Angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression and activity in human carotid atherosclerotic lesions

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2008 papers

Abstract

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 is a recently identified homologue of ACE. As ACE2 inactivates the pro-atherogenic angiotensin II, we hypothesize that ACE2 may play a protective role in atherogenesis. The spatiotemporal localization of ACE2 mRNA and protein in human vasculature and a possible association with atherogenesis were investigated using molecular histology (in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry). Also, the ACE : ACE2 balance was investigated using enzymatic assays. ACE2 mRNA was expressed in early and advanced human carotid atherosclerotic lesions. In addition, ACE2 protein was present in human veins, non-diseased mammary arteries and atherosclerotic carotid arteries and expressed in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and macrophages. Quantitative analysis of immunoreactivity showed that total vessel wall expression of ACE and ACE2 was similar during all stages of atherosclerosis. The observed ACE2 protein was enzymatically active and activity was lower in the stable advanced atherosclerotic lesions, compared to early and ruptured atherosclerotic lesions. These results suggest a differential regulation of ACE2 activity during the progression of atherosclerosis and suggest that this novel molecule of the renin-angiotensin system may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Related Papers

• → Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) Is a Key Modulator of the Renin Angiotensin System in Health and Disease(2012)642 cited
• → Semiquantitative Analysis of Cellular Somatostatin mRNA Levels by in Situ Hybridization Histochemistry(1991)47 cited
• In Situ Hybridization Histochemistry(1990)
• In situ hybridization in neurobiology : advances in methodology(1994)
• In situ hybridization techniques for the brain(1996)