Abstract
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an 805 amino acid protein encoded by the ACE2 gene expressed in various human cells, especially in those located in the epithelia. The primary function of ACE2 is to produce angiotensin (1–7) from angiotensin II (Ang II). The current research has described the importance of ACE2 and Ang (1–7) in alternative routes of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that promote the downregulation of fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress processes in a great variety of diseases, such as hypertension, acute lung injury, liver cirrhosis, and kidney abnormalities. Investigations into the recent outbreak of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have revealed the importance of ACE2 during infection and its role in recognizing viral binding proteins through interactions with specific amino acids of this enzyme. Additionally, the ACE2 expression in several organs has allowed us to understand the clinical picture related to the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2. This review aims to provide context for the functions and importance of ACE2 with regards to SARS-CoV-2 in the general clinical aspect and its impact on other diseases, especially respiratory diseases.
Highlights
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), mainly those located in the epithelium of specific organs, different cells can express ACE2, mainly those located in the epithelium of specific organs, such as as the the lungs, mainly those related to the imsuch lungs, and andfulfill fulfillvarious variousbiological biologicalfunctions, functions, mainly those related to the mune response and homeostasis immune response and homeostasis [3,4,5]
This review aims importance of of ACE2
A recent in silico analysis of interactive networks of genes and proteins co-expressed with ACE2 was able to identify potential drugs that might treat the different symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, including nimesulide, fluticasone propionate, thiabendazole, photopyrin, didanosine, and flutamide [88]
Summary
The gene is 41,115 base pairs (bp) long and is organized into 19 exons and 18 introns that can give rise to five different transcripts, of which only two are translated into functional proteins (Figure 1) [1]. There are two paralogs to ACE2, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 1 (ACE) and AC113554.1, no functional protein product has been associated with the latter. There are two paralogs to ACE2, 2Angiof 15 otensin-Converting Enzyme 1 (ACE) and AC113554.1, no functional protein product has been associated with the latter. ACE2, mainly those located in the epithelium of specific organs, different cells can express ACE2, mainly those located in the epithelium of specific organs, such as as the the lungs, mainly those related to the imsuch lungs, and andfulfill fulfillvarious variousbiological biologicalfunctions, functions, mainly those related to the mune response and homeostasis [3,4,5].
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