Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor for infecting and spreading in humans. Studies have shown that the widespread expression of ACE2 in human tissues may be associated with organ function damage (e.g., lung, kidney, and stomach) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, in neurodegenerative diseases, whose pathogenesis is closely related to advanced age, ACE2 plays a neurotrophic and protective role by activating the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis, thus inhibiting cognitive impairment. Early reports have revealed that the elderly are more susceptible to COVID-19 and that elderly patients with COVID-19 have faster disease progression and higher mortality. Therefore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to understand the role of ACE2 in neurodegenerative diseases. In this paper, we review the relationship between COVID-19, neurodegenerative diseases, and ACE2, as well as provide recommendations for the protection of elderly patients with neurodegenerative diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights
The global community is currently in the prevention and control phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Because SARS-CoV-2 need to bind to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor before entering the host cells, the distribution and expression of ACE2 may be critical for the target organ of the SARS-CoV-2 infection [10]
Advanced age is often accompanied by a gradual decline in physiological function, and the pathophysiological changes related to old age increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases [40]
Summary
The global community is currently in the prevention and control phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 leads to minor or mild flu-like symptoms in the majority of affected patients, it may cause severe, lethal complications, such as progressive pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and organ failure, driven by inflammation and a cytokine storm syndrome [3]. Like SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 uses ACE2 as its receptor for infecting human respiratory epithelial cells [10].
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