ACE2 and cardiovascular disorder: As a zinc metallopeptidase, ACE2 plays a significant role in regulating blood pressure and cardiac function64, converting vasoconstrictor angiotensin II to its metabolite angiotensin-(1-7).65–67 ACE2 knockout mice (Ace2−/−) show severe cardiac contractility defect, increased angiotensin II levels, and upregulation of hypoxia-induced genes in the heart.65 Moreover, cardiovascular diseases were common comorbidities during SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV infections,5,68–73 leading to the suspicion that SARS-CoV-2 infection might also have this same pathogenic propensity.