A Preliminary Study of Low-Dose Angiotensin 1-7 Plus the Pineal Hormone Melatonin in the Treatment of Human Systemic Diseases other than Cancer and Autoimmune Pathologies

The recent advances of the psychoneuroimmunology have demonstrated the existence of a physiological anti-inflammatory antitumor neuroendocrine axis, mainly constituted by the pineal gland through its indole hormone melatonin (MLT) and the ACE2-angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7) system. Moreover, most human systemic diseases, including cancer, autoimmunity, metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative pathologies, have appeared to be characterized by an endogenous deficiency in the functionless of the pineal gland and ACE-ACE2 system. Therefore, the exogenous correction of MLT and Ang 1-7 deficiency could improve the clinical control of human systemic diseases. On these bases, a preliminary study of MLT plus Ang 1-7 was planned in patients suffering from systemic alterations other than cancer and autoimmunity. The study included 33 consecutive patients, whose pathologies were, as follows: cardiovascular pathologies: 9; pulmonary diseases: 7; metabolic syndrome: 7; neurodegenerative pathologies: 10. Both Ang 1-7 and MLT were given orally, at a dose of 0.5 mg/day in the morning for Ang 1-7, and at a dose of 10 mg/day in the evening for MLT. The treatment was well tolerated in all patients, and no-therapy related toxicity occurred. On the contrary, most patients experienced a relief of anxiety and asthenia, and an improvement in both mood and quality of sleep. Moreover, most patients referred an increased diuresis. Blood pressure values progressively became within the normal range in hypertensive patients. On the same way, glucose and cholesterol levels progressively decrease on therapy in diabetic and hypercholesterolemic patients, respectively. Patients with pulmonary disturbance referred an important enhancement in the expectoration, with a following improvement in the respiratory symptomatology. Finally, an apparent improvement in cognitive and motor functions was achieved in patients with neurodegenerative pathologies. These preliminary results would suggest a future medical possibility to treat the human systemicdiseases by simply correcting their endogenous neuroendocrine deficiencies, mainly those involving the functions of the pineal gland and ACE2-Ang1-7 system.

Keywords: ACE2; Angiotensin 1-7; Cardiovascular pathologies; Human systemic diseases; Melatonin; Metabolic syndrome; Neurodegenerative diseases; Pineal gland.