title: Angiotensin II: a key factor in the inflammatory and fibrotic response in kidney diseases.
abstract: Angiotensin II (AngII) participates in the pathogenesis of renal diseases, through the regulation of two key processes inflammation and fibrosis. AT1 and AT2 are the main receptors of AngII. AT1 mediates most of the actions of AngII. This receptor regulates the expression of profibrotic factors, such as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). The Smad signalling pathway and the Rho/Rho kinase system are two novel mechanisms involved in AngII-induced matrix regulation recently described. The role of AT2 receptors in renal pathophysiological processes is not fully elucidated. Experimental data suggest that AT2 receptors through activation of nuclear factor-kappaB participate in renal inflammatory cell recruitment. Studies in animal models of kidney injury have shown that the combined blockade of both AT1 and AT2 receptors, as well as the inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway are necessary to stop the inflammatory process fully. On the whole, these data highlight the complex signalling systems activated by AngII and suggest novel potential targets to block fibrosis and inflammation in renal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Vascular and Renal Research Laboratory, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Avda. Reyes Católicos, 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain. mruizo@fjd.es
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Ortega
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rupérez
authors.forename: Vanesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Vita
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sánchez-López
authors.forename: Giselle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carvajal
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Egido
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016328:NF-kappa B; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2; D000804:Angiotensin II