Activation of Ang-(1-7)/Mas Receptor Is a Possible Strategy to Treat Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Infection

Abstract

The renin-angiotensin system is involved in the pathophysiology of inflammatory diseases through an increase in angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)/angiotensin (Ang) II/AT1 receptor axis activity. It has been shown that ACE activity is increased in acute respiratory distress syndrome and there is a strong correlation between the level of ACE activity and the degree of lung injury. SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, similar to other coronaviruses, was recently shown to use ACE2 as a receptor to get into host cells. However, it has been reported that most of the treatments that stimulates the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis induces beneficial effects, such as, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-thrombotic and anti-fibrotic. Here we discussed the potential of activation of Ang-(1-7)/Mas pathway as strategy to treat COVID-19.