The Role of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme in Immunity: Shedding Light on Experimental Findings.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a zinc-dependent dicarboxypeptidase with two catalytic components, which has an important role in regulating blood pressure by converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II. ACE breaks down other peptides besides angiotensin I and has a variety of physiological effects together with renal growth and reproduction in men. ACE also acts on innate and acquired immune systems, by affecting macrophage and neutrophil function, and these outcomes are exacerbated due to the overexpression of ACE. Over expression of ACE in macrophages imposes antitumor and antimicrobial response, and it enhances the ability of neutrophil to produced super peroxide that has bactericidal effect. ACE is also known to contribute in the expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I and MHC class II peptides through enzymatic alterations of these peptides. Apprehending the expression of ACE and its effects on myeloid cell (myelogenous cells) activity can be promising in therapeutic interventions, including treatment of infection and malignancy.