Universitatea de Stat de Medicină şi Farmacie "Nicolae Testemiţanu"
Abstract
Department of Laboratory Medicine, State University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Nicolae Testemiteanu" Chișinău, Republic of Moldova, Congresul consacrat aniversării a 75-a de la fondarea Universității de Stat de Medicină și Farmacie „Nicolae Testemițanu” din Republica Moldova, Ziua internațională a științei pentru pace și dezvoltareIntroduction:
The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an
exopeptidase that catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin II
to angiotensin 1-7. ACE2 receptor has recently been
identified as the entry point of the severe acute respiratory
syndrome 2 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in human cells.
Purpose:
To understand the role of ACE 2 receptors in the pathogenesis
of new type coronavirus disease – 2019 (COVID-19).
Material and methods:
A literature search on the topics of receptor ACE2 was
conducted using the MEDLINE database with the PubMed
interface. Relevant articles were selected using the following
keywords: ACE2, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 pathogenesis.
Results:
ACE 2 is widely expressed in human tissues, especially in type
II pneumocytes, endothelial cells, enterocytes. SARS-CoV-2
uses the Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a
binding receptor for protein S (spike), which allows it to infect
host cells. For the viral and cell membranes to be able to fuse,
protein S must be cleaved by TPRSS2 (transmembrane-serine
protease 2), a change that facilitates the entry of viral
particles into the cell. During infection, tissues expressing
ACE2 become direct targets, resulting in serious pathological
changes and progressive dysfunction of several organs or
even death.
Conclusions:
The distribution of ACE2 in different organs is significantly associated with
clinical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Knowledge of pathogenesis of
infection with COVID-19 leads to a proper assessment of the severity and risk of
SARS-CoV-2 and to an optimal treatment strategy
