血管紧张素转化酶2和血管紧张素1-7在兔动脉粥样硬化斑块中的表达

目的观察血管紧张素转化酶2和血管紧张素1-7在兔动脉粥样硬化斑块中的表达,确定斑块中表达血管紧张素转化酶2蛋白的细胞类型。方法雄性新西兰大白兔动脉内膜损伤术后饲以高脂饲料4个月建立动脉粥样硬化模型。取腹主动脉组织进行免疫组织化学染色。结果血管紧张素转化酶2和血管紧张素1-7蛋白在兔腹主动脉斑块中表达,大多数的巨噬细胞、部分平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞都表达血管紧张素转化酶2。血管紧张素1-7主要在血管紧张素转化酶2阳性区域表达,分布于血管紧张素转化酶2阳性细胞胞外。结论血管紧张素转化酶2和血管紧张素1-7都在兔动脉粥样硬化斑块中表达,血管紧张素转化酶2及血管紧张素1-7在动脉粥样硬化发生发展中的作用值得进一步探讨。

Expression and Significance of Angiotensin-Convertion Enzyme 2 and Angiotensin-(1-7) in Rabbit Atherosclerotic Plaques

Aim To observe angiotensin-convertion enzyme 2(ACE2) and angiotensin-(1-7) proteins'expression in rabbit atherosclerotic tissues,and determine which cell types express ACE2 protein.Methods Male New Zealand white rabbits were underwent balloon-induced arterial wall injury and fed with high-fat diet for 4 months to construct atherosclerosis models.Abdominal aorta was processed for immunohistochemistry.Results Both ACE2 and angiotensin-(1-7) were expressed in abdominal aorta plaque.A large proportion of macrophage-positive cells and a percentage of smooth muscle cells,endothelia within atherosclerotic plaques expressed ACE2 protein.Angiotensin-(1-7) was present in areas with extracellular ACE2 immunostaining.Conclusions ACE2 and angiotensin-(1-7) are present in atherosclerotic tissues,which may participate in development of atherosclerosis.