ACE2 and COVID-19: However, ACE2 decreases with age in some tissues, whereas basigin/CD147 increases with age in endothelial cells, suggesting that the expression of this specific receptor in the vasculature might explain the heightened risk for severe vascular diseases with age.71,76 Interestingly, in most COVID-19 autopsy studies a diffused micro- and macro-vascular thrombosis was shown.77