The anti-inflammatory actions of ACE2 may also explain some of the independent risk factors identified in emerging observational data, such as age (declining ACE2 and an ageing immune system) (Xie et al. 2006) and comorbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease (associated with a dysregulation of the RAAS in favour of ACE) (McFarlane et al. 2003). This evidence concerns the gene ACE2 and diabetes mellitus.