The therapeutic potential of targeting ACE2 in COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE

ACE2 long served as the human gateway for multiple coronaviruses, including the currently pandemic SARS-CoV-2. This mini-review explores the potential of targeting ACE2 in blocking viral penetrance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed search was conducted using the terms: "coronaviridae", "peptidyl-dipeptidase A", "ACE2", "SARS", and "SARS-CoV-2". References of relevant articles were further screened by the author.

RESULTS

Four main methods of blocking ACE2-mediated viral penetrance were identified: receptor blockage, receptor decoying, receptor shedding, and co-receptor inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

Drugs that inhibit viral binding to ACE2 present a strong choice for the current, and if necessary, future outbreaks. Further research is needed to establish the clinical and pharmacological aspects of the identified candidate molecules.