Scientists at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in the United States have determined that men, the elderly and smokers have certain traits that make them the most vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus among various populations. This is reported in an article published in the journal Nature Medicine. The research is summarized in a press release on MedicalXpress.
Experts analyzed the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on more than 1.3 million cells in samples isolated from tissues of the nose, respiratory tract and lungs of 228 healthy people without COVID-19. The key types of cells in the respiratory tract were considered: type I alveolar cells, required for inhalation of oxygen and exhalation of carbon dioxide; type II alveolar cells, which protect type I cells and epithelial cells of the respiratory tract, which neutralize potentially harmful substances from the inhaled air.
It turned out that age, smoking and gender play an important role in the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to enter cells and reproduce. This is due to increased expression of ACE2, a cellular receptor that is used by the virus to enter the cell. Men and the elderly also express more TMPRSS2, which is involved in cleaving the S-protein on the surface of the virus, facilitating the infection process.