[Overexpression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 inhibits inflammatory response of atherosclerotic plaques in hypercholesterolemic rabbits].
OBJECTIVE
Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) efficiently hydrolyses the potent vasoconstrictor angiotensin II to vasodilative angiotensin (1-7). We hypothesized that ACE2 overexpression may inhibit inflammation response in atherosclerotic plaque by degrading Ang II into Ang-(1-7).


METHODS
Atherosclerosis (AS) plaques were induced in the abdominal aorta of 38 rabbits by endothelial injury and atherogenic diet for 3 months. Rabbits were then underwent injection of a recombinant adenovirus (2.5 x 10(9) pfu/ml) carrying a murine ACE2 gene (Ad-ACE2) through a catheter into the abdominal aortic segments rich in plaques (n = 19) or injection of a control vector Ad-EGFP (n = 19). One month later, all rabbits were sacrificed and plaques from aortic segments were analyzed.


RESULTS
ACE2 expression in aortic tissues of the Ad-ACE2 group were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Macrophage infiltration (13.6% +/- 4.2% vs. 23.6% +/- 6.9%, P < 0.01) and MCP-1 expression (13.2% +/- 0.4% vs. 25.0% +/- 7.4%, P < 0.01) were significantly reduced in Ad-ACE2 group compared to Ad-EGFP group.


CONCLUSIONS
Overexpression of ACE2 inhibited atherosclerotic plaque inflammation response in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
Dong
Bo
B
Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.
Zhang
Yue-hui
YH
Dong
Qiu-li
QL
Yu
Qing-tao
QT
Zhu
Li
L
Li
Shu-ying
SY
Yang
Ya-pei
YP
Zhang
Cheng
C
Feng
Jin-bo
JB
Liu
Chun-xi
CX
Song
Huai-dong
HD
Pan
Chun-ming
CM
Zhang
Yun
Y
D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011817:Rabbits; D014162:Transfection
D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2