title: Renin-angiotensin system at the crossroad of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: The aim of this study is to discuss the reliable scientific evidence of an interactive link between hypertension and hypercholesterolemia considering the metabolic pathways and the pathogenetic mechanisms connecting the two risk factors.
  
  
  
  Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are highly prevalent in the general population and their coexistence in the same subjects additively increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Probably, hypercholesterolemia is also a risk factor for the development of hypertension. On the other side, it is also possible that lipid-lowering treatment could improve blood pressure control. Although the mechanisms of interaction between these two risk factors have not been completely elucidated thus far, there is rapidly growing evidence that the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) can be considered as the common link between hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. In particular, hypercholesterolemia seems to promote the upregulation of type 1 angiotensin II (AT1) receptor genes because of an increase in the stability of mRNA followed by structural overexpression of vascular AT1 receptors for angiotensin II. The treatment of both risk factors greatly improves individual risk profile, especially when statins and RAS blockers are used together.
  
  
  
  Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are highly coprevalent and strongly related from a pathophysiological point of view. The RAS could be the main mediator of this link.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: claudio.borghi@unibo.it.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urso
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cicero
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C544065:AGTR1 protein, human; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Cardiovascular risk; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertension; RAS; Statins