Epipharyngeal Abrasive Therapy Down-regulates the Expression of SARS-CoV-2 Entry Factors ACE2 and TMPRSS2.

Kensuke Nishi, Shohei Yoshimoto, Soichiro Nishi, Toshiyuki Tsunoda, Jun Ohno, Michinobu Yoshimura, Kenji Hiromatsu, Takafumi Yamano

In vivo (Athens, Greece) 2022 Jan-Feb

filter terms:

The epipharynx, with its high expression of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) entry factors angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2), is a primary target for SARS-CoV-2 replication in the early stage of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). Epipharyngeal abrasive therapy (EAT) is a treatment for epipharyngitis in Japan which involves applying zinc chloride to the epipharyngeal mucosa. In this study, we evaluated the expression patterns of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in tissue samples from patients before and after EAT. The study subjects were seven patients that had not been treated with EAT and 11 patients that had. For immunohistochemical assessment of the epipharyngeal mucosa, the staining intensity of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 was described as an immunohistochemical score (IHC score). The IHC scores for ACE2 and TEMPRSS2 in the EAT-treated group were 3.40-fold and 1.81-fold lower, respectively, than those in the non-treated group (p=0.0208 and p=0.0244, respectively). EAT down-regulates the expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry factors ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Thus, EAT has potential as a novel COVID-19 preventative method. Copyright © 2022 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

Citation

Kensuke Nishi, Shohei Yoshimoto, Soichiro Nishi, Toshiyuki Tsunoda, Jun Ohno, Michinobu Yoshimura, Kenji Hiromatsu, Takafumi Yamano. Epipharyngeal Abrasive Therapy Down-regulates the Expression of SARS-CoV-2 Entry Factors ACE2 and TMPRSS2. In vivo (Athens, Greece). 2022 Jan-Feb;36(1):371-374