Circulating angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 activity in patients with chronic kidney disease without previous history of cardiovascular disease

Anguiano, Lidia; Riera, Marta; Pascual, Julio; Valdivielso, José Manuel; Barrios, Clara; Betriu, Angels; Mojal, Sergi; Fernández, Elvira; Soler, María José; Castro, Eva; María, Virtudes; Molí, Teresa; Soria, Meritxell; Regidor, Aladrén; José, Mª; Jaume, Almirall; Esther, Ponz; Coloma, Arteaga; Rubio, Bajo; Rodríguez, Belart; Sara, Bielsa-García; Jordi, Bover Sanjuan; Josep, Bronsoms Artero; Romero, Cabezuelo; Juan, B; Salomé, Muray Cases; Jesús, Calviño Varela; Pilar, Caro Acevedo; Jordi, Carreras Bassa; Aleix, Cases Amenós; Elisabet, Massó Jiménez; Jesús, Castilla Pérez; Secundino, Cigarrán Guldris; Saray, López Prieto; Lourdes, Comas Mongay; Isabel, Comerma; Mª Teresa, Compte Jové; Marta, Cuberes Izquierdo; Fernando, de Álvaro; Covadonga, Hevia Ojanguren; Gabriel, de Arriba de la Fuente; Mª Dolores, del Pino y Pino; Rafael, Diaz-Tejeiro Izquierdo; Marta, Dotori; Verónica, Duarte; Sara, Estupiñan Torres; Mª José, Fernández Reyes; Mª Loreto, Fernández Rodríguez; Guillermina, Fernández; Antonio, Galán Serrano; Cesar, García Cantón; Herrera, García; Antonio, L; Mercedes, García Mena; Luis, Gil Sacaluga; Maria, Aguilar; Luis, Górriz José; Emma, Huarte Loza; Luis, Lerma José; Antonio, Liebana Cañada; Álvarez, Marín; Pedro, Jesús; Nà dia, Martín Alemany; Jesús, Martín García; Alberto, Martínez Castelao; María, Martínez Villaescusa; Isabel, Martínez; Iñigo, Moina Eguren; Silvia, Moreno Los Huertos; Ricardo, Mouzo Mirco; Antonia, Munar Vila; Ana Beatriz, Muñoz Díaz; González, Navarro; Juan, F; Javier, Nieto; Agustín, Carreño; Enrique, Novoa Fernández; Alberto, Ortiz; Beatriz, Fernandez; Vicente, Paraíso; Miguel, Pérez Fontán; Ana, Peris Domingo; Celestino, Piñera Haces; Mª Dolores, Prados Garrido; Mario, Prieto Velasco; Carmina, Puig Marí; Maite, Rivera Gorrín; Esther, Rubio; Pilar, Ruiz; Mercedes, Salgueira Lazo; Puerto, Martínez; Isabel, Ana; Tomero, Sánchez; Antonio, José; Emilio, Sánchez José; Ramon, Sans Lorman; Ramon, Saracho; Maria, Sarrias; Oreto, Prat; Fernando, Sousa; Daniel, Toran; Fernando, Tornero Molina; Carrasco, Usón; Javier, José; Ildefonso, Valera Cortes; Mª Merce, Vilaprinyo del Perugia; Ruiz, Virto; Rafael, C.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cardiovascular (CV) disease have an increased circulating angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) activity, but there is little information about changes in ACE2 in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients without history of CV disease. We examined circulating ACE2 activity in CKD patients at stages 3–5 (CKD3-5) and in dialysis (CKD5D) without any history of CV disease. METHODS: Circulating ACE2 activity was measured in human ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-plasma samples from the NEFRONA study (n = 2572): control group (CONT) (n = 568), CKD3-5 (n = 1458) and CKD5D (n = 546). Different clinical and analytical variables such as gender; age; history of diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia and hypertension; glycaemic, renal, lipid and anaemia profiles; vitamin D analogues treatment and antihypertensive treatments (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blockade) were analysed. Circulating ACE2 and ACE activities were measured using modified fluorimetric assay for EDTA-plasma samples, where zinc chloride was added to recover enzymatic activity. RESULTS: In CKD3-5 and CKD5D, significant decrease in circulating ACE2 activity was observed when compared with CONT, but no differences were found between CKD3-5 and CKD5 when performing paired case-control studies. By multivariate linear regression analysis, male gender and advanced age were identified as independent predictors of ACE2 activity in all groups. Diabetes was identified as independent predictor of ACE2 activity in CKD3-5. Significant increase in the activity of circulating ACE was found in CKD3-5 and CKD5D when compared with CONT and in CKD5D when compared with CKD3-5. By multiple regression analysis, female gender and younger age were identified as independent predictors of ACE activity in CONT and CKD3-5. Diabetes was also identified as an independent predictor of ACE activity in CKD3-5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating ACE2 and ACE activities can be measured in human EDTA-plasma samples with zinc added to recover enzymatic activity. In a CKD population without previous history of CV disease, ACE2 activity from human EDTA-plasma samples directly correlated with the classical CV risk factors namely older age, diabetes and male gender. Our data suggest that circulating ACE2 is altered in CKD patients at risk for CV event.