title: Brain aminopeptidases and hypertension.
abstract: The brain aminopeptidases that participate in the enzymatic cascade of the renin-angiotensin system play a major role in blood pressure (BP) control, and their study offers new perspectives for the understanding of central BP control and the treatment of hypertension. In this system, angiotensin II is converted to angiotensin III (Ang III) by glutamyl aminopeptidase (GluAP) and Ang III is further metabolised to angiotensin IV by alanyl aminopeptidase or arginine-aminopeptidase. It is now clear that Ang III is the key active form of the central angiotensins, exerting tonic stimulatory control over BP. Therefore, the development of GluAP inhibitors as potential antihypertensive agents offers new perspectives for therapy. Brain aspartyl aminopeptidase, which converts angiotensin I to angiotensin 2-10, is also a possible target for antihypertensive therapy because of its potential role in BP control. Finally, since changes in BP levels, that paralleled changes in brain and plasma aminopeptidase activities, were observed after unilateral lesions of the nigrostriatal system, brain asymmetry, aminopeptidase activities and BP control appear to be related, resulting their interplay in an asymmetrical neuroendocrine response that differentially affect BP control. The study of this interaction may contribute to our understanding of how the brain controls BP.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Physiology, University of Jaén, Spain.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Banegas
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vives
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alba
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Gasparo
authors.forename: Ana Belen
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Segarra
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hermoso
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Durán
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramírez
mesh_terms: D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D000626:Aminopeptidases