The role of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in the intestine in COVID-19: more research needed

摘要

Despite being a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a human betacoronavirus, COVID-19 can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and nausea. While the etiology and pathogenesis of COVID-19 remain not clearly known, it has been suggested that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a protein mediating the cell entry of SAR-CoV and SAR-CoV-2, might play a role in the transmission given its surface expression on lung alveolar epithelial cells as well as enterocytes of the small intestine (1). Therefore, a number of studies have purposed to investigate the link between ACE2 and the gastrointestinal symptoms caused by COVID-19 (2,3). However, a number of issues and much debate remain unresolved and, hence, require further research.