Lentivirus-mediated angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 overexpression inhibits angiotensin II-induced albumin down-regulation and enhancement of migration in rat hepatocytes / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To 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.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cultured 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.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Ang 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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ACE2 overexpression can inhibit Ang II-induced up-regulation of vimentin, reduction of albumin expression, and enhancement of cell migration in rat hepatocytes.</p>