Inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme N-terminal catalytic domain prevents endogenous opioid degradation in brain tissue.

Hanak, Filip; Swanson, Jessica L; Felczak, Krzysztof; Dobariya, Prakashkumar; Girdwood, Ursula Ch; Bernstein, Kenneth E; More, Swati S; Rothwell, Patrick E · JCI Insight · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Natural opioid signals in the brain produced by Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe are enhanced after blocking its degradation by the N-terminal catalytic domain of angiotensin-converting enzyme.

Medical subject headings