IT IS AXIOMATIC THAT PEPTIDE hormones bind to cognate receptors on target cells, with the resultant generation of intracellular second messengers. Not as well known is the fact that a large and growing body of evidence indicates that extracellular signaling peptides, such as hormones and growth factors, also appear, in some cases, to operate in the interiors of cells after internalization or re...

Angiotensin II, a small peptide hormone that plays key roles in the regulation of blood pressure, also contributes to inflammatory processes that promote the development of atherosclerosis. In this issue of Cell, AbdAlla et al. (2004) provide evidence that pathogenic actions of angiotensin II involve covalent crosslinking of angiotensin AT1 receptors by factor XIIIA transglutaminase, resulting ...

Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor and D1 and D3 dopamine receptors directly interact in renal proximal tubule (RPT) cells from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). There is indirect evidence for a D5 and AT1 receptor interaction in WKY and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Therefore, we sought direct evidence of an interaction between AT1 and D5 receptors in RPT cells. D5 and AT1 recep...

Hemodynamic responses to angiotensin II and the role of AT1 and AT2 receptors and the autonomic nervous system in mediating acute responses to angiotensin II were investigated in anesthetized CD1 mice. Injections of angiotensin II caused dose-related increases in systemic arterial pressure that were antagonized by candesartan. Pressor responses to angiotensin II were not altered by PD-123,319 i...

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorder that causes substantial maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Despite being a leading cause of maternal death and a major contributor to maternal and perinatal morbidity, the mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of preeclampsia are poorly understood. Recent studies indicate that women with preeclampsia have autoantibodies th...

A recent study shows that angiotensin II receptor type 2 is expressed and localized with angiotensin II to mitochondrial inner membrane in various cell types and regulates NO generation and mitochondrial functions. The findings might have important implications in various inflammatory conditions and cell senescence. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a dominant regulator of the cardiovascula...

Radford published an interesting clinical case report of rural patients taking angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist – commonly also referred to as angiotensin receptor antagonists, AT1 receptor blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers or ARBs – who experienced a sudden loss of consciousness whilst exercising gently in the heat. The findings in this manuscript support, in a clinical se...

The effects of the angiotensin AT1 and AT2 receptor antagonists candesartan and PD-123,319 on hemodynamic responses to angiotensin peptides were investigated in the anesthetized rat. Injections of angiotensin II and III caused dose-related increases in systemic arterial and in hindquarters perfusion pressure that were reduced in an insurmountable manner by candesartan. Pressor responses to angi...

The central role of Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) in the regulation of blood pressure is widely accepted, and drugs which inhibit the formation of the potent vasoconstrictor angiotensin II (AngII) i.e. ACE inhibitors or drugs which block the Ang receptors of type 1 (AT1R) form the cornerstone in the treatment of hypertension. However, from AngI and AngII also vasodilating and blood pressure lo...

The angiotensin II-induced vasodilatation was evaluated in rat middle cerebral artery, especially regarding endothelium-derived hyperpolarising factor (EDHF), by use of a pressurised arteriograph. The angiotensin II dilatation was partly antagonised by inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase and cyclo-oxygenase. The remaining dilatation was inhibited by the potassium channel blockers, charybdotoxin...