ACE2 was observed as the cell surface receptor of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Interestingly, we also found ACE2 positivity inside the cell nucleus. The ACE2 levels changed during cell differentiation and aging and varied in distinct cell types. We observed ACE2 depletion in the aortas of aging female mice, similarly, the aging caused ACE2 decrease in the kidneys. Compared with that in the heart, brain and kidneys, the ACE2 level was the lowest in the mouse lungs. In mice exposed to nicotine, ACE2 was not changed in olfactory bulbs but in the lungs, ACE2 was upregulated in females and downregulated in males. These observations indicate the distinct gender-dependent properties of ACE2. Differentiation into enterocytes, and cardiomyocytes, caused ACE2 depletion. The cardiomyogenesis was accompanied by renin upregulation, delayed in HDAC1-depleted cells. In contrast, vitamin D2 decreased the renin level while ACE2 was upregulated. Together, the ACE2 level is high in non-differentiated cells. This protein is more abundant in the tissues of mouse embryos and young mice in comparison with older animals. Mostly, downregulation of ACE2 is accompanied by renin upregulation. Thus, the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease should be further studied not only by considering the ACE2 level but also the whole renin-angiotensin system.

• Klíčová slova
• ACE2, embryonic heart, human kidney embryonic cells, lung cancer cells, renin,
• MeSH
• angiotensin-konvertující enzym 2 metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace fyziologie   MeSH
• buňky A549 MeSH
• buňky HT-29 MeSH
• COVID-19 epidemiologie   patologie   virologie   MeSH
• HEK293 buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• regulace genové exprese fyziologie   MeSH
• renin-angiotensin systém fyziologie   MeSH
• renin metabolismus   MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 patogenita   MeSH
• sexuální faktory MeSH
• stárnutí fyziologie   MeSH
• věkové faktory MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• angiotensin-konvertující enzym 2 MeSH
• renin MeSH