title: Characterization and significance of ACE2 and Mas receptor in human colon adenocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A new arm of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been recently characterized; this includes angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)2 and angiotensin (Ang)1-7, a heptapeptide acting through the Mas receptor (MasR). Recent studies show that Ang1-7 has an antiproliferative action on lung adenocarcinoma cells. The aim of this study was to characterize RAS expression in human colon adenocarcinoma and to investigate whether Ang1-7 exerts an antiproliferative effect on human colon adenocarcinoma cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gene, protein expression and enzymatic activity of the main components of the RAS were determined on non-neoplastic colon mucosa as well as on the tumor mass and the mucosa taken 5 cm distant from it, both collected from patients with colon adenocarcinoma. Two different human colon cancer cell lines were treated with AngII and Ang1-7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The novel finding of this study was that MasR was significantly upregulated in colon adenocarcinoma compared with non-neoplastic colon mucosa, which showed little or no expression of it. ACE gene expression and enzymatic activity were also increased in the tumors. However, AngII and Ang1-7 did not have any pro-/antiproliferative effects in the cell lines studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that upregulation of the MasR could be used as a diagnostic marker of colon adenocarcinoma.
authors: Department of Morphology and Embryology, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Stella
authors: S
authors: Bernardi
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Zennaro
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Palmisano
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Velkoska
authors: Nicoletta
authors: N
authors: Sabato
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Toffoli
authors: Greta
authors: G
authors: Giacomel
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Buri
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Zanconati
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Bellini
authors: Louise M
authors: LM
authors: Burrell
authors: Nicolò
authors: N
authors: De Manzini
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Fabris
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000494:pharmacology; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C544065:AGTR1 protein, human; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000803:Angiotensin I; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C000705307:ACE2 protein, human; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; C118790:angiotensin I (1-7)