ACE2 and infection: Since ACE2 is widely recognized for its tissue-protective functions, it also serves as the primary entry receptor for coronaviruses, particularly SARS-CoV-2, through its spike glycoprotein, facilitating viral entry into host cells in the lungs [21,42] Subsequent to infection, ACE2 expression on host cells is downregulated, leading to an imbalance between the classical and non-classical RAS pathways, which contributes to multi-organ dysfunction.