Mechanism of cardiac fibrosis by angiotensin. New insight revealed by genetic engineering.

Accumulating data show that excess of angiotensin II (Ang II) is involved in cardiac fibrosis. Many experimental studies suggested that Ang II induces cardiac fibrosis not by its blood pressure-raising action, but rather by a direct action on the heart. However, it has been difficult to distinguish the local and systemic actions in vivo. Recent genetic technology sheds new light on this problem. This review focuses on the recent advances and newly arising issues regarding the mechanism of Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis.