Plasmatic renin-angiotensin system in normotensive and hypertensive patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Biomed Pharmacother
; 152: 113201, 2022 Aug.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1866912
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Besides its counterbalancing role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 is the receptor for the type 2 coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, the etiological agent of COVID-19. COVID-19 is associated with increased plasmatic ACE2 levels, although conflicting results have been reported regarding angiotensin (Ang) II and Ang-(1-7) levels. We investigated plasmatic ACE2 protein levels and enzymatic activity and Ang II and Ang-(1-7) levels in normotensive and hypertensive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to healthy subjects.METHODS:
Ang II and Ang-(1-7), and ACE2 activity and protein levels were measured in 93 adults (58 % (n = 54) normotensive and 42 % (n = 39) hypertensive) hospitalized with COVID-19. Healthy, normotensive (n = 33) and hypertensive (n = 7) outpatient adults comprised the control group.RESULTS:
COVID-19 patients displayed higher ACE2 enzymatic activity and protein levels than healthy subjects. Within the COVID-19 group, ACE2 activity and protein levels were not different between normotensive and hypertensive-treated patients, not even between COVID-19 hypertensive patients under RAS blockade treatment and those treated with other antihypertensive medications. Ang II and Ang-(1-7) levels significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients. When COVID-19 patients under RAS blockade treatment were excluded from the analysis, ACE2 activity and protein levels remained higher and Ang II and Ang-(1-7) levels lower in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy people.CONCLUSIONS:
Our results support the involvement of RAS in COVID-19, even when patients under RAS blockade treatment were excluded. The increased circulating ACE2 suggest higher ACE2 expression and shedding.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Hypertension
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Experimental Studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Biomed Pharmacother
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.biopha.2022.113201
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