ACE2 and COVID-19: Furthermore, ACE-2 prevents VEGF effects on vascular permeability during acute lung injury; in SARS-Cov-2 infection, where higher VEGF concentrations are reported, ACE-2 is downregulated and thus cannot counteract the VEGF-A effects, leading to the increase in vascular permeability and worsening of endothelial damage (Turkia M. COVID-19, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Iodide (June 3, 2020).