TMPRSS2 and COVID-19: Serendipity or Opportunity for Intervention?

Cancer Discov. 2020 Jun;10(6):779-782. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-20-0451. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

Abstract

TMPRSS2 is both the most frequently altered gene in primary prostate cancer and a critical factor enabling cellular infection by coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The modulation of its expression by sex steroids could contribute to the male predominance of severe infections, and given that TMPRSS2 has no known indispensable functions, and inhibitors are available, it is an appealing target for prevention or treatment of respiratory viral infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Coronavirus Infections / genetics*
  • Coronavirus Infections / mortality
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Esters
  • Female
  • Gabexate / analogs & derivatives
  • Gabexate / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Guanidines
  • Humans
  • Influenza, Human / genetics
  • Male
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Viral / genetics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / mortality
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Esters
  • Guanidines
  • Serine Proteinase Inhibitors
  • camostat
  • Gabexate
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • TMPRSS2 protein, human