Oral Lisinopril Raises Tissue Levels of ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor, in Healthy Male and Female Mice

TLDR: In this paper, the authors sought to determine whether lisinopril or losartan, as monotherapies or in combination, change tissue levels of ACE2 in healthy male and female mice.

Abstract: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the established cellular receptor for SARS-CoV-2. However, it is unclear whether ACE1 inhibitors (e.g., lisinopril) or angiotensin receptor blockers (e.g., losartan) alter tissue ACE2 expression. This study sought to determine whether lisinopril or losartan, as monotherapies or in combination, change tissue levels of ACE2 in healthy male and female mice. Mice were treated for 21 days with drinking water containing lisinopril (10 mg/kg/day), losartan (10 mg/kg/day), or both. A control group was given water without drug. ACE2 protein index, the ratio of ACE2 protein to total protein, was determined on tissues from the small intestine, lung, kidney, and brain. Oral lisinopril increased ACE2 protein index across all tissues (p