The beneficial effect of ACE/kininase II inhibitors or angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonists in cardiac ischaemia is abolished in TK-deficient mice, suggesting a prominent role for TK and kinins in the cardioprotective action of these drugs.
This study analyzed the relationship between two polymorphisms of the angiotensin II AT-1 receptor gene (AT1_1166 and AT1_573) and the risk of ischemic heart disease by studying their association with several cardiovascular risk factors.
The angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor mRNA levels were down-regulated in human coronary arteries from patients with ischemic heart disease as compared to controls (P<0.05).