Jonathan Kopel PhD, Bojana Ristic PhD, Thomas E. Tenner, Jr., PhD, and Gregory L. Brower, DVM, PhD
The pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 disease remains an active and rapidly evolving area of investigation. Currently, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 protein (ACE-2) is the primary receptor implicated in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. In normal physiological responses, the ACE-2 has important roles in regulating the renin-angiotensin systems (RAS) in several organs, including the heart, kidney, and lungs. Dysregulation of ACE-2 has been linked to heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and diabetic cardiovascular complications. Two main risk factors for COVID-19 include hypertension and cardiovascular disease. However, the precise mechanism causing these risk factors for COVID-19 infectivity remains unknown. In this paper, we provide possible molecular mechanisms that underlie the cardiovascular risk factors for COVID-19.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2), hormones, cardiovascular, hypoxia, metabolism, regulation, and pathophysiology
Article citation: Kopel J, Tenner, Jr TE, Brower GL. The regulation of ACE-2 in the heart and lungs. The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles 2021;9(40):47–52
From: School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
Submitted: 2/26/2021
Accepted: 7/5/2021
Reviewer: Jacob Nichols MD
Conflicts of interest: none
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