Role of endothelial cell receptors in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19)

Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction contributes to COVID-19-associated vascular inflammation and coagulopathy, and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor plays a role in EC dysfunction in COVID-19. To expand the understanding of the role of the ACE2 receptor relative to EC dysfunction, this review addresses (1) tissue distribution of the ACE2 protein and its mRNA expression in humans, (2) susceptibility of the capillary ECs to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and (3) the role of EC dysfunction relevant to ACE2 and nuclear factor-κB in COVID-19.