The etiological agent of COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2, is primarily a pulmonary-tropic coronavirus. Infection of alveolar pneumocytes by SARS-CoV-2 requires virus binding to the angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) monocarboxypeptidase. ACE2, present on the surface of many cell types, is known to be a regulator of blood pressure homeostasis through its ability to catalyze the proteolysis of Angiotensin II (Ang II) into Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)]. We therefore hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 could trigger variations of ACE2 expression and Ang II plasma concentration in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. We report here, that circulating blood cells from COVID-19 patients express less ACE2 mRNA than cells from healthy volunteers. At the level of circulating cells, this ACE2 gene dysregulation mainly affects the monocytes, which also show a lower expression of membrane ACE2 protein. Moreover, soluble ACE2 (sACE2) plasma concentrations are lower in prolonged viral shedders than in healthy controls, while the concentration of sACE2 returns to normal levels in short viral shedders. In the plasma of prolonged viral shedders, we also found higher concentrations of Ang II and angiotensin I (Ang I). On the other hand, the plasma levels of Ang-(1-7) remains almost stable in prolonged viral shedders but seems insufficient to prevent the adverse effects of Ang II accumulation. Altogether, these data evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 may affect the expression of blood pressure regulators with possible harmful consequences on COVID-19 outcome.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, hypertension, ACE2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2), Renin – Angiotensin – Aldosterone System, SARS – CoV – 2, 【초록키워드】 Monocytes, SARS-CoV-2, ACE2, coronavirus, Variation, Blood cells, outcome, virus, adverse effects, Viral, cells, membrane, plasma, proteolysis, Ang II, variations, ACE2 expression, expression, COVID-19 patients, binding, Angiotensin II, soluble ACE2, Evidence, Concentration, angiotensin, blood pressure, Plasma levels, ACE2 protein, COVID-19 patient, Trigger, ACE2 gene, cell types, dysregulation, blood cell, adverse effect, plasma concentration, healthy volunteers, enzyme, These data, ACE2 mRNA, healthy controls, circulating, etiological agent, angiotensin I, SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, Express, lower expression, regulator, alveolar, blood pressure homeostasis, sACE2, Affect, Prevent, Cell, consequence, less, pneumocyte, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 ACE2, Angiotensin II,