Resveratrol inhibits growth of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with upregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2

Abstract

Objective-Recent evidence suggests an important role for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in limiting abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This study examined the effect of ACE2 defciency on AAA development and the effcacy of resveratrol to upregulate ACE2 in experimental AAA. Approach and Results-Ace2 deletion in apolipoprotein-defcient mice (ApoE-/-Ace2-/y) resulted in increased aortic diameter and spontaneous aneurysm of the suprarenal aorta associated with increased expression of inflammation and proteolytic enzyme markers. In humans, serum ACE2 activity was negatively associated with AAA diagnosis. ACE2 expression was lower in infrarenal biopsies of patients with AAA than organ donors..