scholarly journals ACE2 Nascence, Trafficking and SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis: The Saga Continues

Author(s):  
Sally Badawi ◽  
Bassam Ali

With the emergence of the novel corona virus SARS-CoV-2 since December 2019, more than 43 million cases have been reported worldwide. This virus has shown high infectivity and severe symptoms in some cases leading to over 1 million deaths globally. Despite the collaborative and concerted research efforts that has been made, no effective treatment for COVID-19 (corona virus disease-2019) is currently available. SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as an initial mediator for viral attachment and host cell invasion. ACE2 is widely distributed in human tissues including the cell surface of lung cells which represent the primary site of the infection. Inhibiting or reducing cell surface availability of ACE2 represents a promising therapy for tackling COVID-19. In this context, most ACE2–based therapeutic strategies have aimed to achieve this through the use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or neutralizing the virus by exogenous administration of ACE2. However, through this review, we present another perspective focusing on the subcellular localization and trafficking of ACE2. Membrane targeting of ACE2, shedding and its cellular trafficking pathways including internalization are not well elucidated. Therefore, hereby we present an overview on the fate of newly synthesized ACE2, its post translational modifications, what is known of its trafficking pathways. In addition, we highlight the possibility that some of the identified ACE2 missense variants might affect its trafficking efficiency and localization and hence may explain some of the observed variable severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Extensive understanding of these processes is necessary to evaluate the potential use of ACE2 as a credible therapeutic target.

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Badawi ◽  
Bassam R. Ali

AbstractWith the emergence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 since December 2019, more than 65 million cases have been reported worldwide. This virus has shown high infectivity and severe symptoms in some cases, leading to over 1.5 million deaths globally. Despite the collaborative and concerted research efforts that have been made, no effective medication for COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019) is currently available. SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as an initial mediator for viral attachment and host cell invasion. ACE2 is widely distributed in the human tissues including the cell surface of lung cells which represent the primary site of the infection. Inhibiting or reducing cell surface availability of ACE2 represents a promising therapy for tackling COVID-19. In this context, most ACE2–based therapeutic strategies have aimed to tackle the virus through the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or neutralizing the virus by exogenous administration of ACE2, which does not directly aim to reduce its membrane availability. However, through this review, we present a different perspective focusing on the subcellular localization and trafficking of ACE2. Membrane targeting of ACE2, and shedding and cellular trafficking pathways including the internalization are not well elucidated in literature. Therefore, we hereby present an overview of the fate of newly synthesized ACE2, its post translational modifications, and what is known of its trafficking pathways. In addition, we highlight the possibility that some of the identified ACE2 missense variants might affect its trafficking efficiency and localization and hence may explain some of the observed variable severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Moreover, an extensive understanding of these processes is necessarily required to evaluate the potential use of ACE2 as a credible therapeutic target.


Author(s):  
Rutvi Delvadiya ◽  
Bansi Jagani ◽  
Ankita Gohel ◽  
Jay Desai ◽  
Darshit Ram

Corona virus disease 2019 (covid-19) is global pandemic affecting 185 countries and > 30,00,000 patient worldwide as of April 28,2020 COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus. Which invades cells through the angiotensin – converting enzyme 2 receptor. Among patient with COVID-19, there is a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease and > 7% of patients experience myocardial injury from the infection (22% of critically ill patients). Although angiotensin – converting enzyme 2 serves as the portal for infection, the role of angiotensin – converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blockers requires further investigation. COVID-19 poses a challenge for heart transplantation, affecting donor selection. Immunosuppression and posttransplant management. Primary cardiac manifestation includes acute myocarditis, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia and abnormal clotting. The disease does not discrimate but increasing age & the presence of comorbidities are associated with severe form of the disease and poor outcomes. While our knowledge of COVID-19 continues to rapidly expend, this review highlights recent advances in our understanding of the interaction between COVID-19 & the cardiovascular system. Management of acute COVID-19 cardiovascular syndrome should involve a multidisciplinary team including intensive care specialists, infectious disease specialists and cardiologists. Clinical and diagnostic details of cardiovascular involvement in these patients a mostly limited to biochemical markers. Cardiovascular drugs the cardiac effect of therapeutic agent on the illness continue to be under investigation with an increasing number of patients newer promising therapies and ongoing clinical trials the exact mechanisms & extent to which this risk. Factors contribute to outcomes will be clearer in the future.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253489
Author(s):  
Anna Goc ◽  
Waldemar Sumera ◽  
Matthias Rath ◽  
Aleksandra Niedzwiecki

