H-Val-Pro-Pro-OH (VPP) is a peptide inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE; IC50 = 9 µM).1 It inhibits acetylcholine-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) when used at a concentration of 1 µM and induces vasorelaxation in precontracted isolated rat aortic rings.2 VPP (0.3 mg/kg) decreases systolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive, but not normotensive, rats.3 Dietary administration of VPP reduces plasma levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides, expression of Il6 and Il1b, and aortic arch intimal thickening and atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE-/- mice.4
1.Nakamura, Y., Yamamoto, N., Sakai, K., et al.Purification and characterization of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors from sour milkJ. Dairy Sci.78(4)777-783(1995) 2.Hirota, T., Nonaka, A., Matsushita, A., et al.Milk casein-derived tripeptides, VPP and IPP induced NO production in cultured endothelial cells and endothelium-dependent relaxation of isolated aortic ringsHeart Vessels26(5)549-556(2011) 3.Nakamura, Y., Yamamoto, N., Sakai, K., et al.Antihypertensive effect of sour milk and peptides isolated from it that are inhibitors to angiotensin I-converting enzymeJ. Dairy Sci.78(6)1253-1257(1995) 4.Nakamura, T., Hirota, T., Mizushima, K., et al.Milk-derived peptides, Val-Pro-Pro and Ile-Pro-Pro, attenuate atherosclerosis development in apolipoprotein e-deficient mice: A preliminary studyJ. Med. Food16(5)396-403(2013)