Beneficial Effects of the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Activator Dize in Renovascular Hypertension

Abstract

Background: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) 2 is an important modulator of the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) and the RAS plays a central role in renovascular hypertension. Very few studies investigated the role of components of the counterregulatory RAS axis (ACE2, Ang-(1-7) and Mas receptor) in renovascular hypertension and the results are controversial. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Diminazene Aceturate (DIZE) administration on renal function and renal inflammation parameters in 2K1C hypertensive rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups: sham-operated animals, 2K1C+saline and 2K1C+DIZE orally (1 mg/kg/day). At the end of the 30 days of treatment, renal function was analyzed and kidneys from all the groups were collected and processed separately for measurement of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities, cytokines, chemokines and nitric oxide levels. Results: Oral DIZE administration for 4 weeks in hypertensive rats attenuated renal dysfunction and reduced the levels of MPO and NAG, cytokines and chemokines (IL1β, IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1) and increased urinary nitrate/nitrite levels in 2K1C hypertensive rats. Conclusion: Our findings showed that ACE2 activation may effectively improve renal alterations and inflammation induced by renovascular hypertension.

A potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 on pituitary glands and pituitary neuroendocrine tumors

“…Thus, the current data provided evidence that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated in non-critical COVID-19 patients but suppressed in critical patients. Furthermore, DIZE increases ACTH secretion in vitro, which could serve as the potential therapy for critical COVID-19 patients [22][23][24].…”

The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Taurine on Cardiovascular Disease

“…A regulator of the cardiovascular system is the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), a system exhibited on various tissues and cells, which has been established as a key regulator of the body’s hormonal and fluid balance system. The RAS is usually pharmacologically targeted for the management of heart failure [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ], diabetes [ 38 , 39 ], and hypertension/blood pressure control [ 40 , 41 , 42 ]. The main effector of RAS is angiotensin II (AngII), which is produced by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) within the circulation or in ACE-expressed cells [ 43 , 44 , 45 ].…”

ACE2 activator diminazene aceturate exerts renoprotective effects in gentamicin-induced acute renal injury in rats

“…More recently, our research group found that oral administration of another ACE2 activator, the compound diminazene aceturate (DIZE), attenuated renal dysfunction and reduced the levels of myeloperoxidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, cytokines and chemokines and increased urinary nitrate/nitrite levels in 2 kidney-1 clip hypertensive rats (22). The role of DIZE in a gender-based I/R kidney injury was analyzed in a study conducted by Malek et al Downloaded from http://portlandpress.com/clinsci/article-pdf/doi/10.1042/CS20201022/897620/cs-2020-1022.pdf by guest on 26 November 2020 (23).…”