4 ms·
I read (unqualified) ACE2 expression is X chromosome linked, and that men's single X means they've only got 1 type of ACE2 receptors => single point of failure.
by huffmsa 7y ago
I read (unqualified) ACE2 expression is X chromosome linked, and that men's single X means they've only got 1 type of ACE2 receptors => single point of failure.
Men(particularly in Italy) are more likely to smoke and work jobs where there encounter lung irritants (pollution, dust, other chemicals), meaning they're starting with more damaged lungs than equivalent women.
- huffmsa 7y agoA different bit of research [1] says this isn't necessarily a respiratory illness, but one that attacks the red blood cells, blocking their ability to transfer O2, and causing free iron to spike in the body. The body ultimately binds into storage in the alveoli, but at too high of a rate, causing that glassy lung imaging. Women typically have lower blood iron levels than men, so once again are starting from a "safer" level. [1] https://chemrxiv.org/articles/COVID-19_Disease_ORF8_and_Surface_Glycoprotein_Inhibit_Heme_Metabolism_by_Binding_to_Porphyrin/11938173 https://chemrxiv.org/articles/COVID-19_Disease_ORF8_and_Surf...