HCV infection increases the expression of ACE2 receptor, leading to enhanced entry of both HCV and SARS-CoV-2 into hepatocytes and a coinfection state

this study provides the first experimental evidence for the SARS-CoV-2-HCV coinfection of liver cells, suggesting that HCV infection may be a potential risk factor for enhanced liver disease in coinfected patients. Although this outcome is supported by recent clinical findings, the specific effects of the enhanced infection SARS-CoV-2 and replication of HCV in coinfection states on liver pathology remains to be evaluated in clinical settings. In a broader view, this study emphasizes the importance of identifying coinfecting pathogens that increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and that may accelerate COVID-19-related co-morbidities. Overall design: RNA-seq analysis was performed on data from SARS-CoV-2-infected cells (n=3) and HCV+SARS-CoV-2 coinfected cells (n=3) obtained in this study, and on data from HCV-infected cells (n=6) and uninfected cells obtained from Perez et al. 2019