Danilczyk U, Eriksson U, Oudit G Y, Penninger J M
Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 620 University Avenue, Toronto M5G 2C1, Ontario, Canada.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2004 Nov;61(21):2714-9. doi: 10.1007/s00018-004-4241-6.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a recently discovered homologue of the key enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system, the angiotensin-converting enzyme. The ACE2 enzyme is mainly expressed in cardiac blood vessels and tubular epithelia of the kidneys. Together with ACE2's unique metallocarboxypeptidase activity, the restricted tissue distribution suggests a distinctive physiological function in blood pressure, blood flow and fluid regulation. The ace2 gene was mapped to quantitative trait loci affecting susceptibility to hypertension in rats. Furthermore, ACE2 appears to be a negative regulator of ACE in the heart. ACE2 messenger RNA and protein levels are substantially regulated in the kidney of diabetic and pregnant rats. The mechanism of ACE2 function and its physiologic significance are not yet fully understood; however, as ACE2 differs in its specificity and physiological role from ACE, this opens a new potential venue for drug discovery aimed at cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetic complications.
血管紧张素转换酶2（ACE2）是肾素-血管紧张素系统关键酶——血管紧张素转换酶最近发现的同源物。ACE2酶主要表达于心脏血管和肾脏的肾小管上皮。结合ACE2独特的金属羧肽酶活性，其受限的组织分布提示其在血压、血流和液体调节方面具有独特的生理功能。ace2基因被定位到影响大鼠高血压易感性的数量性状位点。此外，ACE2似乎是心脏中ACE的负调节因子。在糖尿病大鼠和妊娠大鼠的肾脏中，ACE2信使核糖核酸和蛋白质水平受到显著调节。ACE2的功能机制及其生理意义尚未完全明确；然而，由于ACE2在特异性和生理作用方面与ACE不同，这为针对心血管疾病、高血压和糖尿病并发症的药物研发开辟了新的潜在途径。
