Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in lung diseases.
The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a key role in maintaining blood pressure homeostasis, as well as fluid and salt balance. Angiotensin II, a key effector peptide of the system, causes vasoconstriction and exerts multiple biological functions. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a central role in generating angiotensin II from angiotensin I, and capillary blood vessels in the lung are one of the major sites of ACE expression and angiotensin II production in the human body. The RAS has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis, both commonly seen in chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive lung disease. Recent studies indicate that the RAS also plays a critical role in acute lung diseases, especially acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ACE2, a close homologue of ACE, functions as a negative regulator of the angiotensin system and was identified as a key receptor for SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus infections. In the lung, ACE2 protects against acute lung injury in several animal models of ARDS. Thus, the RAS appears to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury. Indeed, increasing ACE2 activity might be a novel approach for the treatment of acute lung failure in several diseases.
IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Bohr-gasse 3, A-1030 Vienna, Austria. Keiji.kuba@imba.oeaw.ac.at
Keiji
K
Kuba
Yumiko
Y
Imai
Josef M
JM
Penninger
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C000705307:ACE2 protein, human; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2