Evidence for a role of an intracardiac renin-angiotensin system in normal and failing hearts.
Although substantial evidence of a cardiac RAS has been obtained in the past decade, a number of important questions remain unanswered. These include identification and localization of the cell types responsible for production of the system's components as well as the regulation of synthesis, storage, and secretion pathways for each component. Future studies, which will utilize tools of molecular biology that have become recently available (for example, transgenic animal models), renin inhibitors, angiotensin receptor antagonists, and bradykinin antagonists, will help to elucidate specific roles of the cardiac RAS in normal and failing hearts.
Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA 17822, USA.
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Baker