The World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a public health emergency of international concern as more than 15 million cases were reported by 24th July 2020. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a COVID-19 entry receptor regulating host cell infection. A recent study reported that ACE2 is expressed in cardiomyocytes. In this study, we aimed to explore if there are microRNA (miRNA) molecules which target ACE2 and which may be exploited to regulate the SARS-CoV-2 receptor. Our data reveal that both Ace2 mRNA and Ace2 protein levels are inhibited by miR-200c in rat primary cardiomyocytes and importantly, in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. We report the first miRNA candidate that can target ACE2 in cardiomyocytes and thus may be exploited as a preventive strategy to treat cardiovascular complications of COVID-19.

世界卫生组织（WHO）宣布2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）为国际关注的突发公共卫生事件，因为到2020年7月24日，已有1500万例报告。血管紧张素转化酶2（ACE2）是COVID-19进入受体调节宿主细胞感染。最近的一项研究报道，ACE2在心肌细胞中表达。在这项研究中，我们旨在探讨是否存在靶向ACE2的microRNA（miRNA）分子，可以用来调节SARS-CoV-2受体。我们的数据表明，两个Ace2miR-200c在大鼠原代心肌细胞中，尤其是在人iPSC衍生的心肌细胞中，mRNA和Ace2蛋白水平受到抑制。我们报道了第一个可靶向心肌细胞ACE2的miRNA候选物，因此可被用作预防COVID-19心血管并发症的预防策略。