title: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, angiotensin-(1-7) and Mas: new players of the renin-angiotensin system.
abstract: Angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) is now recognized as a biologically active component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Ang-(1-7) appears to play a central role in the RAS because it exerts a vast array of actions, many of them opposite to those attributed to the main effector peptide of the RAS, Ang II. The discovery of the Ang-converting enzyme (ACE) homolog ACE2 brought to light an important metabolic pathway responsible for Ang-(1-7) synthesis. This enzyme can form Ang-(1-7) from Ang II or less efficiently through hydrolysis of Ang I to Ang-(1-9) with subsequent Ang-(1-7) formation by ACE. In addition, it is now well established that the G protein-coupled receptor Mas is a functional binding site for Ang-(1-7). Thus, the axis formed by ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas appears to represent an endogenous counterregulatory pathway within the RAS, the actions of which are in opposition to the vasoconstrictor/proliferative arm of the RAS consisting of ACE, Ang II, and AT(1) receptor. In this brief review, we will discuss recent findings related to the biological role of the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas arm in the cardiovascular and renal systems, as well as in metabolism. In addition, we will highlight the potential interactions of Ang-(1-7) and Mas with AT(1) and AT(2) receptors.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physiology and Biophysics Morphology, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Robson A S
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Anderson J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Thiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Verano-Braga
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bader
mesh_terms: D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000378:metabolism*; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000803:Angiotensin I; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C000705307:ACE2 protein, human; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; C118790:angiotensin I (1-7)