Acid pH Increases SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the Risk of Death by COVID-19

DOI record: { "DOI": "10.3389/fmed.2021.637885", "ISSN": [ "2296-858X" ], "URL": "http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.637885", "abstract": "<jats:p>The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can infect a broad range of human tissues by using the host receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Individuals with comorbidities associated with severe COVID-19 display higher levels of <jats:italic>ACE2</jats:italic> in the lungs compared to those without comorbidities, and conditions such as cell stress, elevated glucose levels and hypoxia may also increase the expression of <jats:italic>ACE2</jats:italic>. Here, we showed that patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) have a higher expression of <jats:italic>ACE2</jats:italic> in BE tissues compared to normal squamous esophagus, and that the lower pH associated with BE may drive this increase in expression. Human primary monocytes cultured in reduced pH displayed increased <jats:italic>ACE2</jats:italic> expression and higher viral load upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also showed in two independent cohorts of 1,357 COVID-19 patients that previous use of proton pump inhibitors is associated with 2- to 3-fold higher risk of death compared to those not using the drugs. Our work suggests that pH has a great influence on SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 severity.</jats:p>", "alternative-id": [ "10.3389/fmed.2021.637885" ], "author": [ { "affiliation": [], "family": "Jimenez", "given": "Leandro", "sequence": "first" }, { "affiliation": [], "family": "Campos Codo", "given": "Ana", "sequence": "additional" }, { "affiliation": [], "family": "Sampaio", "given": "Vanderson de Souza", "sequence": "additional" }, { "affiliation": [], "family": "Oliveira", "given": "Antonio E. 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