Renal ACE and ACE2 expression in early diabetic rats.
OBJECTIVE
The role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-related carboxypeptidase-2 (ACE2) in the regulation of the renin-angiotensin system is not well characterized. This study investigated the changes in the expression of ACE and ACE2 in the kidney in early diabetic rats.


METHODS
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were examined. The concentrations of angiotensin II in plasma, urine, and renal cortex were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mRNA expression of ACE, ACE2, angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), and Mas receptor (MasR) in glomeruli and cortex was assessed using real-time PCR. The glomerular and cortical expression of ACE and ACE2 was assessed by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
For renal cortical tissue, the angiotensin II level was more intensified in the 8-week diabetic rats. Immunohistochemical experiments showed that ACE was increased, but ACE2 was decreased in the glomeruli of 8-week diabetic rats, while both ACE and ACE2 in the tubules were increased. The AT1R mRNA in the glomeruli was decreased, while the MasR mRNA was increased in 2-week diabetic rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined effects of increased ACE and decreased ACE2 in glomeruli may be associated with the activation of the renin-angiotensin system in early diabetic rats, which is known to increase proteinuria.
Moon
Ju-Young
JY
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University East-West Neo Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Jeong
Kyung-Hwan
KH
Lee
Sang-Ho
SH
Lee
Tae-Won
TW
Ihm
Chun-Gyoo
CG
Lim
Sung Jig
SJ
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism*; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000201:enzymology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000502:physiology
D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000804:Angiotensin II; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C000705329:Ace2 protein, rat; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2