Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and SARS-CoV-2: Potential therapeutic targeting

Eur J Pharmacol. 2020 Oct 5:884:173455. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173455. Epub 2020 Jul 31.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a beta coronavirus that uses the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor as a point of entry. The present review discusses the origin and structure of the virus and its mechanism of cell entry followed by the therapeutic potentials of strategies directed towards SARS-CoV2-ACE2 binding, the renin-angiotensin system, and the kinin-kallikrein system. SARS-CoV2-ACE2 binding-directed approaches mainly consist of targeting receptor binding domain, ACE2 blockers, soluble ACE2, and host protease inhibitors. In conclusion, blocking or manipulating the SARS-CoV2-ACE2 binding interface perhaps offers the best tactic against the virus that should be treated as a fundamental subject of future research.

Keywords: ACE2; COVID-19; Origin; SARS-CoV2; Therapeutic; Transmission.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Betacoronavirus / physiology*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections* / drug therapy
  • Coronavirus Infections* / metabolism
  • Coronavirus Infections* / virology
  • Drug Discovery / methods*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics*
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism*
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / metabolism
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / virology
  • Protein Binding* / drug effects
  • Protein Binding* / physiology
  • Receptors, Virus / metabolism
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism*
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects*

Substances

  • Receptors, Virus
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2