ACE2 is more abundantly expressed on the apical surface of polarized epithelia, and we show for the first time that well-differentiated cells support viral replication with viral entry and egress occurring primarily from the apical surface. Thus, SARS-CoV preferentially infects well-differentiated ciliated epithelial cells expressing ACE2. Since ACE2 is also the receptor for the coronavirus NL63 (12), these findings are relevant to the biology of infection with this more common human pathogen.
ACE2 Receptor Expression and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection Depend on Differentiation of Human Airway Epithelia
Hong Peng Jia, Dwight C. Look, [...], and Paul B. McCray, Jr
RAS activity is intrinsically high in the lung, which is a major source of ACE and therefore a major site of systemic Ang II synthesis. ACE2 is also highly expressed in the lung. Pulmonary ACE2 appears to have a role in regulating the balance of circulating Ang II/Ang 1–7 levels. (ACE2在肺部有很高的表达。在肺里，它帮助调节循环系统里面肾素和血管收缩的素的平衡）Ang II induces pulmonary vasoconstriction in response to hypoxia, which is important in preventing shunting in patients with pneumonia or lung injury [59]. Locally increased Ang II production also triggers increasing vascular permeability facilitating pulmonary edema [60]. In Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the RAS appears crucial in maintaining oxygenation, possibly as widespread lung injury would otherwise result in complete pulmonary shutdown. Certainly in ARDS models, ACE2 knockout mice displayed more severe symptoms of this disease compared with wild-type mice [60] while overexpression appears protective (see below). Interestingly, ACE2 protein also appears to be the entry-point receptor for the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus [61, 62].
Review Article | Open Access
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) Is a Key Modulator of the Renin Angiotensin System in Health and Disease
