Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 26, 2025

Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2
Published on: November 5, 2021
Targeting ACE2 for COVID-19 Therapy: Opportunities and Challenges
Hongpeng Jia1, Enid Neptune2, Honggang Cui3,4
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery.
Targeting the ACE2 receptor offers a potential strategy to combat COVID-19, despite ongoing vaccine efforts. This approach aims to block viral entry and leverage ACE2
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant global mortality.
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) utilizes the ACE2 receptor for host cell entry.
- Vaccine development has not fully curbed viral spread and associated deaths.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current therapeutic strategies targeting the ACE2 receptor for COVID-19.
- To evaluate the potential of ACE2 as a therapeutic target.
- To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of ACE2-targeted treatments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on ACE2 as a therapeutic target for COVID-19.
- Analysis of the biological role of ACE2 in viral infection and host response.
- Holistic assessment of different treatment strategies.
Main Results:
- ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) is critical for SARS-CoV-2 entry.
- Blocking ACE2-spike protein interaction is a viable therapeutic strategy.
- ACE2 also plays roles in immune modulation and tissue repair.
Conclusions:
- Exploiting ACE2 offers a promising avenue for COVID-19 treatment.
- Challenges remain in translating ACE2-based research into clinical applications.
- Further investigation is needed to overcome fundamental and translational hurdles.
More Related Videos
09:20Isolation of Next-Generation Gene Therapy Vectors through Engineering, Barcoding, and Screening of Adeno-Associated Virus AAV Capsid Variants
Published on: October 18, 2022
06:56A Flow Cytometry-based Assay to Identify Compounds That Disrupt Binding of Fluorescently-labeled CXC Chemokine Ligand 12 to CXC Chemokine Receptor 4
Published on: March 10, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Targets for Drug Action: Overview
Receptors are either membrane-spanning or intracellular proteins, which upon binding a ligand, get activated and transmit the signal downstream to elicit a response. Drugs bind receptors, either mimicking the action of endogenous ligands or blocking the receptor activity to bring about a modified response. Nearly 35% of approved drugs target the G...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme...
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...