ACE2 Therapy Using Adeno-associated Viral Vector Inhibits Liver Fibrosis in Mice

Mol Ther. 2015 Sep;23(9):1434-43. doi: 10.1038/mt.2015.92. Epub 2015 May 25.

Abstract

Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) which breaks down profibrotic peptide angiotensin II to antifibrotic peptide angiotensin-(1-7) is a potential therapeutic target in liver fibrosis. We therefore investigated the long-term therapeutic effect of recombinant ACE2 using a liver-specific adeno-associated viral genome 2 serotype 8 vector (rAAV2/8-ACE2) with a liver-specific promoter in three murine models of chronic liver disease, including carbon tetrachloride-induced toxic injury, bile duct ligation-induced cholestatic injury, and methionine- and choline-deficient diet-induced steatotic injury. A single injection of rAAV2/8-ACE2 was administered after liver disease has established. Hepatic fibrosis, gene and protein expression, and the mechanisms that rAAV2/8-ACE2 therapy associated reduction in liver fibrosis were analyzed. Compared with control group, rAAV2/8-ACE2 therapy produced rapid and sustained upregulation of hepatic ACE2, resulting in a profound reduction in fibrosis and profibrotic markers in all diseased models. These changes were accompanied by reduction in hepatic angiotensin II levels with concomitant increases in hepatic angiotensin-(1-7) levels, resulting in significant reductions of NADPH oxidase assembly, oxidative stress and ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation. Moreover, rAAV2/8-ACE2 therapy normalized increased intrahepatic vascular tone in fibrotic livers. We conclude that rAAV2/8-ACE2 is an effective liver-targeted, long-term therapy for liver fibrosis and its complications without producing unwanted systemic effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin I / metabolism
  • Angiotensin II / metabolism
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Animals
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dependovirus / classification
  • Dependovirus / genetics*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Therapy* / methods
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Hepatic Stellate Cells / metabolism
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Lipid Peroxidation / genetics
  • Liver Cirrhosis / chemically induced
  • Liver Cirrhosis / genetics*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / therapy
  • Liver Function Tests
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Male
  • Methoxamine / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Organ Specificity / genetics
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / genetics*
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Angiotensin II
  • Angiotensin I
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • Ace2 protein, mouse
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Methoxamine