Objective This study aims to investigate the effect of berberine (Ber) on foam cell formation induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in macrophages and to explore the mechanism's association with the ACE2-Ang(1-7)-Mas axis. Methods They were randomly divided into blank group, model group (RAW264.7 cells induced with 60 μg/mL ox-LDL), and berberine group (the model treated with berberine interventions at 2.5, 5, and 10 μmol/L concentrations). Lipid accumulation within the cells was assessed by Oil Red O staining, and the content of lipid droplets in each group was quantitatively analyzed by enzymatic method. The content of total cholesterol (TC) and free cholesterol (FC) in foam cells were detected by enzymatic method. The levels of oxidative stress factors (malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH)), inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured using corresponding relevant reagent kits. The mRNA and protein expressions of ACE2 and Mas were evaluated through quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. The levels of AngII and Ang(1-7) were detected by ELISA. Results Compared with the model group, the berberine groups exhibited reduced lipid droplet accumulation and a dose-dependent decrease in intracellular lipid content. Berberine significantly lowered TC and FC levels in foam cells and reduced the CE/TC ratio. The levels of the oxidative factor MDA were significantly reduced, while the levels of the antioxidant factors SOD and GSH were markedly increased. Inflammatory factors TNF-α and NO were significantly decreased. The expression of the ACE2-Ang(1-7)-Mas signaling pathway was significantly activated, and the effect was more pronounced in the Ber group with high-concentration compared to the group with low-concentration, demonstrating a dose-dependent response. Conclusion Berberine can inhibit macrophage foam cell formation, potentially through upregulation of the ACE2-Ang(1-7)-Mas signaling pathway, thereby contributing to the alleviation of atherosclerosis.
Berberine/pharmacology* ; Foam Cells/cytology* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 ; Angiotensin I/genetics* ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/genetics* ; Peptide Fragments/genetics* ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Mas ; Lipoproteins, LDL/pharmacology* ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced down-regulation of albumin expression and enhancement of cell migration in rat hepatocytes.

METHODSCultured rat hepatocyte were treated with Ang II (10-7 mol/L) for different time lengths, and the protein expressions of vimentin and albumin and cell migration were detected. The cells transfected with lentiGFP or lentiACE2 were treated with A779 for 1 h and then with Ang II, and Western blotting and immunofluorescent cytochemistry were used to detect the protein levels; the cell migration was evaluated by Transwell assay.

RESULTAng II induced significantly increased vimentin expression and reduced albumin expression in rat hepatocytes in a time-dependent manner. Overexpression of ACE2 obviously inhibited the up-regulation of vimentin expression, reduction of albumin expression, and enhancement of cell migration induced by Ang II.

CONCLUSIONACE2 overexpression can inhibit Ang II-induced up-regulation of vimentin, reduction of albumin expression, and enhancement of cell migration in rat hepatocytes.

Albumins ; metabolism ; Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Movement ; Cells, Cultured ; Down-Regulation ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Lentivirus ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transfection ; Up-Regulation ; Vimentin ; metabolism

To study the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and angiotensin (Ang) 1-7 specific receptor Mas protain in renal blood vessels of metabolic syndrome ( MS) rats and its anti-oxidative effect. A total of 80 male SD rats were divided into four groups: the normal control group (NC, the same volume of normal saline), the MS group (high fat diet), the MS + Astragali Radix group (MS + HQ, 6 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) in gavage) and the MS + Valsartan group (MS + XST, 30 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) in gavage). After four weeks of intervention, their general indexes, biochemical indexes and blood pressure were measured; plasma and renal tissue Ang II, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide demutase (SOD) levels were measured with radioimmunoassay. The protein expressions of Mas receptor, AT1R, ACE and ACE2 were detected by western blot analysis. According to the result, compared with the NC group, the MS group and the MS + HQ group showed significant increases in systolic and diastolic pressures, body weight, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, triglycerides, free fatty acid and Ang II level of MS rats (P < 0.05). The MS + XST group showed notable decreases in systolic and diastolic pressures than that of the MS group. The MS group showed significant increases in the SOD activity and NO level and decrease in the MDA level after being intervened with Astragali Radix. ACE and AT1R protein expressions in renal tissues of the MS group were higher than that in the NC group, but with lower ACE2 and -Mas receptor expressions (all P < 0.05). Compared with the MS group, the MS + HQ group showed significant increase in Mas receptor expression in renal tissues, whereas the MS + XST group showed notable decrease in AT1R (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, Astragali Radix can increase the Mas receptor expressions in renal tissues, decrease ACE expression and change local Ang II, MDA, NO and SOD in kidneys, so as to protect early damages in renal tissues.
Angiotensin I ; metabolism ; Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Metabolic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of tanshinone II(A) on the expression of different components in the renin-angiotensin system of left ventricles of renal hypertensive rats.

