ACE2, a New Regulator of the Renin Angiotensin System

血管紧张素转换酶（ACE）是肾素-血管紧张素系统（RAS）中的关键酶，可将血管紧张素I转化为有效的血管收缩剂血管紧张素II （Ang II）。ACE抑制剂在高血压治疗方面非常成功，是心肌梗死后延迟心力衰竭发展的标准治疗，也降低了肾脏疾病的进展速度。最近，在心脏和肾脏中发现了一种名为ACE2的新型酶。与ACE不同，ACE2引起血管扩张剂Ang 1-7的形成。我们有心脏和肾脏的数据支持ACE2以反调控方式作用于ACE的概念。我们认为ACE2可能在调节心脏和肾脏血管收缩剂和血管舒张剂之间的平衡中发挥重要作用。本提案中详细的研究旨在专门研究ACE2在健康心脏和肾脏以及心血管和肾脏疾病中的作用和调节。该项目汇集了两个具有互补技能和技术的小组，他们都与ACE2的发现者合作，并一直在探索ACE2的作用，这从我们最近的出版物（Tikellis等人，高血压出版社，2003年）中得到了证明。

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a key enzyme in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), converting Angiotensin I to the potent vasoconstrictor Angiotensin II (Ang II). ACE inhibitors have been highly successful in the management of hypertension, are standard therapy following myocardial infarction to delay the development of heart failure, and also reduce the rate of progression of renal disease. Recently, a novel enzyme called ACE2 has been discovered in the heart and kidneys. Unlike ACE, ACE2 causes the formation of the vasodilator, Ang 1-7. We have data in the heart and the kidney that supports the concept that ACE2 acts in a counter-regulatory manner to ACE. We suggest that ACE2 may play an important role to modulate the balance between vasoconstrictors and vasodilators in the heart and kidney. The studies detailed in this proposal are designed to specifically examine the role and regulation of ACE2 in the healthy heart and kidney as well as in cardiovascular and renal disease. The project brings together two groups with complementary skills and techniques, both of whom have collaborations with the discoverers of ACE2, and who have been exploring the role of ACE2 as evidenced from our recent publication (Tikellis et al, Hypertension in press, 2003).