American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology
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Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. · Apr 2021
ReviewPulmonary Endothelial Dysfunction and Thrombotic Complications in COVID-19 Patients.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a new strain of a Coronaviridae virus that presents 79% genetic similarity to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, has been recently recognized as the cause of a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, implying a major threat to world public health. SARS-CoV-2 infects host human cells by binding through the viral spike proteins to the ACE-2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) receptor, fuses with the cell membrane, enters, and starts its replication process to multiply its viral load. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was initially considered a respiratory infection that could cause pneumonia. ⋯ The pulmonary endothelium actively participates in these two processes, becoming the last barrier before the virus spreads throughout the body. In this review, we examine the role of the pulmonary endothelium in response to COVID-19, the existence of potential biomarkers, and the development of novel therapies to restore vascular homeostasis and to protect and/or treat coagulation, thrombosis patients. In addition, we review the thrombotic complications recently observed in patients with COVID-19 and its potential threatening sequelae.
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Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. · Apr 2021
ReviewTargeting ACE2 for COVID-19 Therapy: Opportunities and Challenges.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is sweeping the globe. Even with a number of effective vaccines being approved and available to the public, new cases and escalating mortality are climbing every day. ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) is the primary receptor for the COVID-19 causative virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and its complexation with spike proteins plays a crucial role in viral entry into host cells and the subsequent infection. ⋯ In this viewpoint article, we review the current efforts of exploiting ACE2 as a therapeutic target to address this dire medical need. We also provide a holistic view of the pros and cons of each treatment strategy. We highlight the fundamental and translational challenges in moving these research endeavors to clinical applications.