Angiotensin converting enzyme by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Angiotensin receptor Angiotensin II
Angiotensin is an peptide that circulates in the blood and leads to constriction of blood vessels, increased blood pressure, and release of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex. Angiotensin is derived from the precursor molecule angiotensinogen, a serum globulin produced in the liver. Angiotensin plays an important role in the renin-angiotensin system.
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Angiotensin coverting enzyme
Angiotensin coverting enzyme inhibitor drugs belong to the class of medicines
called high blood pressure medicines. By inhibiting angiotensin coverting
enzyme, an ACE inhibitor
drug is able to lower blood pressure. Angiotensin coverting enzyme inhibitors
are commonly prescribed for high blood pressure and heart failure. They also
prevent heart damage following a heart attack and reduce the risk of kidney
problems in people with diabetes.
Angiotensin coverting enzyme Inhibitors and Heart Attack
Lisinopril, captopril, ramipril, and trandolapril are angiotensin coverting
enzyme inhibitor drugs used in some
patients after a heart attack. After a heart attack, some of the heart
muscle is damaged and weakened. The heart muscle may continue to weaken as
time goes by. This makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood.
Angiotensin coverting enzyme inhibitors and CHF
Angiotensin coverting enzyme inhibitor drugs are used to treat congestive heart failure.
Angiotensin coverting enzyme inhibitors after Heart Surgery
Treatment
with angiotensin coverting enzyme inhibitors interferes with red blood cell formation and increases
the risk of prolonged episodes of anemia after heart surgery. A study of
42 men with anemia after cardiac surgery was conducted at Istituto Maria
Nascente Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi in Milan by Dr. Vittorino Ripamonti
and colleagues. Approximately nine days after surgery, patients were
randomized to the angiotensin coverting enzyme drug enalapril maleate or not. All patients received ferrous
sulfate 325 mg plus standard post-cardiac surgical therapy, including
beta-blockers and antiplatelet drugs if coronary artery disease was the
setting, or diuretics and anticoagulants if it was valvular disease. At 16
days, patients receiving enalapril had peak hemoglobin levels 1 g/dL lower
and red blood cell counts 444 RBCs/mL lower than patients not receiving
the angiotensin coverting enzyme inhibitor. By 60 days after randomization, hemoglobin and RBC
counts were moving toward normal in both groups, but remained lower in
those on enalapril. "In the postoperative period, when a prompt
erythropoietic response is crucial, the positive actions of (angiotensin coverting
enzyme inhibitors) may be counterbalanced by persistent anemia, thus leading to a
slower functional recovery," Dr. Ripamonti and colleagues conclude. Chest
2006;130:79-84.
Angiotensin coverting enzyme Inhibitors and Kidney
Disease
Captopril is used to treat kidney problems in some diabetic patients who
use insulin to control their diabetes. Over time, these kidney problems
may get worse. Captopril may help slow down the further worsening of
kidney problems.
Angiotensin coverting enzyme
inhibitors and diabetes
The results with ace inhibitors and diabetes onset delay has
provided mixed results. In one study, treatment with ACE inhibitors appeared to delay mortality in
patients with diabetes who also have microalbuminuria (and pre-existing
heart disease) or frank albuminuria. However, a 3 year study with the ace
inhibitor ramipril did not show any benefit. For the time being, diet and
exercise are better options for the delay of diabetic symptoms that the
use of an ace inhibitor.
Angiotensin coverting enzyme Inhibitors and Aortic Aneurysm
Treatment with an angiotensin coverting enzyme inhibitor is associated with a decreased risk of rupture in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Quercetin and angiotensin
Effects of quercetin on angiotensin II induced interleukin-6 in vascular smooth
muscle cells
Zhong Yao Cai. 2006 Jul;29(7):683-6. Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiao
University of Medicine, China.
To observe the effects of quercetin on angiotensin induced interleukin-6
(IL-6) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). VSMCs were isolated
from the thoracic aorta of Sprague-Dawley rats and were stimulated with
different doses of angiotensin II. The production of IL-6 in supernatant of
quercetin treated cultures was detected by ELISA. In parallel, interleukin-6
mRNA level was measured by RT-PCR. Angiotensin II induced a marked
increase of interleukin-6 in a dose- and time-dependent manner in the culture of
VSMCs. Quercetin inhibited the production of Ang II -induced interleukin-6 in
the culture in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, the result with RT-PCR
indicated that the expression of interleukin-6 mRNA induced by angiotensin II
for 24h was down-regulated by quercetin. CONCLUSION: It demonstrates that
quercetin possesses a inhibition of angiotensin II-induced production of IL-6 in
VSMCs. Moreover, quercetin also down regulates the expression of interleukin-6
mRNA, suggesting the action of quercetin on interleukin-6 release induced by
angiotensin II in VSMCs may underlie its anti-inflammatory properties.