title: Increased ACE and decreased ACE2 expression in kidneys from patients with IgA nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 forms angiotensin-1-7 which may protect kidney in a counterregulatory manner to angiotensin II. Recent studies revealed increased ACE and decreased ACE2 expression in kidneys of patients with diabetic nephropathy. However, these changes may not be specific for diabetic nephropathy. We studied ACE and ACE2 expression in patients with IgA nephropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Renal ACE and ACE2 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in 30 patients with IgA nephropathy and 21 healthy controls. Correlation between ACE and ACE2 expression and levels of various biochemical parameters was also assessed. Gene expression was also assessed in minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and membranous nephropathy (MN) as disease controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reduced ACE2 expression (p < 0.01) and increased ACE expression in glomeruli (p < 0.001), and reduced ACE2 expression in tubulointerstitium (p < 0.001) were observed in patients with IgA nephropathy compared to healthy controls, although the changes in ACE2 mRNA were not statistically significant. Reduced renal ACE2 expression was also found in MN but not in MCNS. Correlation between renal ACE and ACE2 expression and proteinuria was not observed in IgA nephropathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IgA nephropathy is associated with increased ACE and decreased ACE2 expression in kidneys, as in diabetic nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Toho University School of Medicine, Ohta-ku, Tokyo, Japan. sm210@med.toho-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Sonoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizuiri
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hemmi
authors.forename: Michitsune
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arita
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Moriatsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyagi
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hase
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aikawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009402:Nephrosis, Lipoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism*; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012709:Serum Albumin; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C000705307:ACE2 protein, human; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2