Intrinsic angiotensin-generating system: its tissue specific functions and clinical implications.
The classical hormone angiotensin II is derived from the circulating renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which has a crucial role in the regulation of cardiovascular function, electrolyte as well as water homeostasis. In addition, numerous tissues/organs possess their own intrinsic, angiotensin-generating systems that meet the needs specific for individual tissues/organs. The machinery could be operated through the actions that add to, and/or differ from, the circulating RAS. Of particular interest in this context is the existence of an intrinsic RAS in such tissues as the pancreas, epididymis and carotid body. There has been a steady stream of evidence to suggest that these intrinsic RAS may have potential roles in the maintenance of their tissue/organ specific functions. More intriguingly, alterations of such an intrinsic RAS could be associated with the physiological and pathophysiological aspects of the respective tissue/organ functions. Future targets for the intervention of the intrinsic RAS, such as at the levels of pancreas, epididymis and carotid body should have clinical implications for the management of their respective functions.
Leung
P S
PS
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. psleung@cuhk.edu.hk
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000502:physiology; D004822:Epididymis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000502:physiology; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000804:Angiotensin II