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

• Published in: European journal of pharmacology Vol. 884; p. 173455
• Main Authors: Sharifkashani, Sourena, Bafrani, Melika Arab, Khaboushan, Alireza Soltani, Pirzadeh, Marzieh, Kheirandish, Ali, Yavarpour_Bali, Hanie, Hessami, Amirhossein, Saghazadeh, Amene, Rezaei, Nima
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 05.10.2020
• Subjects: ACE2; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Betacoronavirus - physiology; Coronavirus Infections - drug therapy; Coronavirus Infections - metabolism; Coronavirus Infections - virology; COVID-19; Drug Discovery - methods; Full Length; Humans; Origin; 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; SARS-CoV2; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - metabolism; Therapeutic; Transmission; Virus Internalization - drug effects; COVID-19; Origin; ACE2; SARS-CoV2; Therapeutic; Transmission
• ISSN: 0014-2999; 1879-0712; 1879-0712
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173455

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.