Abstract: Abstract: Objective:To investigate the effects of the recombinant angiotensin-converting enzyme 2（rACE2）gene on Profilin-1 expression and cell proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cell. Methods: The cultured human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells (HUASMC) were stimulated by Ang II in the presence and absence of rACE2 gene, the HUASMC proliferation and Profilin-1 expression level were determined with MTT, real-time PCR and Western blotting,respectively. Results: Compared with the control, Profilin-1 expression were significantly increased in HUASMC (3.50±0.30 vs. 1.00±0.10; n=5~6, P<0.05) by stimulating with Ang II（100 nmol /L）for 6 hours, which were inhibited by rACE2 gene intervention (1.73±0.12 vs. 3.50±0.30; n=5~6, P<0.05）. Conclusion: ACE2 gene over-expression contributes to the reversion of the Ang II- induced Profilin-1 expression and proliferation in human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells.

Key words: Key words: angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, Profilin-1, hypertension, angiotensin II, cell proliferation