Review
Physiological and pathological regulation of ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104833Get rights and content

Abstract

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is crucial for the physiology and pathology of all the organs. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) maintains the homeostasis of RAS as a negative regulator. Recently, ACE2 was identified as the receptor of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the coronavirus that is causing the pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since SARS-CoV-2 must bind with ACE2 before entering the host cells in humans, the distribution and expression of ACE2 may be critical for the target organ of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, accumulating evidence has demonstrated the implication of ACE2 in the pathological progression in tissue injury and several chronic diseases, ACE2 may also be essential in the progression and clinical outcomes of COVID-19. Therefore, we summarized the expression and activity of ACE2 in various physiological and pathological conditions, and discussed its potential implication in the susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the progression and prognosis of COVID-19 patients in the current review.

Chemical compounds studied in this article

Diminazene aceturate (PubChem CID: 5284544)
Resorcinolnaphthalein (PubChem CID: 337218)
Xanthenone (PubChem CID: 7020)

Abbreviations

ACE2
angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
ACEI
ACE inhibitor
Ang
angiotensin
ARB
angiotensin II receptor blocker
ARDS
acute respiratory distress syndrome
AT2
type II apical surface of epithelial cells
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019
DIC
disseminated intravascular coagulopathy
HIF-1α
hypoxia-inducible factor-1α
hrsACE2
human recombinant soluble ACE2
PAH
pulmonary arterial hypertension
rACE2
recombinant ACE2
RAS
renin-angiotensin system
SARS-CoV
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
SARS-CoV-2
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Keywords

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Coronavirus disease 2019

Cited by (0)

1

These authors contributed equally to the manuscript.

View Abstract