In the pursuit of suitable and effective solutions to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we investigated the efficacy of several phenolic compounds in controlling key cellular mechanisms involved in its infectivity. The way the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects the cell is a complex process and comprises four main stages: attachment to the cognate receptor, cellular entry, replication and cellular egress. Since, this is a multi-part process, it creates many opportunities to develop effective interventions. Targeting binding of the virus to the host receptor in order to prevent its entry has been of particular interest. Here, we provide experimental evidence that, among 56 tested polyphenols, including plant extracts, brazilin, theaflavin-3,3’-digallate, and curcumin displayed the highest binding with the receptor-binding domain of spike protein, inhibiting viral attachment to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, and thus cellular entry of pseudo-typed SARS-CoV-2 virions. Both, theaflavin-3,3’-digallate at 25 μg/ml and curcumin above 10 μg/ml concentration, showed binding with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor reducing at the same time its activity in both cell-free and cell-based assays. Our study also demonstrates that brazilin and theaflavin-3,3’-digallate, and to a still greater extent, curcumin, decrease the activity of transmembrane serine protease 2 both in cell-free and cell-based assays. Similar pattern was observed with cathepsin L, although only theaflavin-3,3’-digallate showed a modest diminution of cathepsin L expression at protein level. Finally, each of these three compounds moderately increased endosomal/lysosomal pH. In conclusion, this study demonstrates pleiotropic anti-SARS-CoV-2 efficacy of specific polyphenols and their prospects for further scientific and clinical investigations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (24) ◽  
pp. 9602
Author(s):  
Rafael Franco ◽  
Alejandro Lillo ◽  
Rafael Rivas-Santisteban ◽  
Ana I. Rodríguez-Pérez ◽  
Irene Reyes-Resina ◽  
...  

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a membrane peptidase and a component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that has been found in cells of all organs, including the lungs. While ACE2 has been identified as the receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronaviruses, the mechanism underlying cell entry remains unknown. Human immunodeficiency virus infects target cells via CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)-mediated endocytosis. Furthermore, CXCR4 interacts with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (CD26/DPPIV), an enzyme that cleaves CXCL12/SDF-1, which is the chemokine that activates this receptor. By analogy, we hypothesized that ACE2 might also be capable of interactions with RAS-associated G-protein coupled receptors. Using resonance energy transfer and cAMP and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling assays, we found that human ACE2 interacts with RAS-related receptors, namely the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R), and the MAS1 oncogene receptor (MasR). Although these interactions led to various alterations of signal transduction, but, more importantly, ligand binding to AT1R resulted in the downregulation of ACE2 cell surface expression, while ligand binding to AT2R, but not to MasR, resulted in upregulation of ACE2 cell surface expression. Proximity ligation assays performed in situ revealed macromolecular complexes containing ACE2 and AT1R, AT2R or MasR in adult but not fetal mouse lung tissue. These findings highlight the relevance of RAS in SARS-CoV-2 infection and the role of ACE2-containing complexes as potential therapeutic targets.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola E. Clarke ◽  
Anthony J. Turner

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a critical regulator of hypertension, primarily through the actions of the vasoactive peptide Ang II, which is generated by the action of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) mediating an increase in blood pressure. The discovery of ACE2, which primarily metabolises Ang II into the vasodilatory Ang-(1-7), has added a new dimension to the traditional RAS. As a result there has been huge interest in ACE2 over the past decade as a potential therapeutic for lowering blood pressure, especially elevation resulting from excess Ang II. Studies focusing on ACE2 have helped to reveal other actions of Ang-(1-7), outside vasodilation, such as antifibrotic and antiproliferative effects. Moreover, investigations focusing on ACE2 have revealed a variety of roles not just catalytic but also as a viral receptor and amino acid transporter. This paper focuses on what is known about ACE2 and its biological roles, paying particular attention to the regulation of ACE2 expression. In light of the entrance of human recombinant ACE2 into clinical trials, we discuss the potential use of ACE2 as a therapeutic and highlight some pertinent questions that still remain unanswered about ACE2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 232470962110247
Author(s):  
Hafiz Muhammad Abrar Jeelani ◽  
Muhammad Mubbashir Sheikh ◽  
Shirly Susan Samuel ◽  
Yetunde Bernice Omotosho ◽  
Artem Sharko ◽  
...  

The gastrointestinal (GI) involvement, including acute pancreatitis (AP) from the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), is increasingly being reported. Recent evidence suggests that the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is mediated by the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptors and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) for “priming,” which is highly expressed in the pancreas. To our knowledge, there is no other reported case of AP associated with COVID-19 after the respiratory symptoms are resolved. In this article, we present a patient with COVID-19, who came with intractable epigastric pain and resolved respiratory symptoms. A diagnosis of AP complicated with COVID-19 was made after laboratory and imaging workup, which was successfully managed conservatively.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 379
Author(s):  
Ahmed O. Kaseb ◽  
Yehia I. Mohamed ◽  
Alexandre E. Malek ◽  
Issam I. Raad ◽  
Lina Altameemi ◽  
...  

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to an unprecedented threat to the international community and raised major concerns in terms of public health safety. Although our current understanding of the complexity of COVID-19 pathogenesis remains limited, the infection is largely mediated by the interaction of viral spike protein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The functional importance of ACE2 in different demographic and comorbid conditions may explain the significant variation in incidence and mortality of COVID-19 in vulnerable groups, and highlights its candidacy as a potential therapeutic target. We provide evidence supporting the idea that differences in incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection may be related to ACE2. Emerging data based on the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 among those with established high levels of ACE2 expression strongly support our hypothesis. Considering the burden of COVID-19 infection in these vulnerable groups and the impact of the potential therapeutic and preventive measures that would result from adopting ACE2-driven anti-viral strategies, our hypothesis may expedite global efforts to control the current COVID-19 pandemic.


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