title: Angiotensin-II behaves as an endogenous pro-inflammatory molecule.
abstract: Angiotensin-II regulates vascular tone, stimulates the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, activates NF-kappaB, increases oxidant stress, and suppresses nitric oxide synthesis, and thus, it functions as an inflammatory molecule. Since ACE is present in many tissues, this suggests that angiotensin-II may play a significant role in atherosclerosis, congestive cardiac failure, stroke, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, psoriasis, atopic and non-atopic dermatitis, eczema, several acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, and cancer, conditions in which inflammation is an aetiopathogenic factor. Thus, ACE inhibitors and/or angiotensin-II receptor blockers could be of benefit in these conditions. Furthermore, structural analogues of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-II receptor blockers could be developed that possess anti-inflammatory actions without significant action on the cardiovascular system.
authors.affiliation: UND Life Sciences, 1083 Main Street, Walpole, MA 02081, USA.
authors.forename: U N
authors.initials: UN
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D000804:Angiotensin II