scholarly journals Renin-Angiotensin System in Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis and Treatment of CVD

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 6702
Author(s):  
Anastasia V. Poznyak ◽  
Dwaipayan Bharadwaj ◽  
Gauri Prasad ◽  
Andrey V. Grechko ◽  
Margarita A. Sazonova ◽  
...  

Atherosclerosis has complex pathogenesis, which involves at least three serious aspects: inflammation, lipid metabolism alterations, and endothelial injury. There are no effective treatment options, as well as preventive measures for atherosclerosis. However, this disease has various severe complications, the most severe of which is cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is important to note, that CVD is among the leading causes of death worldwide. The renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) is an important part of inflammatory response regulation. This system contributes to the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the injured site and stimulates the production of various cytokines, such as IL-6, TNF-a, and COX-2. There is also an association between RAAS and oxidative stress, which is also an important player in atherogenesis. Angiotensin-II induces plaque formation at early stages, and this is one of the most crucial impacts on atherogenesis from the RAAS. Importantly, while stimulating the production of ROS, Angiotensin-II at the same time decreases the generation of NO. The endothelium is known as a major contributor to vascular function. Oxidative stress is the main trigger of endothelial dysfunction, and, once again, links RAAS to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. All these implications of RAAS in atherogenesis lead to an explicable conclusion that elements of RAAS can be promising targets for atherosclerosis treatment. In this review, we also summarize the data on treatment approaches involving cytokine targeting in CVD, which can contribute to a better understanding of atherogenesis and even its prevention.

TH Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 04 (02) ◽  
pp. e138-e144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Miesbach

AbstractThe activated renin–angiotensin system induces a prothrombotic state resulting from the imbalance between coagulation and fibrinolysis. Angiotensin II is the central effector molecule of the activated renin–angiotensin system and is degraded by the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 to angiotensin (1–7). The novel coronavirus infection (classified as COVID-19) is caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and is characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory response that can lead to severe manifestations such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and death in a proportion of patients, mostly elderly patients with preexisting comorbidities. SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor to enter the target cells, resulting in activation of the renin–angiotensin system. After downregulating the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the vasoconstrictor angiotensin II is increasingly produced and its counterregulating molecules angiotensin (1–7) reduced. Angiotensin II increases thrombin formation and impairs fibrinolysis. Elevated levels were strongly associated with viral load and lung injury in patients with severe COVID-19. Therefore, the complex clinical picture of patients with severe complications of COVID-19 is triggered by the various effects of highly expressed angiotensin II on vasculopathy, coagulopathy, and inflammation. Future treatment options should focus on blocking the thrombogenic and inflammatory properties of angiotensin II in COVID-19 patients.


PPAR Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Sánchez-Aguilar ◽  
Luz Ibarra-Lara ◽  
Leonardo Del Valle-Mondragón ◽  
María Esther Rubio-Ruiz ◽  
Alicia G. Aguilar-Navarro ◽  
...  

Rosiglitazone (RGZ), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) ligand, has been reported to act as insulin sensitizer and exert cardiovascular actions. In this work, we hypothesized that RGZ exerts a PPARγ–dependent regulation of blood pressure through modulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-type 2 (ACE2)/angiotensin-(1-7)/angiotensin II type-2 receptor (AT2R) axis in an experimental model of high blood pressure. We carried on experiments in normotensive (Sham) and aortic coarctation (AoCo)-induced hypertensive male Wistar rats. Both sham and AoCo rats were treated 7 days with vehicle (V), RGZ (5 mg/kg/day), or RGZ+BADGE (120 mg/kg/day) post-coarctation. We measured blood pressure and vascular reactivity on aortic rings, as well as the expression of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) proteins. We found that RGZ treatment in AoCo group decreases blood pressure values and improves vascular response to acetylcholine, both parameters dependent on PPARγ-stimulation. RGZ lowered serum angiotensin II (AngII) but increased Ang-(1-7) levels. It also decreased 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-2dG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and improved the antioxidant capacity. Regarding protein expression of RAS, RGZ decreases ACE and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and improved ACE2, AT2R, and Mas receptor in AoCo rats. Additionally, an in silico analysis revealed that 5′UTR regions of RAS and PPARγ share motifs with a transcriptional regulatory role. We conclude that RGZ lowers blood pressure values by increasing the expression of RAS axis proteins ACE2 and AT2R, decreasing the levels of AngII and increasing levels of Ang-(1-7) in a PPARγ-dependent manner. The in silico analysis is a valuable tool to predict the interaction between PPARγ and RAS.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1741 ◽  
Author(s):  
In-Ae Jang ◽  
Eun Kim ◽  
Ji Lim ◽  
Min Kim ◽  
Tae Ban ◽  
...  

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS), especially the angiotensin II (Ang II)/angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) axis, plays an important role in the aging process of the kidney, through increased tissue reactive oxygen species production and progressively increased oxidative stress. In contrast, the angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7)/Mas receptor (MasR) axis, which counteracts the effects of Ang II, is protective for end-organ damage. To evaluate the ability of resveratrol (RSV) to modulate the RAS in aging kidneys, eighteen-month-old male C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups that received either normal mouse chow or chow containing resveratrol, for six months. Renal expressions of RAS components, as well as pro- and antioxidant enzymes, were measured and mouse kidneys were isolated for histopathology. Resveratrol-treated mice demonstrated better renal function and reduced albuminuria, with improved renal histologic findings. Resveratrol suppressed the Ang II/AT1R axis and enhanced the AT2R/Ang 1-7/MasR axis. Additionally, the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, 3-nitrotyrosine, collagen IV, and fibronectin was decreased, while the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and superoxide dismutase 2 was increased by resveratrol treatment. These findings demonstrate that resveratrol exerts protective effects on aging kidneys by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis, through Ang II suppression and MasR activation.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (6) ◽  
pp. H3726-H3731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald D. Lund ◽  
Robert M. Brooks ◽  
Frank M. Faraci ◽  
Donald D. Heistad

Endotoxin [or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] increases levels of superoxide in blood vessels and impairs vasomotor function. Angiotensin II plays an important role in the generation of superoxide in several disease states, including hypertension and heart failure. The goal of this study was to determine whether the activation of the renin-angiotensin system contributes to oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction after endotoxin. We examined the effects of enalapril (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) or L-158809 (an angiotensin receptor blocker) on increases of superoxide and vasomotor dysfunction in mice treated with LPS. C57BL/6 mice were treated with either enalapril (60 mg·kg−1·day−1) or L-158809 (30 mg·kg−1·day−1) for 4 days. After the third day, LPS (10–20 mg/kg) or vehicle was injected intraperitoneally, and one day later, vasomotor function of the aorta was examined in vitro. After precontraction with PGF2α, the maximal responses to sodium nitroprusside were similar in the aorta from normal and LPS-treated mice. In contrast, the relaxation to acetylcholine was impaired after LPS (54 ± 5% at 10−5, mean ± SE) compared with vessels treated with vehicle (88 ± 1%; P < 0.05). Enalapril improved ( P < 0.05) relaxation in response to acetylcholine to 81 ± 6% after LPS. L-158809 also improved relaxation in response to acetylcholine to 77 ± 4% after LPS. Superoxide (measured with lucigenin and hydroethidine) was increased ( P < 0.05) in aorta after LPS, and levels were reduced ( P < 0.05) following enalapril and L-158809. Thus, after LPS, enalapril and L-158809 reduce superoxide levels and improve relaxation to acetylcholine in the aorta. The findings suggest that activation of the renin-angiotensin system contributes importantly to oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction after endotoxin.


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