METHODThe renal hypertension model was established in rats by the two-kidney-one-clip (2K1C) method. In the experiment, all of the rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 15 per group) before the operation: the sham-operated (Sham) group, the hypertensive model (Model) group, the low-dose tanshinone II(A) group and the high-dose tanshinone II(A) group. At 5 week after the renal artery narrowing, the third and fourth groups were administered with 35 mg kg(-1) x d(-1) and 70 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) of tanshinone II(A), respectively. The blood pressure in rats was determined by the standard tail-cuff method in each week after the operation. After the drug treatment for 8 weeks, all the rats were put to death, and their left ventricles were separated to determine the ratio of left ventricle weight to body weight (LVW/BW), the myocardial collagen content, and the expressions of different components in myocardial RAS, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), angiotensin 1-type receptor (AT1R), Mas receptor mRNA expression and angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin (1-7) [Ang (1-7)] content.

RESULTCompared with the sham group, the hypertensive model group exhibited a markable increase in the content of Ang II and Ang (1-7) and the mRNA expressions of ACE, ACE2, AT1R and Mas (P < 0.01). However, the treatment with tanshinone II(A) showed the does dependence, inhibited left ventricle hypertrophy, decreased myocardial Ang II content and the mRNA expression of ACE and AT, R in renal hypertensive rats (P < 0. 01) , further increased the myocardial Ang (1-7) content and the mRNA expression of ACE2 and Mas (P < 0.01) , but without any change in the blood pressure of hypertensive rats.

CONCLUSIONThe treatment with tanshinone II(A) could inhibit left ventricle hypertrophy of renal hypertensive rats. Its mechanism may be partially related to the expression of different components in the renin-angiotensin system for regulating myocardial tissues.

Angiotensin I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Angiotensin II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; administration & dosage ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects

OBJECTIVENeurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE ) was indicative of poor prognosis in the epidemic of enterovirus 71 infections. The pathogenesis of NPE remains poorly understood. The objectives of this experimental study were to explore whether RAS is activated during NPE in rabbit models induced by fibrin and the effects of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (enalaprilat) on NPE.

METHODNPE models were induced by intracisternal injection of fibrinogen and thrombin. According to random number table method, 18 healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were assigned to three groups (with 6 in each) : normal control group (Con group), NPE group and enalaprilat treated (Ena) group. After establishment of NPE models, rabbits in Ena group were given intravenous enalaprilat 0.5 mg/kg. Expression of ACE,ACE2,AT1R mRNA of the lung tissue were evaluated by real-time polymerise chain reaction; and Ang II of the lung tissue was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ). Meanwhile, histopathological lung injury scores were evaluated.

RESULTACE mRNA expression level in NPE group ( 17.2 ± 3.3) appeared an increasing trend in contrast to Con group ( 12.6 ± 5.2 ) and Ena group ( 11.5 ± 2.4, both P > 0.05 ). Compared with Con group (81 ± 22 ), ACE2 mRNA expression levels of NPE group ( 52 ± 6 ) and Ena group ( 45 ± 13 ) both decreased ( both P < 0.05 ) . ACE mRNA/ACE2 mRNA expression levels of NPE group ( 0.33 ± 0.06 ) and Ena group ( 0.26 ± 0.04 ) were higher than those of Con group ( 0.16 ± 0.05, both P < 0.05 ), as well as the ratio of Ena group decreased compared with untreated NPE group ( 0.26 ± 0.04 vs. 0.33 ± 0.06, P < 0.05 ) . There were no statistically significant differences in expression of AT1 mRNA of the lung tissue among three groups, but Ena group ( 4.8 ± 1.1) in contrast to NPE group ( 6.7 ± 1.3) has no significant difference (P > 0.05). Lung AngII level of NPE group [(540 ± 147) pg/ml] was significantly higher than that of Con group [(253 ± 37 ) pg/ml] and Ena group [(309 ± 35 ) pg/ml, both P < 0.05 ]. Gross pathologic examination showed that pink foamy edema fluid appeared in the tracheal tubes in NPE group, but spontaneously appeared in neither Con group nor Ena group; and the level of pulmonary subpleural bleeding in Con group, 12 graded 0; in NPE group, 2 graded II, 10 graded III; in Ena group, 2 graded, 8 grade II, 2 grade III. The histopathologic lung injury scores in Ena group was decreased in contrast to NPE group (1.36 ± 0.26 vs.2.32 ± 0.49, P < 0.05) and mainly for the improvement of alveolar overdistension and interstitial edema.

CONCLUSIONThe present study showed that when NPE occurs, a high lung AngII concentration was associated with an imbalance between ACE mRNA to ACE2 mRNA expression level. Activated local RAS in lung tissue resulted in lung injury. Enalaprilat treatment may attenuate lung injury by interventing local RAS in lung tissue with decreased ratio of ACE mRNA to ACE2 mRNA and lung AngII concentration. The result will be significant for the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor used in the theatment of NPE.

