title: Angiotensin-II-receptors: new targets for antihypertensive therapy.
abstract: The renin-angiotensin system regulates blood pressure and sodium homeostasis through a series of coordinated substrate-enzyme interactions. These interactions result in the production of angiotensin II (AII), which exerts a number of diverse biologic effects mediated through AII cell-surface receptors. Dysregulation of this system is implicated in the pathogenesis of various forms of hypertension. Traditional therapy for hypertension has included angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, which block the production of AII. However, a new class of drugs, AT1-receptor blockers, now offers a number of benefits by specifically blocking the effects of AII at its physiologically relevant receptor.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Oliverio
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Coffman
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000502:physiology*; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000502:physiology; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D000804:Angiotensin II