Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a new identified member of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) that cleaves angiotensin II (Ang II) to Ang (1-7), which exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities via binding with Mas receptor (MasR). However, the functional role of ACE2 in sepsis-related hypotension remains unknown. Our results indicated that sepsis significantly reduced blood pressure and led to disruption between ACE-Ang II and ACE2-Ang (1-7) balance. ACE2 knock-in mice exhibited improved sepsis-induced mortality, hypotension and vascular dysfunction, while ACE2 knockout mice exhibited the opposite effects. Bone marrow transplantation and in vitro experiments confirmed that myeloid ACE2 exerted a protective role by suppressing oxidative stress, NO production and macrophage polarization via the Ang (1-7)-MasR-NF-κB and STAT1 pathways. Thus, ACE2 on myeloid cells could protect against sepsis-mediated hypotension and vascular dysfunction, and upregulating ACE2 may represent a promising therapeutic option for septic patients with hypotension.
Keywords: ACE2; Hypotension; Macrophage polarization; Sepsis; Vascular dysfunction.
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