Expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in rat pancreas / 基础医学与临床

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2) in rat endocrine and exocrine tissue of pancreas and to compare its expression level with that in other visceral tissues. Methods The expression of ACE2 in rat visceral organs was detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results ACE2 was positively expressed in all the test tissues, including pancreas, heart, liver, kidney, lung, spleen, duodenum, ileum and bladder. The expression of ACE2 mRNA was detected in whole pancreas and ACE2 protein was found in both endocrine tissue and exocrine tissue of rat pancreas, while in the endocrine tissue much less ACE2 protein was expressed. The absorbance value of exocrine tissue of rat pancreas increased significantly as compared to that in pancreatic islet. Conclusion Our data demonstrated a tissue specific pattern of ACE2 expression in rat pancreas and this indicated ACE2 might be present in islet of pancreas of human, which might cause the elevation of blood glucose levels in SARS patients. Since ACE2 works as a negative regulator of the angiotensin system, the expression of ACE2 protein in endocrine tissue of pancreas may facilitate the treatment of diabetes.