ACE2 and Hypertension: Therefore, ACE2 protects against RAS-induced injuries by decreasing angiotensin II and generating angiotensin (1–7), which increases substrate availability of the protective axis.41 ACE2 knockout mice and those on ACE2 inhibitors had increased susceptibility to myocardial infarction, hypertension, angiotensin II-induced myocardial hypertrophy, microvascular complication, inflammation, fibrosis, diastolic and systolic dysfunction and oxidative stress.