Veronique Michaud 1 2, Malavika Deodhar 1, Meghan Arwood 1, Sweilem B Al Rihani 1, Pamela Dow 1, Jacques Turgeon 1 2
Abstract
Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the recognized host cell receptor responsible for mediating infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). ACE2bound to tissue facilitates infectivity of SARS-CoV-2; thus, one could argue that decreasing ACE2tissue expression would be beneficial. However, ACE2 catalytic activity towards angiotensin I (AngI) and II (Ang II) mitigates deleterious effects associated with activation of the renin-angiotensinaldosterone system (RAAS) on several organs, including a pro-inflammatory status. At the tissue level, SARS-CoV-2 (a) binds to ACE2, leading to its internalization, and (b) favors ACE2 cleavage to form soluble ACE2: these actions result in decreased ACE2 tissue levels. Preserving tissue ACE2activity while preventing ACE2 shredding is expected to circumvent unrestrained inflammatory response. Concerns have been raised around RAAS modulators and their effects on ACE2expression or catalytic activity. Various cellular and animal models report conflicting results in various tissues. However, recent data from observational and meta-analysis studies in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients have concluded that RAAS modulators do not increase plasma ACE2 levels or susceptibility to infection and are not associated with more severe diseases. This review presents our current but evolving knowledge of the complex interplay between SARS-CoV-2 infection, ACE2levels, modulators of RAAS activity and the effects of RAAS modulators on ACE2 expression.
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