Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the reninangiotensin system : a closer look at angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)
Date
2020-05-01
Authors
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Publisher
Sage
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since the first cases of atypical pneumonia linked to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in
Wuhan, China were described in late December 2019, the global landscape has changed radically. In
March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and at the
time of writing this review just over 3 million individuals have been infected with more than 200 000
deaths globally. Numerous countries are in “lockdown”, social distancing is the new norm, even the
most advanced healthcare systems are under pressure, and a global economic recession seems
inevitable. A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the aetiological agent. From experience
with previous coronavirus epidemics, namely the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle
East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2004 and 2012 respectively, it was postulated that the
angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor is a possible port of cell entry. ACE2 is part of the
renin-angiotensin system (RAS), and is also associated with lung and cardiovascular disorders and
inflammation. Recent studies have confirmed that ACE2 is the port of entry for SARS-CoV-2. Male sex,
advanced age, and a number of associated comorbidities have been identified as risk factors for
infection with COVID-19. Many high-risk COVID-19 patients with comorbidities are on ACE inhibitors and
angiotensin receptor blockers, and this has sparked debate about whether to continue these treatment
regimes. Attention has also shifted to ACE2 being a target for future therapies or vaccines against
COVID-19. In this review, we discuss COVID-19 and its complex relationship with ACE2.
Description
CITATION: Zemlin, A. & Wiese, O. 2020. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the reninangiotensin system : a closer look at angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Annals of Clinical Biochemistry. doi:10.1177/0004563220928361.
The original publication is available at https://journals.sagepub.com/home/acb
The original publication is available at https://journals.sagepub.com/home/acb
Keywords
COVID-19 (Disease), Coronavirus infections, Glucagon-like peptide 1, Analytes
Citation
Zemlin, A. & Wiese, O. 2020. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the reninangiotensin system : a closer look at angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Annals of Clinical Biochemistry. doi:10.1177/0004563220928361.