Angiotensin II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enalaprilat ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Edema ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) agonist on the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) mRNA expression in monocyte-derived macrophages of essential hypertensive patients.

METHODSTotally 57 essential hypertensive patients were randomly divided into three groups: conventional treatment group (n=18), telmisartan group (n=19), and benazepril group (n=20); 20 patients with normal blood pressure were also selected as the control group. Monocyte-derived macrophages were isolated from blood samples of patients in all four groups. The expression of ACE2 mRNA in monocyte-derived macrophages was detected by RT-PCR before treatment and 4 and 12 weeks after treatment.

RESULTSFour and 12 weeks after treatment, the systolic pressure and diastolic pressure of telmisartan group and benazepril group were significantly lower than that of the conventional treatment group (all P<0.01), and the systolic pressure and diastolic pressure of telmisartan group were significantly lower than that of the benazepril group(both P<0.01) .The expression of ACE2 mRNA in monocyte-derived macrophages were significantly lower in essential hypertensive patients than that in control group (P<0.01). After having been treated for 4 weeks and 12 weeks, the expression of ACE2 mRNA in monocyte-derived macrophages of hypertensive patients in telmisartan and benazepril groups were significantly higher than that in conventional treatment group (all P<0.01), and the expression of ACE2 mRNA in telmisartan group was significantly higher than that in benazepril group (both P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONPPAR-γ agonist could increase the ACE2 mRNA expression in monocyte-derived macrophages of essential hypertensive patients.

Aged ; Benzazepines ; pharmacology ; Benzimidazoles ; pharmacology ; Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Macrophages ; enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

Animals ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; genetics ; metabolism

Angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) is a key regulator of blood pressure, electrolytes and fluid homeostasis through conversion of angiotensin I into angiotensin II. Recently, a genetic polymorphism of the ACE gene, which accounts for 47% of the variation of ACE activity in blood, has been advocated as a biomarker of athletic aptitude. Different methods of analysis and determination of ACE activity in plasma have been used in human and equine research without a consensus of a "gold standard" method. Different methods have often been used interchangeably or cited as being comparable in the existing literature; however, the actual agreement between assays has not been investigated. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the level of agreement between three different assays using equine plasma obtained from 29 horses. Two spectrophotometric assays using Furylacryloyl-phenylalanyl-glycyl-glycine as substrate and one fluorimetric assay utilizing o-aminobenzoic acid-FRK-(Dnp)P-OH were employed. The results revealed that the measurements from the different assays were not in agreement, indicating that the methods should not be used interchangeably for measurement of equine ACE activity. Rather, a single method of analysis should be adopted to achieve comparable results and critical appraisal of the literature is needed when attempting to compare results obtained from different assays.
Animals ; Enzyme Assays/*methods ; Female ; Fluorometry/*methods ; Horses/blood/genetics/*metabolism ; Male ; Oligopeptides/pharmacology ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/blood/genetics/*metabolism ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Reference Values ; Spectrophotometry/*methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of irbesartan on angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) mRNA expression in diabetic rat myocardium.

METHODSThirty 8-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n=7), diabetic model group (n=14) and irbesartan group (n=9). Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (55 mg/kg), a blood glucose>16.7 mmol/L 72 h after the injection indicated successful establishment of diabetes. Four weeks after the modeling, the rats in irbesartan group were given 50 mg/kg irbesartan. ELISA was used to measure myocardial AngII content in the rats, and myocardial ACE2 mRNA expression was determined by real-time PCR.

RESULTSMyocardial AngII level in the diabetic model group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.001). Irbesartan administration significantly lowered cardiac AngII levels in the diabetic rats (P<0.001). The rats in irbesartan group showed significantly increased myocardial ACE2 mRNA expression compared with those in the control and diabetic rat groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIrbesartan can increase ACE2 mRNA expression in the myocardium, which might be one of the mechanisms underlying its effect in improving the cardiac function in diabetic rats.

Animals ; Biphenyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; enzymology ; Male ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE, EC3.4.15.1) plays an important role in regulating blood pressure. The C-domain of ACE has been identified as the main catalytic site of angiotensin I cleavage in vivo. The ACE gene fragment of the C-domain was amplified by PCR and cloned into the pPIC9K secretory expression plasmid. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into Pichia pastoris strain GS115. Positive clones were selected and subject to electroporation. Antibiotic G418 was used for the screening of multicopy inserts. After optimization of the expression system, the protein yield reached 0.5 g/L by flask-shaking culture fermentation, and enzyme activity reached 7.178 U/mL in the fermentation supernatant. The purity of the target protein obtained was 97% after Ni+ affinity chromatography. Enzyme inhibitory activity assay using Captopril showed that it is promising to use ACE-C domain as new generation of target for screening ACE inhibitor antihypertensive drugs.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Catalytic Domain ; genetics ; Electroporation ; Humans ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics