Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 and Furin Expression in the Appendix of Children with COVID-19

Background: The sudden outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in more than 261 million infections and an estimated 5.1 million deaths. Some vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, intestines, and lungs could be damaged by SARS-CoV-2. Questions remain regarding the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the mucous membrane of the appendix in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of cytologic processes in appendix tissue in children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Patients and Methods: Fragments of the appendices of children with confirmed COVID-19 (n = 42) were studied by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the expression of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and genes encoding protein complexes: ACE-2 and Furin.Results: We found traces of coronavirus genetic material in the appendices of children with COVID-19. We also found increased expression of ACE-2 and Furin in the tissue, which indicates favorable conditions for coronavirus infection.Conclusions: Viral load in the appendices of children can be reported based on the results of real-time PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and the expression of ACE-2 and Furin.