ACE2 and acute respiratory distress syndrome: The interferon-mediated upregulation of ACE2 may facilitate the involvement of adjacent pneumocytes and the development of an uncontrolled inflammatory reaction, microvascular thrombosis, interstitial and alveolar edema, and eventual progression toward acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [20], Moreover, it has been hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2, by interacting with ACE2 for the cell entry, causes a downregulation of the bound ACE2 and increases the circulating level of soluble ACE2.