Serum levels of angiotensin converting enzyme as a biomarker of liver fibrosis

作     者：Aline Silva Miranda Ana Cristina Sim?es e Silva 

作者机构：In-terdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical InvestigationFaculty of MedicineFederal University of Minas Gerais Laboratory of NeurobiologyDepartment of MorphologyInstitute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Minas Gerais Department of PediatricsFaculty of MedicineFederal University of Minas Gerais 

出 版 物：《World Journal of Gastroenterology》 (世界胃肠病学杂志（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2017年第23卷第48期

页      面：8439-8442页

核心收录：

学科分类：1002[医学-临床医学] 100201[医学-内科学(含：心血管病、血液病、呼吸系病、消化系病、内分泌与代谢病、肾病、风湿病、传染病)] 10[医学] 

基　　金：Supported by CNPq,No.460334/2014-0 FAPEMIG,No.CDS-PPM-00555-15(to Simoes e Silva AC) 2016 NARSAD Young Investigator Grant Awardee from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation,No.25414(to Miranda AS) 

主　　题：Renin angiotensin system Angiotensin converting enzyme Angiotensin Ⅱ Angiotensin-(1-7) Chronic hepatitis B hepatic cirrhosis Liver fibrosis 

摘      要：The renin angiotensin system(RAS) is classically conceived as a circulating hormonal system involved in blood pressure control and hydroelectrolyte balance. The discovery that RAS components are locally expressed in a wide range of organs and tissues,including the liver,pointed to a role for this system in the pathogenesis of several conditions including hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. It has been widely reported that the classical RAS axis composed by the angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE)-angiotensin(Ang) Ⅱ-Ang type 1(AT1) receptor mediates pro-inflammatory,pro-thrombotic,and pro-fibrotic processes. On the other hand,the alternative axis comprising ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas receptor seems to play a protective role by frequently opposing Ang Ⅱ action. Chronic hepatitis B(CHB) is one of the leading causes of liver fibrosis,accounting for the death of nearly one million people worldwide. Liver fibrosis is a key factor to determine therapeutic interventions for patients with CHB. However,the establishment of non-invasive and accurate methods to detect reversible stages of liver fibrosis is still a challenge. In an elegant study published in the 36 th issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology,Noguchi et al showed the predictive value of serum ACE levels in detecting not only advanced stages of liver fibrosis but also initial and intermediate fibrotic stages. The serum levels of ACE might represent an accurate,non-invasive,widely available,and easy method to evaluate fibrosis related to CHB. Moreover,therapies involving the inhibition of the classical RAS axis components might be promising in the control of CHB-related liver fibrosis.