SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY

School of Nursing

A Journal presented to the Faculty of the School of
Nursing in partial fulfilment of the course NCM 101


From gene to proteinexperimental and
clinical studies of ACE2 in blood pressure
control and arterial hypertension



Submitted by: Dan Gerald A. Salunga, BSN III-E3


August 25, 2014

Summary

The study aims to show that more needed support and research involving beneficial effects of
having increased ACE 2 might be a beneficial therapeutic management for Hypertensive
patients. But further experiments and tests must be done in order to prove its a fact.

The ACE inhibitor in the RAAS system is known to have been involved in increased blood
pressure. In this study , hypertensive rats were used as models to evaluate the effects of this
research. The experimental studies clearly support a physiological and pathophysiological role
for ACE2 in arterial hypertension, and data is also available that increasing/activating ACE2 has
beneficial effects to lower blood pressure. As therapeutic strategies that block the RAS using
ACE inhibitors or Ang II receptor blockers are first line therapy in hypertension, experimental
studies are needed that combine ACE2 activators/recombinant ACE2 with RAS blockers to
determine if this approach offers incremental benefits.

There are very few clinical studies that have specifically investigated whether circulating ACE2
activity is associated with blood pressure or hypertension. Plasma ACE2 activity levels are low
in healthy individuals, and may or may not be increased in patients with hypertension. The
experimental studies clearly support a physiological and pathophysiological role for ACE2 in
arterial hypertension, and data is also available that increasing/activating ACE2 has beneficial
effects to lower blood pressure.

As therapeutic strategies that block the RAS using ACE inhibitors or Ang II receptor blockers
are first line therapy in hypertension, experimental studies are needed that combine ACE2
activators/recombinant ACE2 with RAS blockers to determine if this approach offers
incremental benefits. There are very few clinical studies that have specifically investigated
whether circulating ACE2 activity is associated with blood pressure or hypertension. Plasma
ACE2 activity levels are low in healthy individuals, and may or may not be increased in patients
with hypertension.


Reaction

This research is a game changer since we were all thought to know that in the RAAS system
where ACE inhibitor increases blood pressure. This made me appreciate research and things
that we may know is bad may even have some benefits.

Increase in having more ACE inhibitor to lower blood pressure is a risk since this needs more
experiments for humans being respondents, not just rats. The study aims to show that more
needed support and research involving beneficial effects of having increased ACE 2 might be a
beneficial therapeutic management for Hypertensive patients. But further experiments and
tests must be done in order to prove its a fact.

I chose this journal because my client is currently an adult hypertensive patient and almost all
the journals Ive looked for have common traits like diet and lifestyle changes. I wanted an
updated journal that is more interesting than sharing an information that my fellow group
mates already know.

This made me open my eyes of many possibilities that can occur if you possess critical thinking
and curiosity, this traits would benefit mankind and further generations to come. As a third
year student , research helped me become more efficient in looking for journals that would
benefit me , my patients and spreading news about researches that would make us think more
widely and wisely.






Reference:

Sheila K. Patel, Elena Velkoska, Melanie Freeman, BryanWai,
Terase F. Lancefield and Louise M. Burrell (2014),
From gene to proteinexperimental and clinical studies of ACE2 in
blood pressure control and arterial hypertension, Volume 5, Article 227,
page 1-12
National Scientific and Technical Research Council, University of
Melbourne, Heidelberg

Retrieved on August 25, 2014 from:
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