Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2) role in disease and future in research

Amal Abdul-Hafez; Tarek Mohamed; Bruce D Uhal

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2) role in disease and future in research

J Lung Pulm Respir Res. 2021;8(2):54-60. Epub 2021 May 3.

Authors

Amal Abdul-Hafez¹, Tarek Mohamed¹, Bruce D Uhal²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, USA.
² Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, USA.

PMID: 34414260
PMCID: PMC8373052

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Like the 2002-2003 epidemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) has been identified as the SARS-CoV-2 receptor.^1-3 The virus docks into host cell via its spike protein binding to ACE-2 and undergoes proteolytic cleavage by TMPRSS2 protease to facilitate membrane fusion. The spike protein binding to ACE-2 has been shown to be stronger in the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus.¹ This review will present an overview of ACE-2 biology.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2); lung injury; renin angiotensin system.

Grants and funding

R01 HL045136/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States