Title:The Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), Gut Microbiota, and Cardiovascular Health
Volume: 24
Issue: 9
Author(s): Joao Marcus Oliveira Andrade*, Deborah de Farias Lelis, Valeria Mafra and Junio Cota
Affiliation:
- Laboratory of Health Science, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (Unimontes), Montes Claros, MG,Brazil
Keywords:
Renin-angiotensin system, Angiotensin converting enzyme 2, gut microbiota, cardiovascular health, biological
functions, immune response.
Abstract: Background: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is an important enzymatic system
responsible for the regulation of biological functions, such as the arterial pressure, hydroelectrolytic
control, vascular vasodilatation/vasoconstriction and more recently metabolic functions.
Objectives: The aim of the present review is to discuss the associations between the gut microbiome
and the renin-angiotensin system and the influence of their intimate relationship on the cardiovascular
health.
Methods: A literature review of the main studies published regarding the relationship among the
renin-angiotensin system, gut microbiota and cardiovascular health was performed.
Results: The association between the ACE2 and gut microbiota has been discussed. It is shown that
the ACE2/Ang 1-7 axis modulates the immune response, influencing the microbiota composition,
and thus being one of the causes for some diseases physiophatologies, such as diarrhea and intestinal
inflammatory disease.
Conclusion: The association between RAS and gut microbiota seems to have a strong influence on
the genesis of cardiovascular diseases, through direct mechanisms, such as nerve stimulation, or
indirectly on metabolic parameters, such as weight, adiposity and lipid profile.
