ACE2 Activation Promotes Antithrombotic Activity

Thrombogenic events, such as ischemic stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, mesenteric ischemia and acute coronary syndrome, are major complications of certain pathological conditions, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus. Despite many therapeutic advances and increasingly effective drug treatments, thrombogenic events remain the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent data suggest activation of the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis produces antithrombotic activity. In this work, Fraga-Silva et al. evaluated the role of ACE2 in thrombus formation in normotension and hypertension in vivo and tested a novel ACE2 activator (XNT) on thrombus formation. Results demonstrate the pharmacological activation of ACE2 by XNT attenuated platelet attachment to vessels and thrombus formation. These results suggest that XNT could be a potential lead compound for the treatment of thrombogenic diseases.

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