title: Angiotensin-(1-7) is a modulator of the human renin-angiotensin system.
abstract: The renin-angiotensin system is important for cardiovascular homeostasis. Currently, therapies for different cardiovascular diseases are based on inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) or angiotensin II receptor blockade. Inhibition of ACE blocks metabolism of angiotensin-(1-7) to angiotensin-(1-5) and can lead to elevation of angiotensin-(1-7) levels in plasma and tissue. In animal models, angiotensin-(1-7) itself causes or enhances vasodilation and inhibits vascular contractions to angiotensin II. The function of angiotensin-(1-5) is unknown. We investigated whether angiotensin-(1-7) and angiotensin-(1-5) inhibit ACE or antagonize angiotensin-induced vasoconstrictions in humans. ACE activity in plasma and atrial tissue was inhibited by angiotensin-(1-7) up to 100%, with an IC(50) of 3.0 and 4.0 micromol/L, respectively. In human internal mammary arteries, contractions induced by angiotensin I and II and the non-ACE-specific substrate [Pro(11),D-Ala(12)]-angiotensin I were antagonized by angiotensin-(1-7) (10(-5) mol/L) in a noncompetitive way, with a 60% inhibition of the maximal response to angiotensin II. Contractions to ACE-specific substrate [Pro(10)]-angiotensin I were also inhibited, an effect only partly accounted for by antagonism of angiotensin II. Angiotensin-(1-5) inhibited plasma ACE activity with a potency equal to that of angiotensin I but had no effect on arterial contractions. In conclusion, angiotensin-(1-7) blocks angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction and inhibits ACE in human cardiovascular tissues. Angiotensin-(1-5) only inhibits ACE. These results show that angiotensin-(1-7) may be an important modulator of the human renin-angiotensin system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Groningen The Netherlands. a.j.m.roks@med.rug.nl
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Roks
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: van Geel
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Buikema
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Henning
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Zeeuw
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: van Gilst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000803:Angiotensin I; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C118790:angiotensin I (1-7)