ArticleScience China. Life sciences2020
Single-cell transcriptome analysis of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) associated gene ACE2 expression in normal and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) human male testes.
Article in Science China. Life sciences, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05379556 (LOng COvid COmorbidities), which is not on this map. Cited by 73 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
LOng COvid COmorbidities: Evaluation of Andrological, Reproductive and Sexual Functions in Patients Recovered From COVID-19
Who cites it
73 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 127 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Effect of COVID-19 on Male Sex Hormones: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Study.Journal of epidemiology and global health · 2024Pooled it
- On the whereabouts of SARS-CoV-2 in the human body: A systematic review.PLoS pathogens · 2020Pooled it
- The transcriptional regulation of NUPR1 expression by MYC is implicated in the regulation of ferroptosis in human spermatogonial stem cells.Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS · 2025Article
- Angiotensin‑converting enzyme 2 expression in human tumors: Implications for prognosis and therapy (Review).Oncology reports · 2025Review
- Alterations in Semen Quality and Immune-Related Factors in Men with Infertility who Recovered from COVID-19.MedComm · 2025Article
- Single-cell sequencing in non-obstructive azoospermia: insights from primary and re-analysis studies.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2025Review
- Repercussion of SARS-CoV-2 on the Sexual Function in Males: An Updated Review.Infectious disorders drug targets · 2025Review
- Expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry molecules ACE2, NRP1, TMPRSS2, and FURIN in the reproductive tissues of male macaques.Histochemistry and cell biology · 2024Article
- The Effect of COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccination on Assisted Human Reproduction Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Single-cell RNA sequencing technology in human spermatogenesis: Progresses and perspectives.Molecular and cellular biochemistry · 2024Review
- Understanding testicular single cell transcriptional atlas: from developmental complications to male infertility.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2024Review
- Unveiling the Clinical Spectrum of Post-COVID-19 Conditions: Assessment and Recommended Strategies.Cureus · 2024Review
- In vitro high-content tissue models to address precision medicine challenges.Molecular aspects of medicine · 2023Review
- Deciphering the Molecular Characteristics of Human Idiopathic Nonobstructive Azoospermia from the Perspective of Germ Cells.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2023Article
- SARS-CoV-2 Structural Proteins Modulated Blood-Testis Barrier-Related Proteins through Autophagy in the Primary Sertoli Cells.Viruses · 2023Article
- In vitro evidence against productive SARS-CoV-2 infection of human testicular cells: Bystander effects of infection mediate testicular injury.PLoS pathogens · 2023Article
- Spatial Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 Receptors and Proteases in Testicular Cells.The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society · 2023Article
- SARS-CoV-2, fertility and assisted reproduction.Human reproduction update · 2023Review
- Exploration of the common genetic landscape of COVID-19 and male infertility.Frontiers in immunology · 2023Article
- Application of single-cell RNA sequencing on human testicular samples: a comprehensive review.International journal of biological sciences · 2023Review
13 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Being infected by SARS-CoV-2 may cause damage to multiple organs in patients, such as the lung, liver and heart. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), reported as a SARS-CoV-2 receptor, is also expressed in human male testes. This suggests a potential risk in human male reproductive system. However, the characteristics of ACE2-positive cells and the expression of other SARS-CoV-2 process-related genes are still worthy of further investigation. Here, we performed singlecell RNA seq (scRNA-seq) analysis on 853 male embryo primordial germ cells (PGCs) and 2,854 normal testis cells to assess the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the male reproductive system from embryonic stage to adulthood. We also collected and constructed the scRNA-seq library on 228 Sertoli cells from three non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients to assess the effects at disease state. We found that ACE2 expressing cells existed in almost all testis cell types and Sertoli cells had highest expression level and positive cells ratio. Moreover, ACE2 was also expressed in human male PGCs. In adulthood, the level of ACE2 expression decreased with the increase of age. We also found that ACE2 positive cells had high expressions of stress response and immune activation-related genes. Interestingly, some potential SARS-CoV-2 process-related genes such as TMPRSS2, BSG, CTSL and CTSB had different expression patterns in the same cell type. Furthermore, ACE2 expression level in NOA donors' Sertoli cells was significantly decreased. Our work would help to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the male reproductive system.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.