[The renin-angiotensin system in human brain and brain tumors: a function unrelated to blood pressure control?].
The renin-angiotensin system (RAS), in addition to controlling blood pressure and the sodium-water balance, may be involved in cell growth and/or death in the brain. In order to address this issue, we compared the expression of RAS components in surgical specimens of human brain tumors and adjacent tissue. Human brain tumor cells and rat brain cells in culture were used to evaluate RAS functions. We found evidence that the RAS may be involved in maintaining the functions of the cerebral vasculature (the blood-brain-barrier) by controlling the ratio between angiotensin II and angiotensin III production, and by playing a more direct role in the survival of astroglial cells.
Juillerat-Jeanneret
Lucienne
L
Institut Universitaire de Pathologie, CHUV, 25, rue du Bugnon, CH1011 Lausanne, Suisse.
Gasc
Jean-Marie
JM
Corvol
Pierre
P
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000805:Angiotensin III / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental; D051381:Rats; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000805:Angiotensin III