Vascular renin-angiotensin system and vascular protection.
Vascular angiotensin plays an important role in the long-term regulation of the blood vessel function and structure. Angiotensin stimulates vascular smooth-muscle cell growth via the induction of protooncogene and autocrine growth factor gene expressions. In hypertension, atherosclerosis and restenosis, vascular angiotensin activity is increased and participates in the pathobiology of these vascular diseases. Experimental data demonstrate that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors can prevent vascular hypertrophy of hypertension, attenuate atherosclerosis, and inhibit neointimal hyperplasia of restenosis. Taken together, the data show that pharmacologic blockade of the vascular renin-angiotensin system may result in vascular protection. Ongoing clinical trials (MERCATOR, QUIET) will address the relevance of these experimental observations in clinical therapy.
Dzau
V J
VJ
Falk Cardiovascular Research Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5246.
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000804:Angiotensin II; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A