Plasmatic renin-angiotensin system in normotensive and hypertensive patients hospitalized with COVID-19

Background: Besides its counterbalancing role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 is the receptor for the type 2 coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, the etiological agent of COVID-19. COVID-19 is associated with increased plasmatic ACE2...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Silva, Mauro Gastón, Corradi, Gerardo Raul, Pérez Duhalde, Juan I., Nuñez, Myriam, Cela, Eliana Maiten, Gonzales Maglio, Daniel H., Brizzio, Ana, Salazar, Martin Rogelio Enrique, Espeche, Walter, Gironacci, Mariela Mercedes
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/163119
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/163119
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:ANGIOTENSIN
ANGIOTENSIN RECEPTOR BLOCKERS
ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME 2
ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME INHIBITORS
COVID-19
HYPERTENSION
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
Descripción
Sumario:Background: Besides its counterbalancing role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 is the receptor for the type 2 coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, the etiological agent of COVID-19. COVID-19 is associated with increased plasmatic ACE2 levels, although conflicting results have been reported regarding angiotensin (Ang) II and Ang-(1−7) levels. We investigated plasmatic ACE2 protein levels and enzymatic activity and Ang II and Ang-(1−7) levels in normotensive and hypertensive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to healthy subjects. Methods: Ang II and Ang-(1−7), and ACE2 activity and protein levels were measured in 93 adults (58 % (n = 54) normotensive and 42 % (n = 39) hypertensive) hospitalized with COVID-19. Healthy, normotensive (n = 33) and hypertensive (n = 7) outpatient adults comprised the control group. Results: COVID-19 patients displayed higher ACE2 enzymatic activity and protein levels than healthy subjects. Within the COVID-19 group, ACE2 activity and protein levels were not different between normotensive and hypertensive-treated patients, not even between COVID-19 hypertensive patients under RAS blockade treatment and those treated with other antihypertensive medications. Ang II and Ang-(1−7) levels significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients. When COVID-19 patients under RAS blockade treatment were excluded from the analysis, ACE2 activity and protein levels remained higher and Ang II and Ang-(1−7) levels lower in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy people. Conclusions: Our results support the involvement of RAS in COVID-19, even when patients under RAS blockade treatment were excluded. The increased circulating ACE2 suggest higher ACE2 expression and shedding.