Abstract: Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on angiotensin II (Ang
II)-induced down-regulation of albumin expression and enhancement of cell migration in rat hepatocytes. Methods Cultured
rat hepatocyte were treated with Ang II (10-7 mol/L) for different time lengths, and the protein expressions of vimentin and
albumin and cell migration were detected. The cells transfected with lentiGFP or lentiACE2 were treated with A779 for 1 h and
then with Ang II, and Western blotting and immunofluorescent cytochemistry were used to detect the protein levels; the cell
migration was evaluated by Transwell assay. Result Ang II induced significantly increased vimentin expression and reduced
albumin expression in rat hepatocytes in a time-dependent manner. Overexpression of ACE2 obviously inhibited the
up-regulation of vimentin expression, reduction of albumin expression, and enhancement of cell migration induced by Ang II.
Conclusion ACE2 overexpression can inhibit Ang II-induced up-regulation of vimentin, reduction of albumin expression, and
enhancement of cell migration in rat hepatocytes.