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Review
. 2020 Sep;30(10):484-487.
doi: 10.1016/j.purol.2020.05.007. Epub 2020 May 22.

COVID-19 and the male susceptibility: the role of ACE2, TMPRSS2 and the androgen receptor

G Mjaess  1 , A Karam  2 , F Aoun  3 , S Albisinni  4 , T Roumeguère  5
Affiliations
Review

COVID-19 and the male susceptibility: the role of ACE2, TMPRSS2 and the androgen receptor

G Mjaess et al. Prog Urol. 2020 Sep.

Abstract
in English, French

COVID-19 is the pandemic that hit the world starting December 2019. Recent studies and international statistics have shown an increased prevalence, morbidity as well as mortality of this disease in male patients compared to female patients. The aim of this brief communication is to describe the pathophysiology of this sex-discrepancy, based on the infectivity mechanism of the coronavirus including the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), the Type II transmembrane Serine Protease (TMPRSS2), and the androgen receptor. This could help understand the susceptibility of urological patients, especially those receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer, and testosterone replacement therapy.

La COVID-19 est la pandémie mondiale apparue en décembre 2019. Les études récentes et les statistiques internationales ont montré une nette prédominance de la prévalence de cette maladie ainsi que de sa morbidité et mortalité chez les hommes, comparés aux femmes. Le but de cette communication brève est d’exposer la physiopathologie de cette possible différence de sexe, en se basant sur le mécanisme de l’infectivité du virus incluant l’enzyme de conversion de l’angiotensine de type 2 (ACE2), la sérine protéase transmembranaire de type II (TMPRSS2), et le récepteur aux androgènes. Ceci pourrait justifier une étude de la susceptibilité des patients urologiques, surtout ceux recevant une déprivation androgénique pour cancer de prostate, ou une supplémentation en testostérone.

Keywords: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; COVID-19; Enzyme de conversion de l’angiotensine 2; Récepteur aux androgènes; Sérine protéase transmembranaire 2; Type II Transmembrane Serine Protease; androgen receptor.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pathway for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection mediated by androgen activity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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