Plasma Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) Activity in Healthy Controls and Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors and/or Disease

Abstract

Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an endogenous negative regulator of the renin-angiotensin system, a key factor in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). ACE2 is also used by SARS-CoV-2 for host cell entry. Given that COVID-19 is associated with hypercoagulability, it is timely to explore the potential relationship between plasma ACE2 activity and the coagulation profile. In this cross-sectional study, ACE2 activity and global coagulation assays (GCA) including thromboelastography, thrombin, and fibrin generation were measured in adult healthy controls (n = 123; mean age 41 ± 17 years; 35% male) and in patients with cardiovascular risk factors and/or disease (n = 258; mean age 65 ± 14 years; 55% male). ACE2 activity was significantly lower in controls compared to patients with cardiovascular risk factors and/or disease (median 0.10 (0.02, 3.33) vs. 5.99 (1.95, 10.37) pmol/mL/min, p < 0.001). Of the healthy controls, 48% had undetectable ACE2 activity. Controls with detectable ACE2 had lower maximum amplitude (p < 0.001). In patients with cardiovascular risk factors and/or disease, those in the 3rd tertile were older and male (p = 0.002), with a higher Framingham grade and increased number of cardiovascular risk factors (p < 0.001). In conclusion, plasma ACE2 activity is undetectable to very low in young healthy controls with minimal clinically relevant associations to GCA. Patients with cardiovascular risk factors and/or disease have increased plasma ACE2 activity, suggesting that it may be an important biomarker of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.