Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Receptor Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 and Its Related Intervention Drugs / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) around the world, which has posed a great threat to global public health security. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been identified as the major functional receptor of SARS-CoV-2, which plays an essential role in mediating virus invasion into host cells. Thus, an in-depth understanding of the recent progress of ACE2, its relationship with the virus and related drugs is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Here, from the aspects of structure, expression and function, this article reviews the latest research progress of ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2. Meanwhile, this article also summarizes the mechanism of ACE2-mediated virus invasion and ACE2-related drugs, which will provide theoretical reference for viral prevention and treatment.