Effects of Sex and Androgenic Drugs on the Expression of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Receptor, Cathepsin l and Transmembrane Serine Protease in Mouse Lungs

Introduction: Although males and females have the same prevalence of COVID-19, a variation in severity symptoms between has been observed. We hypothesize that this can partly be explained by effect androgens on infectious activity SARS-Cov2 virus.
 Aims: This study investigated sex two androgenic drugs testosterone oxandrolone mRNA expression several entry genes: angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), transmembrane protease serine (TMPRSS2), cathepsin l (CatL) mouse lungs.
 Methods: Twenty-eight BALB/c mice were divided into four groups; first three groups (all male mice) treated with vehicle, testosterone, oxandrolone, respectively, while fourth group consisted untreated female mice. The administered for 21 days doses equivalent to human one. Accordingly, expressions ACE2, TMPRESS2, CatL genes measured using real-time PCR assay. In addition, histopathological alterations lungs levels total serum analyzed.
 Results: found ACE2 was significantly upregulated testosterone-treated 2.5 times. TMPRSS2 also oxandrolone-treated 6.6 Moreover, these molecular associated high elevation induction inflammation oxidative stress. we TMPRSS2, higher compared mice.
 Conclusion: significant differences showed how administration lungs’ respectively. These results expand our understanding roles genes.