Department of Biological Informatics and Experimental Therapeutics, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita 010-8543, Japan.
Pharmacol Ther. 2010 Oct;128(1):119-28. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2010.06.003. Epub 2010 Jul 3.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 is a homolog to the carboxypeptidase ACE, which generates angiotensin II, the main active peptide of renin-angiotensin system (RAS). After the cloning of ACE2 in 2000, three major ACE2 functions have been described so far. First ACE2 has emerged as a potent negative regulator of the RAS counterbalancing the multiple functions of ACE. By targeting angiotensin II ACE2 exhibits a protective role in the cardiovascular system and many other organs. Second ACE2 was identified as an essential receptor for the SARS coronavirus that causes severe acute lung failure. Downregulation of ACE2 strongly contributes to the pathogenesis of severe lung failure. Third, both ACE2 and its homologue Collectrin can associate with amino acid transporters and play essential role in the absorption of amino acids in the kidney and gut. In this review, we will discuss the multiple biological functions of ACE2.
血管紧张素转化酶 2（ACE2）是羧肽酶 ACE 的同源物，可生成血管紧张素 II，这是肾素-血管紧张素系统（RAS）的主要活性肽。ACE2 于 2000 年被克隆后，目前已经描述了 ACE2 的三个主要功能。首先，ACE2 作为 RAS 的有效负调节剂出现，平衡 ACE 的多种功能。通过靶向血管紧张素 II，ACE2 在心血管系统和许多其他器官中发挥保护作用。其次，ACE2 被鉴定为导致严重急性肺衰竭的 SARS 冠状病毒的必需受体。ACE2 的下调强烈促成严重肺衰竭的发病机制。第三，ACE2 和其同源物 Collectrin 均可与氨基酸转运蛋白结合，并在肾脏和肠道中氨基酸的吸收中发挥重要作用。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论 ACE2 的多种生物学功能。
