title: Diminazene protects corpus cavernosum against hypercholesterolemia-induced injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a key enzyme of the renin angiotensin system, which breaks down angiotensin II and forms angiotensin-(1-7). In erectile tissues, it has been documented that angiotensin II contributes to the development of erectile dysfunction (ED), while treatment with angiotensin-(1-7) improves penile erection. However, the expression and function of ACE2 in erectile tissues have never been investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Here, we examined the expression of ACE2 in erectile tissues and its actions against hypercholesterolemia-induced corpus cavernosum (CC) injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE(-/-) ) mice, a well-known model of ED, were treated with diminazene aceturate (DIZE), an ACE2 activator compound, or vehicle for 3 weeks. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), collagen content, and protein expression of ACE2, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase (NADPH) subunits were evaluated in the penis of DIZE-treated and untreated ApoE(-/-) mice. Functional studies were performed in CC strips.
  
  
  METHODS
  ACE2 expression and its role in modulating nitric oxide (NO)/ROS production and fibrosis within the CC of hypercholesterolemic mice were the main outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ACE2 was expressed in smooth muscle and endothelial cells of mouse CC. Interestingly, ACE2 was downregulated in penis of hypercholesterolemic mice with ED, suggesting a protective role of ACE2 on the CC homeostasis. In accordance with that, pharmacological ACE2 activation by DIZE treatment reduced ROS production and NADPH oxidase expression, and elevated nNOS and eNOS expression and NO bioavailability in the penis of ApoE(-/-) mice. Additionally, DIZE decreased collagen content within the CC. These beneficial actions of DIZE on the CC were not accompanied by improvements in atherosclerotic plaque size or serum lipid profile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ACE2 is expressed in erectile tissue and its reduction is associated with hypercholesterolemia-induced ED. Additionally, treatment with DIZE improved hypercholesterolemia-induced CC injury, suggesting ACE2 as a potential target for treating ED. .
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Technology, Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fraga-Silva
authors.forename: Fabiana P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Costa-Fraga
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montecucco
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sturny
authors.forename: Younoss
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Faye
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mach
authors.forename: Graziano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelli
authors.forename: Vinayak
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: Rafaela F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Mohan K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Raizada
authors.forename: Robson A S
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stergiopulos
mesh_terms: D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000378:metabolism; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D004133:Diminazene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D010410:Penile Erection; D010413:Penis / Q000503:physiopathology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000803:Angiotensin I; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C000705328:Ace2 protein, mouse; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; C118790:angiotensin I (1-7); C003915:diminazene aceturate; D004133:Diminazene
keywords: Angiotensin II; Angiotensin-(1-7); Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Erectile Dysfunction; Hypercholesterolemia