SerpinA1, also known as Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), is a prototype member of the Serpin superfamily of the serine protease inhibitors. This serine protease inhibitor blocks the protease, neutrophil elastase. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is mainly produced in the liver and acts as an antiprotease. Its principal function is to inactivate neutrophil elastase, preventing tissue damage. SerpinA1, an acute phase protein and the classical neutrophil elastase inhibitor, is localized within lipid rafts in primary human monocytes in vitro. It association with monocytes is inhibited by cholesterol depleting/efflux-stimulating agents and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and conversely, enhanced by free cholesterol. Furthermore, SerpinA1/monocyte association per se depletes lipid raft cholesterol as characterized by the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2, formation of cytosolic lipid droplets, and a complete inhibition of oxLDL uptake by monocytes. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a recently identified genetic disease that occurs almost as frequently as cystic fibrosis. It is caused by various mutations in the SerpinA1 gene, and has numerous clinical implications. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is an inherited disease affecting the lung and liver. In the liver, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency may manifest as benign neonatal hepatitis syndrome, a small percentage of adults develop liver fibrosis, with progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a first homolog of ACE, regulates the renin angiotensin system (RAS) by counterbalancing ACE activity. Accumulating evidence in recent years has demonstrated a physiological and pathological role of ACE2 in the cardiovascular, renal and respiratory systems. ACE2 also has an important role in blood pressure control. This enzyme, an homolog of ACE, hydrolyzes angiotensin (Ang) I to produce Ang-(1-9), which is subsequently converted into Ang-(1-7) by a neutral endopeptidase and ACE. ACE2 releases Ang-(1-7) more efficiently than its catalysis of Ang-(1-9) by cleavage of Pro(7)-Phe(8) bound in Ang II. Thus, the major biologically active product of ACE2 is Ang-(1-7), which is considered to be a beneficial peptide of the RAS cascade in the cardiovascular system. A physiological role for ACE2 has been implicated in hypertension, cardiac function, heart function and diabetes, and as a receptor of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. In the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), ACE, AngII, and AT1R promote the disease pathogenesis, whereas ACE2 and the AT2R protect from ARDS. Importantly, ACE2 has been identified as a key SARS-coronavirus receptor and plays a protective role in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pathogenesis. Furthermore, the recent explosion of research into the ACE2 homolog, collectrin, has revealed a new physiological function of ACE2 as an amino acid transporter, which explains the pathogenic role of gene mutations in Hartnup disorder.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a first homolog of ACE, regulates the renin angiotensin system (RAS) by counterbalancing ACE activity. Accumulating evidence in recent years has demonstrated a physiological and pathological role of ACE2 in the cardiovascular, renal and respiratory systems. ACE2 also has an important role in blood pressure control. This enzyme, an homolog of ACE, hydrolyzes angiotensin (Ang) I to produce Ang-(1-9), which is subsequently converted into Ang-(1-7) by a neutral endopeptidase and ACE. ACE2 releases Ang-(1-7) more efficiently than its catalysis of Ang-(1-9) by cleavage of Pro(7)-Phe(8) bound in Ang II. Thus, the major biologically active product of ACE2 is Ang-(1-7), which is considered to be a beneficial peptide of the RAS cascade in the cardiovascular system. A physiological role for ACE2 has been implicated in hypertension, cardiac function, heart function and diabetes, and as a receptor of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. In the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), ACE, AngII, and AT1R promote the disease pathogenesis, whereas ACE2 and the AT2R protect from ARDS. Importantly, ACE2 has been identified as a key SARS-coronavirus receptor and plays a protective role in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pathogenesis. Furthermore, the recent explosion of research into the ACE2 homolog, collectrin, has revealed a new physiological function of ACE2 as an amino acid transporter, which explains the pathogenic role of gene mutations in Hartnup disorder. This review summarizes and discusses the recently unveiled roles for ACE2 in disease pathogenesis.
Dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase that removes dipeptides from the C-terminus of a variety of circulating hormones, such as angiotensin I, bradykinin or enkephalins, thereby playing a key role in the regulation of blood pressure, electrolyte homeostasis or synaptic plasticity. Plays a major role in the angiotensin-renin system that regulates blood pressure and sodium retention by the kidney by converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II, resulting in an increase of the vasoconstrictor activity of angiotensin.
Adiponectin (AdipoQ),an adipocyte-derived hormone,is one of the most abundant adipokines in the blood circulation. Adiponectin modulates a number of metabolic processes,including improving insulin sensitivity and anti-inflammatory activity. The role of AdipoQ in reproduction is not yet fully understood,but the expression of AdipoQ in reproductive tissues has been observed in various animals and humans,including chicken testis,bovine ovary,and human placenta. Adiponectin exerts its effects by activating a range of different signaling molecules via binding to two transmembrane AdipoQ receptors,AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. AdipoR1 is expressed primarily in the skeletal muscle,whereas AdipoR2 is predominantly expressed in the liver. AdipoQ May play a role in cell growth,angiogenesis and tissue remodeling by binding and sequestering various growth factors.
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