Potential pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2020.200299
- VernacularTitle:严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2的潜在致病机制
- Author:
Tong WU
1
;
Hanqi ZHANG
;
Erya HU
;
Jian MA
Author Information
1. 中南大学基础医学院肿瘤研究所
- Keywords:
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2;
spike protein;
angiotensin-converting enzyme 2;
pathogenesis
- From:
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences)
2020;45(5):591-597
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The emergence of novel coronavirus pneumonia which was named as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has posed a serious threat to public health. Notably, COVID-19 has rapidly spread around the world and large amount of people have been infected. There is imminent need to investigate the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and develop effective therapeutic strategies to contain the epidemic. The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 mediates viral entry into target cells, with S1 subunit binding to a cellular receptor and S2 subunit fusing viral and host membranes. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), previously known as a cell receptor of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), is putatively responsible for mediating COVID-19. In this review, we detail our current understanding of the interaction between S protein and ACE2 in the process of virus infection and the potential pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, which has critical implications for exploring the potential therapeutic strategies for COVID-19.
