Are men more susceptible to COVID-19 because of their testicles?

There is some scientific evidence to suggest that men may be more susceptible to COVID-19 due to the presence of the ACE2 enzyme (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) in their testicles. ACE2 is a receptor that the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to in order to enter cells.

SARS-CoV-2 uses ACE2 receptors to enter cells. These receptors are present in various tissues in the body, including the lungs, heart, intestines, and testes. Research has shown that ACE2 receptors are highly expressed in the testes of men, which could explain why men are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 infections.

One study has shown that men have higher expression of ACE2 in their testes, which may contribute to increased susceptibility to the virus. Other studies have shown that men have a higher mortality rate and experience more severe symptoms from COVID-19 compared to women. This difference may be partly explained by the higher expression of ACE2 in male reproductive organs .

Men and women have differences in their immune response. Women often have stronger immune responses, which can help fight viral infections such as COVID-19. This may also play a role in the observed differences in disease susceptibility and severity between men and women.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41585-022-00586-1

Source: https://rep.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/rep/161/3/REP-20-0382.xml

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-05-01 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024