Renin-angiotensin system in human coronavirus pathogenesis

Brigitte A Wevers; Lia van der Hoek

doi:10.2217/fvl.10.4

Renin-angiotensin system in human coronavirus pathogenesis

Future Virol. 2010 Mar;5(2):145-161. doi: 10.2217/fvl.10.4. Epub 2010 Mar 1.

Authors

Brigitte A Wevers¹, Lia van der Hoek²

Affiliations

¹ Center for Experimental & Molecular Medicine, Center for Infection & Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 226600, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. b.a.wevers@amc.uva.nl.
² Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection & Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 226600, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 205 667 510; ; c.m.vanderhoek@amc.uva.nl.

Abstract

Although initially considered relatively harmless pathogens, human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are nowadays known to be associated with more severe clinical complications. Still, their precise pathogenic potential is largely unknown, particularly regarding the most recently identified species HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1. HCoVs need host cell proteins to successively establish infections. Proteases of the renin-angiotensin system serve as receptors needed for entry into target cells; this article describes the current knowledge on the involvement of this system in HCoV pathogenesis.

Keywords: SARS-CoV; aminopeptidase N; angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; human coronavirus 229E; human coronavirus NL63; renin–angiotensin system; virus–host interactions.

Publication types

Review