Thromb Haemost 2012; 108(06): 1089-1096
DOI: 10.1160/TH12-06-0396
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

The Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/Angiotensin-(1–7)/Mas receptor axis: A potential target for treating thrombotic diseases

Rodrigo A. Fraga-Silva
1   Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
,
Danielle G. Da Silva
1   Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
,
Fabrizio Montecucco
2   Division of Cardiology, Geneva University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, Foundation for Medical Researches, Geneva, Switzerland
3   First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
,
François Mach
2   Division of Cardiology, Geneva University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, Foundation for Medical Researches, Geneva, Switzerland
,
Nikolaos Stergiopulos
1   Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
,
Rafaela F. da Silva
1   Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
4   National Institute of Science and Technology in Nanobiopharmaceutics, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
,
Robson A. S. Santos
4   National Institute of Science and Technology in Nanobiopharmaceutics, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
› Author Affiliations

Financial support:This research was funded by the Brazilian Swiss Joint Research Program (BSJRP) to F. Mach, N. Stergiopulos, and R.A.S Santos. This research was funded by EU FP7, Grant number 201668, AtheroRemo to F. Mach. This work was also supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation Grants to F. Mach (#310030–118245) and F. Montecucco (#32003B-134963/1).
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 13 June 2012

Accepted after major revision:21 August 2012

Publication Date:
30 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Despite many therapeutic advances leading to increasingly effective drug treatments, thrombotic events (such as ischaemic stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis and acute myocardial infarction) still represent a major worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality. Remarkable effort has been made to identify new drug targets. There is growing evidence indicating that the recently described counter-regulator axis of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), composed of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), Angiotensin-(1–7) and the Mas receptor, has protective effects against thrombosis. In addition, it could be considered as a promising target for treating or preventing this disease. In this narrative review, we focused on the recent findings of the role of the ACE2/Angiotensin-(1–7)/Mas axis on the haemostatic process and its therapeutic potential.