Psoriatic lesional expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 is reduced by blockade of IL-17 signaling but not by other biologic treatments

Abstract

To the Editor: Psoriatic skin was recently described as a potential host site for SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, due to the high expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is the main viral host receptor in the epidermis of lesional skin.1,2 There are positive correlations between ACE2 expression, Psoriasis Area Severity Index scores, and interleukin 17C (IL-17C) expression at baseline,3 whereas treatment with an anti-IL-17 antibody reduces the risk of COVID-19 in psoriatic patients by downregulating ACE2 expression in affected skin.