SARS-CoV-2 Receptor ACE2 Is an Interferon-Stimulated Gene in Human Airway Epithelial Cells and Is Detected in Specific Cell Subsets across Tissues

“…Consistent with the gut mucosal inflammation associated with HIV ( 32 ), these included strong upregulation of numerous canonical ISG and antiviral genes, including ISG15 , IFI6 , LY6E , IFITM3 , IFI27 , MX1 , and IRF7 ( Figure 4B and Supplemental Table 3B ). In contrast to earlier studies ( 20 ), and despite the observed interferon signaling, ACE2 expression was significantly reduced in enterocytes isolated from subjects with treated chronic HIV infection ( Figure 4B ), suggesting that ACE2 expression itself may not directly act as an ISG ( 21 ). Pathway analysis of DEGs in absorptive enterocytes showed that HIV infection was associated with a profound upregulation of interferon signaling ( Figure 4C ).…”