Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093.
Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Nov 24;117(47):29274-29282. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2009875117. Epub 2020 Nov 17.
The role of the renin-angiotensin signaling (RAS) pathway in COVID-19 has received much attention. A central mechanism for COVID-19 pathophysiology has been proposed: imbalance of angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE)1 and ACE2 (ACE2 being the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] virus "receptor") that results in tissue injury from angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated signaling. This mechanism provides a rationale for multiple therapeutic approaches. In parallel, clinical data from retrospective analysis of COVID-19 cohorts has revealed that ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may be beneficial in COVID-19. These findings have led to the initiation of clinical trials using approved drugs that target the generation (ACEIs) and actions (ARBs) of Ang II. However, treatment of COVID-19 with ACEIs/ARBs poses several challenges. These include choosing appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria, dose optimization, risk of adverse effects and drug interactions, and verification of target engagement. Other approaches related to the RAS pathway might be considered, for example, inhalational administration of ACEIs/ARBs (to deliver drugs directly to the lungs) and use of compounds with other actions (e.g., activation of ACE2, agonism of MAS1 receptors, β-arrestin-based Angiotensin receptor agonists, and administration of soluble ACE2 or ACE2 peptides). Studies with animal models could test such approaches and assess therapeutic benefit. This Perspective highlights questions whose answers could advance RAS-targeting agents as mechanism-driven ways to blunt tissue injury, morbidity, and mortality of COVID-19.
肾素-血管紧张素信号通路(RAS)在 COVID-19 中的作用备受关注。COVID-19 病理生理学的一个中心机制已经被提出:血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)1 和 ACE2 的失衡(ACE2 是严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 [SARS-CoV-2] 病毒的“受体”)导致血管紧张素 II(Ang II)介导的信号导致组织损伤。该机制为多种治疗方法提供了依据。同时,COVID-19 队列的回顾性分析的临床数据表明,血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂(ACEIs)或血管紧张素受体阻滞剂(ARBs)在 COVID-19 中可能有益。这些发现导致了使用针对 Ang II 产生(ACEIs)和作用(ARBs)的已批准药物的临床试验的启动。然而,用 ACEIs/ARBs 治疗 COVID-19 存在几个挑战。这些挑战包括选择合适的纳入和排除标准、剂量优化、不良反应和药物相互作用的风险,以及验证靶标结合。可能会考虑与 RAS 通路相关的其他方法,例如,ACEIs/ARBs 的吸入给药(将药物直接输送到肺部)和使用具有其他作用的化合物(例如,ACE2 的激活、MAS1 受体激动剂、基于β-arrestin 的血管紧张素受体激动剂,以及可溶性 ACE2 或 ACE2 肽的给药)。动物模型研究可以检验这些方法并评估治疗效果。本观点强调了一些问题,如果这些问题的答案能够推进 RAS 靶向药物作为减轻 COVID-19 组织损伤、发病率和死亡率的机制驱动方法,将具有重要意义。