血管紧张素转换酶2研究进展

肾素-血管紧张素系统(renin-angiotensin sys-em,RAS)是一个非常古老而复杂的调节系统,低等生物如酵母菌即有完整的RAS。在哺乳类动物,RAS不仅对水盐代谢、维持血压稳定起重要作用,而且还是心血管、泌尿、生殖等系统发育和功能调节的一个重要系统;在炎症反应、损伤的修复、愈合及造血等病理生理过程中亦起重要作用。血管紧张素转换酶(angiotensin convertingenzyme,ACE)是血管紧张素合成主要的限速酶,是RAS的枢纽。随研究的不断深入,发现RAS的复杂程度远远超出人们的想象,尽管对它的研究已超过了100年,但对RAS的认识才刚刚开始。20…

Recent advances in the study of angiotensin converting enzyme 2

Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a new member of renin-angiotensin system found recently. It counterbalances the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), hydrolyzes angiotensin Ⅱ to generate angiotensin-(1-7) and hydrolyzes angiotensin Ⅰ to produce angiotensin-(1-9). Angiotensin-(1-9) can be hydrolyzed by ACE to form angiotensin-(1-7), and angiotensin-(1-7) counteracts the effects of angiotensin Ⅱ in many aspects. Bradykinin or atrial natriuretic factor or substance P are not the substrates of ACE2, and ACE2 hydrolyzes the metabolites of bradykinin such as des-Arg9-BK and des-Arg10-kallidin, and also the dynorphin A, one of the opium peptides. ACE2 is not inhibited by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI). Recent studies demonstrate that ACE2 is a functional receptor of SARS coronavirus. To elucidate the mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases and other disease such as SARS, further investigations in ACE2 are needed.