Related Experiment Videos
A story of two ACEs
Ursula Danilczyk1, Urs Eriksson, Michael A Crackower
1Departments of Medical Biophysics and Immunology, University of Toronto, 620 University Avenue, M5G 2C1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Molecular Medicine (Berlin, Germany)
|April 18, 2003
Summary
The newly discovered ACE2 gene is a potential cause of hypertension. Its interaction with ACE suggests new therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally.
- High blood pressure is a major risk factor for serious cardiovascular events.
- The renin-angiotensin system, targeted by ACE inhibitors, is crucial in managing hypertension and heart failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the newly characterized ACE2 gene in hypertension.
- To explore the relationship between ACE and ACE2 in cardiovascular regulation.
Main Methods:
- Mapping the ACE2 gene to quantitative trait loci in rat models of hypertension.
- Targeted disruption of the ACE2 gene in mice.
- Analyzing cardiac function and gene expression in ACE2-deficient mice.
- Comparing heart function in mice deficient in ACE2, ACE, or both.
Main Results:
- ACE2 gene maps to the X chromosome in hypertensive rat models, identifying it as a candidate gene for hypertension.
- ACE2 deficiency in mice led to elevated angiotensin II, impaired cardiac contractility, and cardiac gene upregulation.
- Mice lacking both ACE and ACE2 exhibited normal heart function, indicating a negative regulatory interaction between the two enzymes.
Conclusions:
- ACE2 plays a significant role in cardiovascular regulation and is implicated in hypertension.
- The interplay between ACE and ACE2 is complex and warrants further investigation.
- Understanding the ACE-ACE2 system offers new avenues for developing treatments for cardiovascular diseases.