Microvascular angiogenesis and the renin-angiotensin system.
The renin-angiotensin system is one of the major regulatory mechanisms essential for maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. Angiotensin II is a multifunctional hormone that plays a key role in regulating this system. The importance of the renin-angiotensin system in controlling sodium homeostasis and vascular resistance is well established, however, in the past decade, much attention has been focused on the importance of angiotensin II as a regulator of microvessel density, acting through the AT1 and AT2 receptors. In this review, we discuss the connections between the renin-angiotensin system and other growth factor pathways known to be involved in pathologic and physiologic angiogenesis and rarefaction.
Greene
Andrew S
AS
Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, PO Box 26509, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. agreene@mcw.edu
Amaral
Sandra L
SL
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000502:physiology*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000378:metabolism; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000804:Angiotensin II; D002216:Captopril