Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic is the most disruptive event in the past 50 years, with a global impact on health care and world economies. It is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a coronavirus that uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as an entry point to the cells. ACE2 is a transmembrane carboxypeptidase and member of the renin-angiotensin system. This mini-review summarizes the main findings regarding ACE2 expression and function in endocrine tissues. We discuss rapidly evolving knowledge on the potential role of ACE2 and SARS coronaviruses in endocrinology and the development of diabetes mellitus, hypogonadism, and pituitary and thyroid diseases.
Keywords:
ACE2; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; TMPRSS-2; diabetes; renin-angiotensin system.
© Endocrine Society 2020.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Angiotensin II / metabolism*
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Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
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Animals
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Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity
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Betacoronavirus / physiology*
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Brain
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COVID-19
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Coronavirus Infections / complications
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Diabetes Complications / virology*
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Endocrine System Diseases / complications
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Endocrine System Diseases / virology*
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Gene Expression
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Humans
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Hypogonadism / complications
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Hypogonadism / virology
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Mice
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Pandemics
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Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / genetics
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Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / physiology*
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Pituitary Diseases / complications
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Pituitary Diseases / virology
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Pneumonia, Viral / complications
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Rats
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Renin-Angiotensin System
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SARS-CoV-2
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Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
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Thyroid Diseases / complications
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Thyroid Diseases / virology
Substances
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Angiotensin II
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Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
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ACE2 protein, human
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Ace2 protein, mouse
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Ace2 protein, rat
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Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
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Serine Endopeptidases
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TMPRSS2 protein, human