scholarly journals Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus 2 Infection: Role of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme 2

2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-235
Author(s):  
Jinho Shin

A role of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has been suggested, because it is the molecular receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). ACE2 is known to provide a protective effect for cardiac and vascular tissues, because it generally counteracts angiotensin II (Ang II) activity. ACE2 downregulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers may enhance ACE2 mRNA expression and enzyme activity. However, this has not been demonstrated in lung tissue. In the lungs, Ang II induces vasoconstriction to prevent ventilation perfusion mismatch, while also increasing vascular permeability (which can precipitate pulmonary edema). ACE2 is expressed in 0.67% of human lung cells, 80% of which are type 2 alveolar cells. Men (of all ethnicities) and Asian individuals have been shown to express higher levels of ACE2 than women and non-Asian individuals, respectively. However, there are no data from human studies indicating that high ACE2 expression increases the likelihood of SARS-CoV2 infection. In animal studies, an increase in Ang II caused by SARS-CoV2 or spike protein interactions, in turn due to ACE2 downregulation, has been identified as the key mechanism underlying lung injury. In human studies of SARS-CoV2 infection, ACE2 overexpression was shown to cause inflammatory apoptosis and a cytokine storm. The actions of ACE2 and Ang II in SARS-CoV2-infected vascular and lung tissues differ between animals and humans. ACE2 expression levels pre- and post-SARS-CoV2 infection should be differentiated.

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (7) ◽  
pp. 747-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhian M. Touyz ◽  
Hongliang Li ◽  
Christian Delles

Abstract Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the major enzyme responsible for conversion of Ang II into Ang-(1-7). It also acts as the receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus (CoV)-2, which causes Coronavirus Disease (COVID)-19. In recognition of the importance of ACE2 and to celebrate 20 years since its discovery, the journal will publish a focused issue on the basic science and (patho)physiological role of this multifunctional protein.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-20
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Maghool ◽  
◽  
Mohammad Hassan Emami ◽  
Samaneh Mohammadzadeh ◽  
Aida Heidari ◽  
...  

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2020, which has a substantial structural similarity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that caused the outbreak in 2003, is currently a threat to global health. Lung involvement is the principal clinical feature in infected patients but extra-pulmonary clinical presentations are also common. The reasons for the extensive involvement of other organs are not yet clear. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the key peptide of renin–angiotensin system (RAS), has recently identified as a major receptor for the both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 that might be a main target of coronavirus infection. ACE2 is mainly expressed in the pulmonary pneumocytes, the small intestine enterocytes as well as the proximal tubule epithelial cells of the kidneys. In addition to the respiratory tract infection symptoms, the noticeable prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms as well as kidney impairment in hospitalized infected patients highlights other routes of infection/transmission. In present review, we discussed the role of RAS with emphasis on ACE2 in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, particularly in gastrointestinal and kidney manifestations of the diseases.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (6) ◽  
pp. H3019-H3024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron J. Trask ◽  
David B. Averill ◽  
Detlev Ganten ◽  
Mark C. Chappell ◽  
Carlos M. Ferrario

Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) converts angiotensin II (ANG II) to angiotensin-(1–7) [ANG-(1–7)], and this enzyme may serve as a key regulatory juncture in various tissues. Although the heart expresses ACE2, the extent that the enzyme participates in the cardiac processing of ANG II and ANG-(1–7) is equivocal. Therefore, we utilized the Langendorff preparation to characterize the ACE2 pathway in isolated hearts from male normotensive Sprague-Dawley [Tg(−)] and hypertensive [mRen2]27 [Tg(+)] rats. During a 60-min recirculation period with 10 nM ANG II, the presence of ANG-(1–7) was assessed in the cardiac effluent. ANG-(1–7) generation from ANG II was similar in both the normal and hypertensive hearts [Tg(−): 510 ± 55 pM, n = 20 vs. Tg(+): 497 ± 63 pM, n = 14] with peak levels occurring at 30 min after administration of the peptide. ACE2 inhibition (MLN-4760, 1 μM) significantly reduced ANG-(1–7) production by 83% (57 ± 19 pM, P < 0.01, n = 7) in the Tg(+) rats, whereas the inhibitor had no significant effect in the Tg(−) rats (285 ± 53 pM, P > 0.05, n = 10). ACE2 activity was found in the effluent of perfused Tg(−) and Tg(+) hearts, and it was highly associated with ACE2 protein expression ( r = 0.78). This study is the first demonstration for a direct role of ACE2 in the metabolism of cardiac ANG II in the hypertrophic heart of hypertensive rats. We conclude that predominant expression of cardiac ACE2 activity in the Tg(+) may be a compensatory response to the extensive cardiac remodeling in this strain.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 309-312
Author(s):  
Kunal Bikram Shaha ◽  
Ashok Adhikari ◽  
Jung Rae Cho ◽  
Bimal Pandey ◽  
Yubaraj Sharma ◽  
...  

Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptor has been unearthed as a prime site of entry of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 owing to its strong affinity towards spike protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, resulting in down-regulation of Angiotensin-converting enzyme -2 receptors and hyperstimulation of Angiotensin-converting enzyme-1 pathway. This proposed theory has led to the birth of a new controversy regarding the use of Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers in Coronavirus disease 2019 patients. A theory is against the use of Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, as it enhances the effect of Angiotensin-converting enzyme -2 pathway and upregulation of Angiotensin-converting enzyme -2 receptors resulting in a large number of internalizations of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus -2 into cells culminating into a high load of viremia with overwhelming infection and severity. The other theory considers Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors / Angiotensin receptor blockers useful as it blocks deleterious Angiotensin-converting enzyme -1 pathway triggered by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and enhances Angiotensin-converting enzyme -2 receptor upregulation and activation of angiotensin-(1-7) leading to beneficial effects, i.e vasodilation, anti-apoptosis, anti-proliferative, & antifibrosis. Hence, Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers may prove beneficial in countering the Angiotensin-converting enzyme -1 mediated damage by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. The recommendations by (European & American) societal guidelines still hold good of not discontinuing Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers in COVID-19 patients as it is further supported by current evidence of large observational studies.  


Author(s):  
Seyed-Mohammad Ghahestani ◽  
Javad Mahmoudi ◽  
Sakineh Hajebrahimi ◽  
Amir-Babak Sioofy-Khojine ◽  
Hanieh Salehi-Pourmehr ◽  
...  

The new virus SARS-CoV-2 is savagely spreading out over the world. The biologic studies show that the target receptor for the virus might be angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). This peptide is responsible for converting angiotensin II (Ang II), which is a profoundly active peptide, into Ang 1-7 with quite a balancing barbell function. It is emphasized that the direct target of the virus is ACE2 underlining the obvious difference with ACE. Nevertheless, we hypothesized that a back load build up effect on Ang II may usurp the ACE capacity and subsequently leave the bradykinin system unabated. We think there are clinical clues for dry cough and the presumed aggravating role of ACE inhibitors like captopril on the disease process. Thereby, we speculated that inhibition of bradykinin synthesis and/or blockade of bradykinin B2 receptor using Aprotinin/ecallantide and Icatibant, respectively, may hold therapeutic promise in severe cases and these molecules can be advanced to clinical trials.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anderson J. Ferreira ◽  
Tatiane M. Murça ◽  
Rodrigo A. Fraga-Silva ◽  
Carlos Henrique Castro ◽  
Mohan K. Raizada ◽  
...  

