AUTHOR=Cousin Vladimir L. , Giraud Raphael , Bendjelid Karim 

TITLE=Pathophysiology of COVID-19: Everywhere You Look You Will See ACE2!

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.694029

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.694029

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p>Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE<sub>2</sub>) seems to be a central actor in the pathophysiology of SARS-Cov-2 infection. First, it acts as the receptor for the virus and permits its attachment to cells expressing ACE<sub>2</sub>. Second, the relative deficiency of ACE<sub>2</sub> during infection could be linked to several clinical features encountered during the disease, like ARDS and coagulation abnormalities. This study explores the strong link between ACE<sub>2</sub> and the majority of risk factors for the severe evolution of COVID-19. It seems that all these risks factors are linked to an increased level of ACE<sub>2</sub> and/or imbalance in ACE/ACE<sub>2</sub>.</p>