{"title":"ACE2, a therapeutic target of COVID-19, needs to be treated with caution.","authors":"Xiang'e Liu","doi":"10.1007/s00705-025-06327-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has garnered significant attention for its crucial role in infection by both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Consequently, it has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for treatment of COVID-19. It is therefore important to understand the mechanisms and modes of action of current and future treatments involving ACE2. Three important strategies have been explored in previous studies: (1) interruption of the interaction between ACE2 and the coronavirus spike protein using compounds or monoclonal antibodies, (2) capturing the extracellular virus by employing soluble ACE2 as a decoy, and (3) reducing the expression or inhibiting the activity of ACE2 through genetic approaches or drug intervention. However, the third strategy of inhibiting ACE2 activity as a means of treating COVID-19 is potentially risky, and the wisdom of pursuing this approach is subject to debate. Here, the advisability of using anti-ACE2 treatment in the context of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 infections is challenged by reviewing the physiological function of ACE2 and the mechanism of viral entry, emphasizing the pathological impairment of ACE2 that occurs during SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 infection and arguing that the potential hazards associated with ACE2 impairment should be given more attention. Because of the important concerns regarding the potential side effects of ACE2 inhibition, researchers are strongly urged to approach this issue with caution.</p>","PeriodicalId":8359,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Virology","volume":"170 7","pages":"143"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Archives of Virology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-025-06327-0","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"VIROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has garnered significant attention for its crucial role in infection by both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Consequently, it has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for treatment of COVID-19. It is therefore important to understand the mechanisms and modes of action of current and future treatments involving ACE2. Three important strategies have been explored in previous studies: (1) interruption of the interaction between ACE2 and the coronavirus spike protein using compounds or monoclonal antibodies, (2) capturing the extracellular virus by employing soluble ACE2 as a decoy, and (3) reducing the expression or inhibiting the activity of ACE2 through genetic approaches or drug intervention. However, the third strategy of inhibiting ACE2 activity as a means of treating COVID-19 is potentially risky, and the wisdom of pursuing this approach is subject to debate. Here, the advisability of using anti-ACE2 treatment in the context of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 infections is challenged by reviewing the physiological function of ACE2 and the mechanism of viral entry, emphasizing the pathological impairment of ACE2 that occurs during SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 infection and arguing that the potential hazards associated with ACE2 impairment should be given more attention. Because of the important concerns regarding the potential side effects of ACE2 inhibition, researchers are strongly urged to approach this issue with caution.
期刊介绍:
Archives of Virology publishes original contributions from all branches of research on viruses, virus-like agents, and virus infections of humans, animals, plants, insects, and bacteria. Coverage spans a broad spectrum of topics, from descriptions of newly discovered viruses, to studies of virus structure, composition, and genetics, to studies of virus interactions with host cells, organisms and populations. Studies employ molecular biologic, molecular genetics, and current immunologic and epidemiologic approaches. Contents include studies on the molecular pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and genetics of virus infections in individual hosts, and studies on the molecular epidemiology of virus infections in populations. Also included are studies involving applied research such as diagnostic technology development, monoclonal antibody panel development, vaccine development, and antiviral drug development.Archives of Virology wishes to publish obituaries of recently deceased well-known virologists and leading figures in virology.