[Effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor on the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in atrium of patients with atrial fibrillation].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the changes treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), and its signal transduction pathway.


METHODS
Atrial tissues were obtained from 47 patients with RHD undergoing cardiac surgery. The mRNA of ACE2 and ACE were semi-qualified by RT-PCR and normalized to the gene beta-actin. Western blot analysis was employed to examine the expressions of ACE2, ACE, ERK1/2 and phosphorylated ERK (pERK1/2). The atrial tissue angiotensin II (Ang II) content was determined by radioimmunoassay detection.


RESULTS
The expression of ACE2 was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the expression of ACE and pERK1/2 were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the level of atrial tissue Ang II was significantly increased in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation group (CAF) compared with sinus rhythm group (SR) (P < 0.05). Compared with CAF patients treated without ACEI, the expression of ACE2 significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the relative activity of ERK1/2 significantly decreased (P < 0.05), whereas the expression of ACE and the level of atrial tissue Ang II remained unchanged in CAF patients treated with ACEI.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggested that the dysequilibrium of ACE/ACE2 might play an important role in the process of atrial fibrillation, which may be related to the activation of ERK1/2 pathway. The clinical effect of long-term treatment of ACEI maybe associated with elevated ACE2 expression but not ACE expression.
Hu
Xiao-sheng
XS
Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Xie
Xu-dong
XD
Wang
Xing-xiang
XX
Zeng
Chun-lai
CL
Ni
Yi-ming
YM
Yu
Guo-wei
GW
Chen
Jun-zhu
JZ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C000705307:ACE2 protein, human; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2