4 ms·

In the case of the coronavirus, we see a significant binding affinity to the ACE2 membrane protein, which explains why the infection targets the lungs and guts

In the case of the coronavirus, we see a significant binding affinity to the ACE2 membrane protein, which explains why the infection targets the lungs and guts so readily.

koheripbal 7y ago
And also why common blood pressure medications which block that same receptor are (probably) and good anti-viral for them. Losartan is currently in clinical trials for this new usage.
- hpoe 7y ago
  My Dr. said that preliminary results indicate that blood pressure medications, generally increase your risk with the COVID-19, as well as Ibuprofen.
  - jschwartzi 7y ago
    Is this based on basic research or demographic analysis? Has the research ruled out the possibility that people who are being treated for high blood pressure are more likely to be older and in poorer shape? Because that's a pretty strong confounding effect unless the research in question is a randomized controlled trial. I've also heard conflicting reports about Ibuprofen. I don't think anyone knows for sure.
    - vladus2000 7y ago
      My initial thought on Ibuprofen is just correlation not causation. How many people who get a fever will try Ibuprofen to try to lower the fever? Probably quite a few. When these people die its easy to say "well they all had Ibuprofen". That doesn't mean it had any effect. On the flip side, NSAIDs do reduce inflammation and inflammation is part of the body's response to various stressors; I could see that lowering our response leads to worse outcomes when sick. I have always thought that cold medication increases the duration of a cold just from my own observations, so I do find it at least plausible. I agree on the high blood pressure, if you are on it that means you have hypertension and are likely in poorer shape than someone who does not take it. I can somewhat see diuretics having an impact though as those can flush needed minerals out of your body when your body is in need. They also dehydrate you, so if you are on one and don't get properly hydrated and have a proper mineral balance, I can see that being a big negative.
      - djmips 7y ago
        Speculation surrounds ACE inhibitors (ACEI), which are a type of high blood pressure medication, in that they may dampen your immune response to viruses over long time usage. The other speculation is that circulating amounts of ACE2 are increased by ACEI and SARS-Cov-2 specifically binds to ACE2. The confounding aspects are as you suggest that the overall health including kidney health are often poorer in people with hypertension.
- tigershark 7y ago
  From what I remember it’s the opposite. They target the ACE receptors inhibiting them and for this reason they make the ACE2 receptors more sensible facilitating the virus infection. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30116-8/fulltext https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2...
  - ufo 7y ago
    More precisely, ACE inhibitors cause the body to compensate by producing more ACE receptors.
ksk 7y ago
I believe it has been known for about 15 years now, that ACE2 positive epithelial cells are a potential vector for the coronavirus family of viruses. I think with SARS-CoV-2 the pathogenesis is still not properly understood. For e.g. if you take a look at the ACE-2 expressing cell distribution, the tongue and oral cavity are very high on the list. And yet, there is no current guidance on disinfecting food before eating it, even though its a potentially high-risk route of infection. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16690935 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16690935

In the case of the coronavirus, we see a significant binding affinity to the ACE2 membrane protein, which explains why the infection targets the lungs and guts so readily.

koheripbal 7y ago

And also why common blood pressure medications which block that same receptor are (probably) and good anti-viral for them. Losartan is currently in clinical trials for this new usage.

hpoe 7y ago
My Dr. said that preliminary results indicate that blood pressure medications, generally increase your risk with the COVID-19, as well as Ibuprofen.
- jschwartzi 7y ago
  Is this based on basic research or demographic analysis? Has the research ruled out the possibility that people who are being treated for high blood pressure are more likely to be older and in poorer shape? Because that's a pretty strong confounding effect unless the research in question is a randomized controlled trial. I've also heard conflicting reports about Ibuprofen. I don't think anyone knows for sure.
  - vladus2000 7y ago
    My initial thought on Ibuprofen is just correlation not causation. How many people who get a fever will try Ibuprofen to try to lower the fever? Probably quite a few. When these people die its easy to say "well they all had Ibuprofen". That doesn't mean it had any effect. On the flip side, NSAIDs do reduce inflammation and inflammation is part of the body's response to various stressors; I could see that lowering our response leads to worse outcomes when sick. I have always thought that cold medication increases the duration of a cold just from my own observations, so I do find it at least plausible. I agree on the high blood pressure, if you are on it that means you have hypertension and are likely in poorer shape than someone who does not take it. I can somewhat see diuretics having an impact though as those can flush needed minerals out of your body when your body is in need. They also dehydrate you, so if you are on one and don't get properly hydrated and have a proper mineral balance, I can see that being a big negative.
    - djmips 7y ago
      Speculation surrounds ACE inhibitors (ACEI), which are a type of high blood pressure medication, in that they may dampen your immune response to viruses over long time usage. The other speculation is that circulating amounts of ACE2 are increased by ACEI and SARS-Cov-2 specifically binds to ACE2. The confounding aspects are as you suggest that the overall health including kidney health are often poorer in people with hypertension.
tigershark 7y ago
From what I remember it’s the opposite. They target the ACE receptors inhibiting them and for this reason they make the ACE2 receptors more sensible facilitating the virus infection. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30116-8/fulltext https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2...
- ufo 7y ago
  More precisely, ACE inhibitors cause the body to compensate by producing more ACE receptors.

ksk 7y ago

I believe it has been known for about 15 years now, that ACE2 positive epithelial cells are a potential vector for the coronavirus family of viruses. I think with SARS-CoV-2 the pathogenesis is still not properly understood. For e.g. if you take a look at the ACE-2 expressing cell distribution, the tongue and oral cavity are very high on the list. And yet, there is no current guidance on disinfecting food before eating it, even though its a potentially high-risk route of infection. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16690935 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16690935