Angiotensin (Ang)-(1–7) is now recognized as a biologically active component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The discovery of the angiotensin-converting enzyme homologue ACE2 revealed important metabolic pathways involved in the Ang-(1–7) synthesis. This enzyme can form Ang-(1–7) from Ang II or less efficiently through hydrolysis of Ang I to Ang-(1–9) with subsequent Ang-(1–7) formation. Additionally, it is well established that the G protein-coupled receptor Mas is a functional ligand site for Ang-(1–7). The axis formed by ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/Mas represents an endogenous counter regulatory pathway within the RAS whose actions are opposite to the vasoconstrictor/proliferative arm of the RAS constituted by ACE/Ang II/AT1receptor. In this review we will discuss recent findings concerning the biological role of the ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/Mas arm in the cardiovascular and pulmonary system. Also, we will highlight the initiatives to develop potential therapeutic strategies based on this axis.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Tikellis ◽  
M. C. Thomas

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) shares some homology with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) but is not inhibited by ACE inhibitors. The main role of ACE2 is the degradation of Ang II resulting in the formation of angiotensin 1–7 (Ang 1–7) which opposes the actions of Ang II. Increased Ang II levels are thought to upregulate ACE2 activity, and in ACE2 deficient mice Ang II levels are approximately double that of wild-type mice, whilst Ang 1–7 levels are almost undetectable. Thus, ACE2 plays a crucial role in the RAS because it opposes the actions of Ang II. Consequently, it has a beneficial role in many diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease where its expression is decreased. Not surprisingly, current therapeutic strategies for ACE2 involve augmenting its expression using ACE2 adenoviruses, recombinant ACE2 or compounds in these diseases thereby affording some organ protection.


Coronaviruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 02 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikas Pandey ◽  
Indu Lata Kanwar ◽  
Tanweer Haider ◽  
Vishal Gour ◽  
Monika Vishwakarma ◽  
...  

: The novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a pandemic, as declared by WHO in March 2020 producing the deleterious effects to patients worldwide. The angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) has been recognized as the co-receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infections and may acts as a therapeutic step in blocking the enzyme to reduce SARS-CoV-2 expression and further cellular entry. Presently, the role of ACE-2 in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has been known and the experts have started working on the enzyme ACE-2 for the management and treatment of this pandemic disease. The binding of spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 to these receptors is the most important step and plays a key role in viral replication, thus this enzyme is becoming the doorway for the entry and spread in the human body causing asymptomatic pneumonia and severe of which is leading to death. As no specific method to prevent and treat this disease is available, the use of ACE-2 as a targeting ligand with COVID-19 virus spike protein could be helpful in the proper management of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 319 (5) ◽  
pp. H1059-H1068
Author(s):  
Fulton A. Robinson ◽  
Ryan. P. Mihealsick ◽  
Brant M. Wagener ◽  
Peter Hanna ◽  
Megan D. Poston ◽  
...  

The prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) quickly reached pandemic proportions, and knowledge about this virus and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has expanded rapidly. This review focuses primarily on mechanisms that contribute to acute cardiac injury and dysfunction, which are common in patients with severe disease. The etiology of cardiac injury is multifactorial, and the extent is likely enhanced by preexisting cardiovascular disease. Disruption of homeostatic mechanisms secondary to pulmonary pathology ranks high on the list, and there is growing evidence that direct infection of cardiac cells can occur. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plays a central role in COVID-19 and is a necessary receptor for viral entry into human cells. ACE2 normally not only eliminates angiotensin II (Ang II) by converting it to Ang-(1–7) but also elicits a beneficial response profile counteracting that of Ang II. Molecular analyses of single nuclei from human hearts have shown that ACE2 is most highly expressed by pericytes. Given the important roles that pericytes have in the microvasculature, infection of these cells could compromise myocardial supply to meet metabolic demand. Furthermore, ACE2 activity is crucial for opposing adverse effects of locally generated Ang II, so virus-mediated internalization of ACE2 could exacerbate pathology by this mechanism. While the role of cardiac pericytes in acute heart injury by SARS-CoV-2 requires investigation, expression of ACE2 by these cells has broader implications for cardiac pathophysiology.


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