Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASIs), including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin AT1 receptor blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), are the cornerstone for the treatment of cardiovascular and renal diseases.
The recent findings about the role of the angiotensin AT2 receptor in renal health and disease strongly suggest that pharmacological targeting of this receptor with selective agonists is a promising therapeutic strategy for inducing diuresis/natriuresis (also additive to established diuretics) and for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy or kidney disease of other pathogenesis.
Therefore, these findings suggest that exogenous activation of the Mas receptor protects from ADR-induced nephropathy and contributes to the beneficial effects of AT1 receptor blockade.
In animal models, interstitial angiotensin II (ang II) and AT1 receptor (AT1R) are key mediators of renal inflammation and fibrosis in progressive chronic nephropathies.
Although the expression of renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme in experimental and human renal disease has been well characterized, no information is available regarding human angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor expression.