Regulation of the ACE2 locus in human airways cells

Abstract

The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor is the gateway for SARS-CoV-2 to airway epithelium1,2 and the strong inflammatory response after viral infection is a hallmark in COVID-19 patients. Deciphering the regulation of the ACE2 gene is paramount for understanding the cell tropism of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here we identify candidate regulatory elements in the ACE2 locus in human primary airway cells and lung tissue. Activating histone and promoter marks and Pol II loading characterize the intronic dACE2 and define novel candidate enhancers distal to the genuine ACE2 promoter and within additional introns. dACE2, and to a lesser extent ACE2, RNA levels increased in primary bronchial cells treated with interferons and this induction was mitigated by Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors that are used therapeutically in COVID-19 patients. Our analyses provide insight into regulatory elements governing the ACE2 locus and highlight that JAK inhibitors are suitable tools to suppress interferon-activated genetic programs in bronchial cells.