Effect of coronaviruses on blood vessel permeability: potential therapeutic targets

Coronavirus-induced diseases have afflicted humanity for several decades. This scenario was aggravated by the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (named COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Since then, COVID-19 has killed millions of people worldwide, probably the most devastating pandemic since HIV/AIDS. This review aimed to bring together important updated aspects related to coronavirus-induced diseases and the enhanced vascular permeability observed mainly in the lungs of affected people. The dysregulated vascular permeability in the lungs is of fundamental importance for coronaviruses-caused morbidity and mortality. Thus, as described in this review, it is a target of new and old drugs.