The ACE2 as a “rescue protein” or “suspect enzyme” in COVID-19: possible application of the “engineered inactive hrsACE2” as a safer therapeutic agent in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection

COVID-19 is a devastating global pandemic around the world. While the majority of infected cases appear mild, in some cases, individuals present respiratory complications with possible serious lung damage. There are no specific treatments for COVID-19 as yet. Many repurposed antiviral drugs have had disappointing outcomes. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), an enzyme that physiologically counters renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system activation, functions as a receptor for both SARS viruses. The current study discusses on vague role of ACE2 under physiologic/pathologic conditions. The catalytically inactive hrsACE2 has been also proposed as an efficient treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s13738-020-02049-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.