Page 24 - Care-for-vulnerable-populations-during-COVID-19-pandemic

SARS-CoV-2 and the liver

ACE2 is the functional receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and it is present in many organs. It is
present in the central nervous system, upper airway, vasculature, lungs, liver, gut, kidneys, heart
and eyes. In the liver, more cholangiocytes than hepatocytes. In autopsy tissue samples, when we
look at the viral load quantification of this SARS-CoV-2 virus, it is very high in the lungs and
pharynx. It is also found in the kidney, liver, heart but small numbers in the brain and blood.