ACE2 and atherosclerosis: Notably, the following mechanisms mediated by the B2 and/or AT1 receptor could play a direct or indirect role in B2 bradykinin receptor-enhanced atherosclerosis: (I) The B2 bradykinin receptor could promote atherosclerosis by the reduced activation of atheroprotective AT1-inhibitory receptors, AGTR2 and MAS1 (34, 50–52), which are directly down-regulated by the B2 bradykinin receptor and angiotensin II AT1 receptor (34, 53) and indirectly dampened via angiotensin II AT1-mediated ACE2 down-regulation (54).