title: Overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme in myelomonocytic cells enhances the immune response.
abstract: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) converts angiotensin I to the vasoconstrictor angiotensin II and thereby plays an important role in blood pressure control. However, ACE is relatively non-specific in its substrate specificity and cleaves many other peptides. Recent analysis of mice overexpressing ACE in monocytes, macrophages, and other myelomonocytic cells shows that these animals have a marked increase in resistance to experimental melanoma and to infection by Listeria monocytogenes or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Several other measures of immune responsiveness, including antibody production, are enhanced in these animals. These studies complement a variety of studies indicating an important role of ACE in the immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Zakir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jorge F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Giani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Tuantuan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eriguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Romer A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Villalobos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Xiao Z
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Shen
keywords: ACE; Angiotensin-converting enzyme; angiotensin; immune response; renin-angiotensin system