Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33987376›Full record

ArticleAnnals of translational medicine2021

Bioinformatic and mouse model reveal the potential high vulnerability of Leydig cells on SARS-CoV-2.

Jiawei Zhang, Yuqi Wu, Shulin Li, Xiaobin Wang, Rui Wang, Xiangwei Wang

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of translational medicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Jiawei ZhangDepartment of Urology and Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital and Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Yuqi WuDepartment of Urology and Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital and Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Shulin LiDepartment of Urology and Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital and Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Xiaobin WangDepartment of Urology and Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital and Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Rui WangDepartment of Urology and Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital and Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Xiangwei WangDepartment of Urology and Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital and Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Shenzhen University · CNSouthern University of Science and Technology · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in China and spread rapidly since the end of 2019. Previous studies have confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 infects host cells via binding to angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2).

methodsTo explore the expression of ACE2 and the potential risk of infection in testis, we performed a bioinformatic analysis based on public databases, and conducted a pilot study using a mouse model. We also collected clinical follow-up date on male patients who had recovered from COVID-19 for 6 months.

resultsThe results showed that the RNA expression of ACE2 was higher in testis compared with other organs. Single-cell analysis and immunocytochemistry further indicated that Leydig cells were at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Green fluorescence was only detected in the Leydig cells after intratesticular injection of pseudovirus SARS-CoV-2 in the mouse model. In the clinical follow-up, serum total testosterone level was statistically lower in patients who had recovered from COVID-19 compared with healthy men (P=0.010).

conclusionsThe findings of the present study indicate the potential vulnerability of Leydig cells. It is important to monitor the reproductive system and its complications in male COVID-19 patients. Further studies are still needed on SARS-CoV-2-associated reproductive complications.

Indexed as

bioinformaticreproductive systemSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)testis

Identifiers

PMID33987376
PMCPMC8106040
OpenAlexW3159575948

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.