Pathogenic Role of Oxidative Stress in Vascular Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Activation in Long-Term Blockade of Nitric Oxide Synthesis in Rats

COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), was first identified in China in late 2019 and since then, this disease has become a pandemic affecting many countries across the globe. Due to this outbreak, many researchers have been diligently investigating this disease for the establishment of better methods of its treatment and control. Evidence from research has led to a plethora of valuable but uncertain information on the modes of transmission of COVID-19 and the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 establishes infections in targeted tissues. It is now better understood that in this disease, SARS-CoV-2 gains entrance into cells by specifically binding ACE-2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2); ACE-2 serves as a potential receptor for the virus. The lungs, in addition to many other organs and tissues, express ACE-2 in varying degrees. Therefore, this review will examine the role of ACE-2 in COVID-19 and the secondary effects that COVID-19 has on organs that express ACE-2. To this end, it will assist in establishing the relationship between the ACE-2 receptor and SARS-CoV-2, bringing to the forefront the correlation between the symptomatology presentation, as well as the severity of infections experienced with COVID-19. Given this, it may even provide an avenue for the generation of treatment, or create a platform for the enhanced knowledge of this novel virus, and therefore, control, and maybe unravel the mystery for long term complications.

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Twenty years of progress in angiotensin converting enzyme 2 and its link to SARS-CoV-2 disease

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs20200901 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 134 (19) ◽

pp. 2645-2664 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carlos M. Ferrario ◽

Sarfaraz Ahmad ◽

Leanne Groban

Keyword(s):

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Converting Enzyme ◽

Disease Evolution ◽

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽

High Affinity Binding Site ◽

Receptor Blockers

Abstract The virulence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the aggressive nature of the disease has transformed the universal pace of research in the desperate attempt to seek effective therapies to halt the morbidity and mortality of this pandemic. The rapid sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus facilitated identification of the receptor for angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the high affinity binding site that allows virus endocytosis. Parallel evidence that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease evolution shows greater lethality in patients with antecedent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or even obesity questioned the potential unfavorable contribution of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor blockers as facilitators of adverse outcomes due to the ability of these therapies to augment the transcription of Ace2 with consequent increase in protein formation and enzymatic activity. We review, here, the specific studies that support a role of these agents in altering the expression and activity of ACE2 and underscore that the robustness of the experimental data is associated with weak clinical long-term studies of the existence of a similar regulation of tissue or plasma ACE2 in human subjects.

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