Extended Data Fig. 7: FXR inhibition reduces ACE2 levels in vivo.
From: FXR inhibition may protect from SARS-CoV-2 infection by reducing ACE2
(a) Schematic representation of the experiment performed. (b) QPCR showing that treatment with UDCA in FVB/N mice reduces ACE2 levels in lung, gall bladder and intestinal tissue. Housekeeping gene, GAPDH; n = 4 animals per group (UDCA vs. no UDCA control group, see Methods); unpaired two-tailed t-test; centre line, median; box, interquartile range (IQR); whiskers, range; bars, standard deviation. (c) Immunofluorescence images showing ACE2 levels upon treatment with UDCA in respiratory, biliary and intestinal epithelium in FVB/N mice. N = 4 mice per group. White scale bars 100 μm; yellow scale bars 50 μm. (d) QPCR showing that treatment with UDCA in Syrian golden hamsters reduces ACE2 levels in the gall bladder and intestinal tissue. Housekeeping gene, GAPDH; n = 5 vehicle/No UDCA group vs n = 3 UDCA group; unpaired two-tailed t-test; centre line, median; box, interquartile range (IQR); whiskers, range; bars, standard deviation. (e) Immunofluorescence images showing ACE2 levels upon treatment with UDCA in biliary and intestinal epithelium in Syrian golden hamsters. N = 3 hamsters per group. White scale bars 100 μm.
