Corona virus disease (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, is rapidly spreading all around the world and is posing a threat to mankind. Since SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus, little is known about it and no effective drug is available for its treatment. While many drugs are being evaluated, an effective therapeutic measure is still lacking. SARS-CoV-2 like SARS-CoV binds with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) present on human cells. SARS-CoV has been found to downregulate ACE2 and SARS- CoV-2 infection has been found to be associated with increased level of Angiotensin II. Based on these facts, we presume that SARS-CoV-2 like SARS-CoV downregulates ACE2, and in absence/reduced activity of ACE2, level of angiotensin (1-7) and angiotensin (1-9) is decreased while that of angiotensin II is increased and increased level of angiotensin II has been found to correlate with lung injury and viral load. We presume that restoration of normal functioning of renin-angiotensin system with recombinant human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (rhACE2), angiotensin (1-7) and angiotensin (1-9) may be an effective therapeutic measure but studies will be required to test this hypothesis and explore its possible role in treatment of COVID-19.
Keywords: Angiotensin; Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; rhACE2.
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