ACE inhibitors or Ang II receptor type 1 (AT1R) blockers are widely used as first line drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases that are caused by chronical activation of RAS.
This review provides an overview of the complex Ang2-dependent signaling involved in CVD and cancer, as well as a survey of the related clinical literature.
The contribution of Ang II in cardiovascular diseases in AI patients as well as a potential role for providing useful complementary information at diagnosis and follow up of AI should be investigated in future trials.
In parallel, similar protective actions were also described for one of the two receptors of ANG II, the ANG II type 2 receptor (AT<sub>2</sub>R), in contrast to the other, the ANG II type 1 receptor (AT<sub>1</sub>R), which mediates deleterious actions of this peptide, e.g., in the setting of cardiovascular disease.
Angiotensin II (Ang-II), a vascular stimulant associated with cardiovascular disease progression, has been demonstrated to be mainly involved in cardiovascular remodeling of atherosclerosis and cardiac hypertrophy.
Several antagonists of GPCRs, such as βARs (β-adrenergic receptors) and Ang II (angiotensin II) receptors, are now considered standard of therapy for a wide range of cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure.
Ang II has been involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) induced migration of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) is the most common and basic pathological feature.
These findings demonstrate the involvement of neurotrophins such as BDNF in promoting Ang II-induced autonomic dysfunction and further implicate TrkB signaling in modulating presympathetic autonomic neurons during cardiovascular disease.
Thus, targeting endothelial CX(3)CL1-mononuclear leukocyte CX(3)CR1 interactions may constitute a new therapeutic strategy in the treatment of Ang-II-associated cardiovascular diseases.
Further clarification of gene regulatory mechanisms of Ang II receptors may identify potential targets for the development of novel therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases.
Studies using recombinant ACE2 have shown the ability of ACE2 to rapidly metabolize Ang II in vivo and form the basis for future studies to examine the potential of ACE2 amplification in the therapy of diabetic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.
The authors suggest that identification of control elements for Ang II receptor expression, which are tissue-specific, may provide a basis for future therapeutic manipulation of Ang II receptors in cardiovascular disease states.