Angiotensin II type 1 receptor induced signal-transduction pathways as new targets for pharmacological treatment of the renin-angiotensin system.

The peptide hormone angiotensin II is the main effector of the renin angiotensin system and may be involved in the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular disease such as congestive heart failure and hypertension. Drugs developed to inhibit angiotensin II effects such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or receptor antagonists helped to detect the cardiovascular and cellular mechanisms of angiotensin II effects. ACE inhibitor effects are complex and include indirect as well as direct mechanisms. Indirect effects are mediated by unloading the heart via prevention of aldosterone release and modulation of sympathetic nervous system activity. Direct actions include the inhibition of cardiac fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis as well as hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes. Recent work has focused on uncovering the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of angiotensin II induced cell growth.