Altered blood pressure responses and normal cardiac phenotype in ACE2-null mice

Susan B Gurley, Alicia Allred, Thu H Le, Robert Griffiths, Lan Mao, Nisha Philip, Timothy A Haystead, Mary Donoghue, Roger E Breitbart, Susan L Acton, Howard A Rockman, Thomas M Coffman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

The carboxypeptidase ACE2 is a homologue of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). To clarify the physiological roles of ACE2, we generated mice with targeted disruption of the Ace2 gene. ACE2-deficient mice were viable, fertile, and lacked any gross structural abnormalities. We found normal cardiac dimensions and function in ACE2-deficient animals with mixed or inbred genetic backgrounds. On the C57BL/6 background, ACE2 deficiency was associated with a modest increase in blood pressure, whereas the absence of ACE2 had no effect on baseline blood pressures in 129/SvEv mice. After acute Ang II infusion, plasma concentrations of Ang II increased almost 3-fold higher in ACE2-deficient mice than in controls. In a model of Ang II-dependent hypertension, blood pressures were substantially higher in the ACE2-deficient mice than in WT. Severe hypertension in ACE2-deficient mice was associated with exaggerated accumulation of Ang II in the kidney, as determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Although the absence of functional ACE2 causes enhanced susceptibility to Ang II-induced hypertension, we found no evidence for a role of ACE2 in the regulation of cardiac structure or function. Our data suggest that ACE2 is a functional component of the renin-angiotensin system, metabolizing Ang II and thereby contributing to regulation of blood pressure.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2218-25
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume116
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2006

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Angiotensin II
  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Female
  • Fertility
  • Heart
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • Reference Values
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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