Searching therapeutic strategy of new coronavirus pneumonia from angiotensin-converting enzyme 2: the target of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 Jun;39(6):1021-1026. doi: 10.1007/s10096-020-03883-y. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Abstract

Since December 2019, the infection of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) caused an outbreak of new coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China, and caused great public concern. Both COVID-19 and SARS-CoV belong to the coronavirus family and both invade target cells through ACE2. An in-depth understanding of ACE2 and a series of physiological and physiological changes caused by the virus invading the human body may help to discover and explain the corresponding clinical phenomena and then deal with them timely. In addition, ACE2 is a potential therapeutic target. This article will summarize the role of ACE2 in multiple organ damage caused by COVID-19 and SARS-CoV, targeted blocking drugs against ACE2, and drugs that inhibit inflammation in order to provide the basis for subsequent related research, diagnosis and treatment, and drug development.

Keywords: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2); New coronavirus (COVID-19); SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Betacoronavirus / metabolism*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections* / complications
  • Coronavirus Infections* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Pandemics*
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism*
  • Pneumonia* / etiology
  • Pneumonia* / therapy
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / complications
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / drug therapy
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome* / complications
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome* / drug therapy
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2