In silico analysis of the Key Receptors of SARS-CoV-2: ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

Background It is reported that cancer patients are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to immunocompromised immunity. To understand the long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 in HNSC cancer, the current study is designed to assess the status of two vital host molecules (ACE2 & TMPRSS2) for the entry of virus in HNSC patients using computational methods. Methodology We used public databases such as TIMER, UALCAN, and GEPIA2 to assess the mRNA expression and association of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in HNSC. cBioPortal was used to assess the genetic alterations in the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 protein sequences that are involved in HNSC development. The CTD database was also used to identify the genes associated with COVID-19 and HNSC. Finally, the PANTHER online platform was used to investigate the protein-protein interaction between COVID-19 and HNSC progression genes collected from the CTD database. Results A differential expression of ACE2 (downregulated) and TMPRSS2 (upregulated) was noted in HNSC those with human papilloma viral infections. A strong genetic alteration in the protein sequence of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 supports their significant role in HNSC disease progression. In addition, the protein-protein interaction network revealed that genes associated with COVID-19 and HNSC are strongly involved in binding activity, catalytic activity, and various cancer signaling pathways. Conclusion From our in silico analysis, we would like to conclude that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are strongly associated with disease progression in both pathological conditions (HNSC and COVID-19). So, it could serve as potential biomarkers for the early prediction of disease outcomes in cancer patients with COVID-19 disease. Thus, further investigation is needed to evaluate the long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on HNSC patients.