Objective    To explore the ACE2 and ACE gene expression in patients of congestive heart failure (CHF)

and the relationship between ACE2/ACE mRNA ratio and heart function.     Methods    Pathologic and morphologic studies on myocardial tissues of 30 CHF patients due to valvular heart diseases who admitted to our hospital from March 2005 to June 2006 and 5 control subjects who were voluntary organ donors were carried out by using optical microscopy. ACE2 and ACE mRNA expressions in myocardial tissues were analyzed by RT-PCR.     Results    ACE2 and ACE mRNA expressions increased in the CHF patients than in the control subjects (P0.01). The ACE2/ACE mRNA ratio increased in the patients with grade Ⅱ CHF according to the cardiac functional grading of NYHA than control subjects

but it decreased in the patients with grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ CHF.      Conclusion    The expressions of ACE2 and ACE gene were up-regulated in CHF patients. The increased ACE2/ACE mRNA ratio in the patients with grade Ⅱ CHF

may be due to cardiac compensation

indicating the promotion of AngⅡ degradation. The decreased ACE2/ACE mRNA ratio in the patients with grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ CHF suggested that AngⅡ level increased in myocardium of CHF patients.