ACE2 and diabetes mellitus: Hypertension and diabetes are similarly associated with an abnormally regulated RAS (Yim and Yoo, 2008), in which renal concentrations of angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) function are elevated, and levels of reno-protective angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)] and natriuretic peptides are decreased, along with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression and activity (Tikellis et al., 2012).