ACE2 levels in adults and neonates.MethodsWe examined intestinal ACE2 protein levels in mice with diet-induced obesity (DIO) and neonatal mice exposed to a maternal HFD. We also investigated Ace2 mRNA expression in intestinal macrophages.ResultsIntestinal ACE2 protein levels were increased in DIO mice but decreased in offspring exposed to a maternal HFD compared with chow-fed controls. Ace2 mRNA expression in intestinal macrophages was detected and downregulated in DIO mice. Additionally, higher intestinal ACE2 protein levels were observed in neonates than in adult mice.ConclusionsThe influence of an HFD on intestinal ACE2 protein levels is opposite in adults and neonates. Macrophages might also be involved in SARS-CoV-2 intestinal infection. These findings provide some clues for the outcomes of patients with COVID-19 with metabolic syndromes.Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

17 keywords...

hide…