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Effect of ramipril on kidney, lung and heart ACE2 in a diabetic mice model.
Vergara, Ander; Jacobs-Cachá, Conxita; Molina-Van den Bosch, Mireia; Domínguez-Báez, Pamela; Benito, Begoña; García-Carro, Clara; Serón, Daniel; Soler, María José.
  • Vergara A; Nephrology Department. Vall d'Hebrón Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain; Nephrology Research Group, Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR), Vall d'Hebrón Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Jacobs-Cachá C; Nephrology Research Group, Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR), Vall d'Hebrón Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain; REDinREN (RD16/0009/0030), Spain. Electronic address: conxita.jacobs@vhir.org.
  • Molina-Van den Bosch M; Nephrology Research Group, Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR), Vall d'Hebrón Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Domínguez-Báez P; Nephrology Research Group, Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR), Vall d'Hebrón Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Benito B; Cardiology Group, Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain; Cardiology Department, Vall d'Hebrón Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • García-Carro C; Nephrology Department. Vall d'Hebrón Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain; Nephrology Research Group, Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR), Vall d'Hebrón Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain; REDinREN (RD16/00
  • Serón D; Nephrology Department. Vall d'Hebrón Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain; Nephrology Research Group, Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR), Vall d'Hebrón Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain; REDinREN (RD16/00
  • Soler MJ; Nephrology Department. Vall d'Hebrón Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain; Nephrology Research Group, Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR), Vall d'Hebrón Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain; REDinREN (RD16/00
Mol Cell Endocrinol ; 529: 111263, 2021 06 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1164193
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The main organ affected in this infection is the lung and the virus uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor to enter the target cells. In this context, a controversy raised regarding the use of renin-angiotensin system (RAAS) blockers, as these drugs might increase ACE2 expression in some tissues and potentially increase the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is specially concerning in diabetic patients as diabetes is a risk factor for COVID-19.

METHODS:

12-week old diabetic mice (db/db) were treated with ramipril, or vehicle control for 8 weeks. Non-diabetic db/m mice were included as controls. ACE2 expression and activity were studied in lung, kidney and heart of these animals.

RESULTS:

Kidney ACE2 activity was increased in the db/db mice as compared to the db/m (143.2% ± 23% vs 100% ± 22.3%, p = 0.004), whereas ramipril had no significant effect. In the lung, no differences were found in ACE2 when comparing db/db mice to db/m and ramipril also had no significant effect. In the heart, diabetes decreased ACE2 activity (83% ± 16.8%, vs 100% ± 23.1% p = 0.02), and ramipril increased ACE2 significantly (83% ± 16.8% vs 98.2% ± 15%, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS:

In a mouse model of type 2 diabetes, ramipril had no significant effect on ACE2 activity in either kidneys or in the lungs. Therefore, it is unlikely that RAAS blockers or at least angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection through increasing ACE2.
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Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ramipril / Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Drug Treatment / Kidney / Lung / Myocardium Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study Limits: Animals Language: English Journal: Mol Cell Endocrinol Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.mce.2021.111263

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ramipril / Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Drug Treatment / Kidney / Lung / Myocardium Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study Limits: Animals Language: English Journal: Mol Cell Endocrinol Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.mce.2021.111263