Aim To investigate effects of angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] on soluble Fas(sFas) and restenosis after percutaneous transluminal abdominal aorta angioplasty. Methods Twenty-four healthy New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 3 groups: sham group,control group and Ang-(1-7) group.Rabbits underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the abdominal aorta or sham surgery.Subsequently,an osmotic minipump was implanted for Ang-(1-7) or saline administered.Before and 3 days,7 days,14 days,28 days after angioplasty,the levels of sFas in plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Angiography and histomorphometric analysis were performed four weeks after angioplasty. Results Four weeks after angioplasty,the Ang-(1-7) group displayed a significant reduction in luminal diameter(4.11±0.10 mm vs 2.88±0.08 mm,P<0.05),neointimal thickness(207.51±16.70 μm vs 448.08±15.30 μm,P<0.05),neointimal area(0.266±0.009 mm2 vs 0.408±0.020 mm2,P<0.05),and restenosis rate(28.13%±2.74% vs 40.13%±2.74%,P=0.008) compared with the control group.Furthermore,the levels of sFas in plasma were elevated in the 3rd day after vascular injury both in control and Ang-(1-7) group,then the levels of sFas in Ang-(1-7) group gradually declined(1.023 3±0.063 4 μg/L),while the levels of sFas in control group achieved its peak in the 7th day(2.508 2±0.068 0 μg/L).The levels of angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ) in plasma were raised both in control group and Ang-(1-7) group four weeks after angioplasty.However,the level of AngⅡ after angioplasty has no significant difference between these two groups(0.183±0.015 μg/L vs 0.178±0.015 μg/L,P>0.05). Conclusion Angiotensin-(1-7) attenuates neointimal formation and restenosis rate after angioplasty in rabbits and this effect might be conveyed through advancing the peak concentration of sFas in plasma,which could promote apoptosis of excessive proliferated vascular smooth muscle cell and achieving balance between proliferation and apoptosis as early as possible.