ACE2 and endothelial dysfunction: Females are therefore naturally at a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and persistent endothelial dysfunction, which is a major factor in increasing susceptibility to severe acute coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection due to increased levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) (SARS-Cov-2 receptor) exposure to vascular and cardiac pericytes (49, 50).