The recently discovered angiotensin-converting enzyme-related carboxypeptidase 2 (ACE2)-[Angiotensin-(1-7)(Ang-(1-7)]-Mas receptor axis has an opposing function to that of the ACE-Angiotensin II (Ang II)-Angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor axis. Ang-(1-7) is present in the kidneys at concentrations comparable to those of Ang II and is associated with vasodilation, modulation of sodium and water t...

Mas stimulation with angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) produces cardioprotective effects and vasorelaxation. Using a computational discovery platform for predicting novel naturally occurring peptides that may activate G protein-coupled receptors, we discovered a novel Mas agonist peptide, CGEN-856S. An endothelium- and NO-dependent vasodilating effect was observed for CGEN-856S in thoracic aorta rings of...

It has been shown that the brain has its own intrinsic renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)) is particularly interesting, because it appears to counterbalance most of the Ang II effects. Ang-(1-7) exerts its biological function through activation of the G-protein-coupled receptor Mas. Interestingly, hippocampus is one of the regions with higher expression of Mas. Howe...

Recently there has been growing evidence suggesting that beneficial effects of angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] in the heart are mediated by its receptor Mas. However, the signaling pathways involved in these effects in cardiomyocytes are unknown. Here, we investigated the involvement of the Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis in NO generation and Ca(2+) handling in adult ventricular myocytes using a combination o...

Mas codes for a G protein-coupled receptor that is implicated in angiotensin-(1-7) signaling. We studied the cardiovascular phenotype of Mas-deficient mice backcrossed onto the FVB/N genetic background using telemetry and found that they exhibit higher blood pressures compared with controls. These Mas(-/-) mice also had impaired endothelial function, decreased NO production, and lower endotheli...

The vasodilator/antiproliferative peptide angiotensin-(1-7) [ANG-(1-7)] is released into the corpus cavernosum sinuses, but its role in erectile function has yet to be defined. In this study, we sought to determine whether ANG-(1-7) and its receptor Mas play a role in erectile function. The ANG-(1-7) receptor Mas was immunolocalized in rat corpus cavernosum by confocal microscopy. Infusion of A...

the purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of the modified ashworth scale (mas) by using both the conventional (hmax/mmax ratio) and the new indicators (hslp/mslp) of motoneuron excitability. this research was a correlational study on twenty post-stroke patients. main outcome measures were the mas and electrophysiologic assessments. the latter was performed using both conventiona...

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a potentially fatal complication of Adult-Onset Still's disease (Still's disease). Whereas an increasing body of evidence supports interleukin-1 (IL-1) blockade as a promising treatment for Still's disease, whether it is therapeutic for MAS associated with Still's disease remains unclear. We report a 34-year-old Caucasian man with one-decade history of TN...