Fig. 2.

ACE2 protein expression in cardiac biopsies and serum. a There was no correlation between cardiac tissue protein levels measured by Elisa kit (ng per mg protein sample of cardiac biopsies) to ACE2 in 1 ml/serum sample from the same patient collected before the operation. b ACE2 mRNA expression in the human cardiac biopsies was positively correlated with protein levels (n = 32). c ACE2 protein in cardiac tissue or in patient’s serum levels were not significantly different between human cardiac biopsies of patients on ACEi, ARBs or no RAS blockers prior to the CABG operation. d ACE2 protein levels were increased in human diabetic cardiac biopsies vs non-diabetic patients. *p = 0.01. Serum ACE2 protein levels were not significantly different between diabetic vs non-diabetic. e ACE2 protein levels in cardiac tissue from human cardiac biopsies positively correlated with HbA1c. f ACE2 protein levels in cardiac tissue from human cardiac biopsies positively correlated with BMI