A decoy mutant ACE2 designed to reduce COVID-19

Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2022 Sep;43(9):703-705. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.02.010. Epub 2022 Feb 28.

Abstract

The need for new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) therapeutic strategies continues, especially as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants emerge. Zhang and colleagues elegantly engineered a mutant angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) that competitively binds SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, reduces viral uptake by human lung cells, and ameliorates SARS-CoV-2-induced lung injury in mice expressing human ACE2.

Keywords: ARDS; COVID-19 therapy; viral pneumonia.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2* / genetics
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2* / metabolism
  • Animals
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Protein Engineering
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus* / metabolism

Substances

  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2