ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are key players on SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells. However, it is still unclear whether expression levels of these factors could reflect disease severity. Here, a case–control study was conducted with 213 SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals where cases were defined as COVID-19 patients with respiratory distress requiring oxygen support (N = 38) and controls were those with mild to moderate symptoms of the disease who did not need oxygen therapy along the entire clinical course (N = 175). ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA levels were evaluated in nasopharyngeal swab samples by RT-qPCR and logistic regression analyzes were applied to estimate associations with respiratory outcomes. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 levels positively correlated with age, which was also strongly associated with respiratory distress. Increased nasopharyngeal ACE2 levels showed a protective effect against this outcome (adjOR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.09–0.91), while TMPRSS2/ACE2 ratio was associated with risk (adjOR = 4.28; 95% CI 1.36–13.48). On stepwise regression, TMPRSS2/ACE2 ratio outperformed ACE2 to model COVID-19 severity. When nasopharyngeal swabs were compared to bronchoalveolar lavages in an independent cohort of COVID-19 patients under mechanical ventilation, similar expression levels of these genes were observed. These data suggest nasopharyngeal TMPRSS2/ACE2 as a promising candidate for further prediction models on COVID-19.

BackgroundSeveral studies show that the consumption of vegetable oils, such as soybean oil, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has beneficial health effects by preventing or reducing the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. While the demonstration of beneficial effects of the consumption of unsaturated fatty acids on the cardiovascular system has been proven in a macroscopic level, the molecular/cellular mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon are poorly understood.MethodsIn this work, a comparative proteomic approach, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled to mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF), was applied to investigate proteome differences in the left ventricle (LV) of rats that received 0.1 mL of soybean oil intramuscularly for 15 days (treated group - TR) and rats that had not (control group - CT).ResultsSoybean oil treatment improved left ventricular function, TR animals presented lower value of LVEDP and significantly changed LV proteome. The protein profile of VE revealed differences in the expression of 60 protein spots (p < 0.05) between the experimental groups (CT and TR), 14 of those were identified by MS and MS/MS, and 12 of the 14 being non-redundant proteins. Robust changes were detected in proteins involved in cellular structure and antioxidant system and muscular contraction.ConclusionsThe TR group presented an increase in the intensity of proteins involved in muscle contraction (myosin light chain-3 (3-MCL), creatine kinase M (CKM)) and thireodoxin, an antioxidant enzyme. Low intensity cytoskeletal protein, desmin, was also detected in TR animals. The results suggest that soybean oil induces changes in the levels of heart proteins which may partially account for the underlying mechanisms involved in the benefits provided by oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12944-015-0024-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Introdução: O exercício físico intenso induz inflamação, processo que ocorre visando o reparo tecidual. Os leucócitos para sanar este dano produzem grande quantidade de espécies reativas de oxigênio e a oxidação de uma série de biomoléculas.Objetivo: O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos do treinamento físico do curso básico paraquedista sobre os leucócitos circulantes, bem como se a suplementação com os nutrientes, selênio, e as vitaminas C e E, poderiam atenuar tais efeitos.Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo randomizado, experimental, duplo-cego e controlado por placebo, com 20 militares do sexo masculino (35 ± 10 anos), suplementados durante 37 dias, iniciando 18 dias antes do treinamento e divididos em dois grupos: Gp1 (n=11) que ingeriu cápsulas contendo selênio quelado (0,06 mg), vitamina C (1000 mg) e  vitamina E (500 mg), e o Gp2 (n= 9) que ingeriu  placebo (1500 mg de amido).  Amostras de sangue foram obtidas em diferentes momentos: anterior ao estudo (T0 basal), 12 dias antes do treinamento (T1) e após 11 (T2) e 14 (T3) dias de treinamento. Os efeitos do exercício e dos suplementos, foram analisados pela ANOVA 4X2 e teste pós-hoc de Bonferroni com nível de significância de p<0,05.Resultados: Foi possível observar, em T2 e T3, diferenças significativas na contagem relativa dos neutrófilos e absoluta e relativa dos monócitos de indivíduos do mesmo grupo quando comparados com T0.Conclusão: Com base nos resultados, obervou-se que o exercício físico intenso associou-se à uma diminuição na capacidade imunológica dos participantes  do estudo e que a suplementação, não foi capaz de oferecer maior proteção contra os danos decorrentes disso.