Expression ofACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, andTMPRSS2in prostate epithelial cells

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread across more than 200 countries and resulted in over 170,000 deaths. For unclear reasons, higher mortality rates from COVID-19 have been reported in men compared to women. While the SARS-CoV-2 receptorACE2and serine proteaseTMPRSS2have been detected in lung and other tissues, it is not clear what sex differences may exist. We analyzed a publicly-available normal human prostate single-cell RNA sequencing dataset and foundTMPRSS2andACE2co-expressing cells in epithelial cells, with a higher proportion in club and hillock cells. Then we investigated datasets of lung epithelial cells and also found club cells co-expressingTMPRSS2andACE2. A comparison ofACE2expression in lung tissue between males and females showed higher expression in males and a larger proportion ofACE2+ cells in male type II pneumocytes, with preliminary evidence that type II pneumocytes of all lung epithelial cell types showed the highest expression ofACE2. These results raise the possibility that sex differences inACE2expression and the presence of double-positive cells in the prostate may contribute to the observed disparities of COVID-19.