Angiotensin receptor-associated proteins: local modulators of the renin-angiotensin system.

The activity of the renin-angiotensin system crucially depends on the rate of renal renin secretion. Changes in renin secretion result in fluctuations of angiotensin II concentrations in the circulation and subsequently in the activation of angiotensin receptors in all accessible target organs. Consequently, various mechanisms have evolved to regulate the local sensitivity to angiotensin II. In this review, an overview of angiotensin II receptor-associated proteins is addressed. These proteins regulate the local sensitivity of receptor-expressing cells by modulating the receptor surface expression and the receptor sensitivity. A hypothesis will be discussed that integrates the existence of various angiotensin receptor-associated proteins into an overall functional model.