Long-term angiotensin II (ANG II) administration is associated with increased ANG II accumulation in the kidney, but intrarenal compartment(s) involved in this response remains to be determined. We tested the hypothesis that 1) extracellular ANG II is taken up by proximal tubule cells (PTCs) through AT(1) receptor-mediated endocytosis, 2) this process is regulated by cytoskeleton microtubule- a...

Angiotensin (1-7) [Ang 1-7] is a 7 amino acid peptide generated predominantly from Ang II by the action of Ang-converting enzyme 2. We previously showed that Ang 1-7 reduced plasma aldosterone and plasma renin activity in high fructose-fed rats, and that the reduction in circulating aldosterone seemed to accord a parallel reduction in plasma renin activity. Here, we tested the possibility that ...

Angiotensin II (ANG II) has been postulated to have pathogenetic role in diminished glomerular function in a number of animal models of acute renal failure. The present studies were designed to test the hypothesis that modest elevations in circulating ANG II potentiate the ability of ANG II to reduce glomerular capillary surface area through an effect on ANG II binding to glomerular mesangial c...

AIMS Our aim was to determine the contribution of the three angiotensin (Ang) II receptor subtypes (AT(1a), AT(1b), AT(2)) to coronary responsiveness, cardiac histopathology, and tissue Ang II levels using mice deficient for one, two, or all three Ang II receptors. METHODS AND RESULTS Hearts of knockout mice and their wild-type controls were collected for histochemistry or perfused according ...

Hao PP, Yang JM, Zhang MX, Zhang K, Chen YG, Zhang C, Zhang Y. Angiotensin-(1–7) treatment mitigates right ventricular fibrosis as a distinctive feature of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 308: H1007–H1019, 2015. First published February 27, 2015; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00563.2014.—In diabetic patients, left ventricular (LV) remodeling is highly prevalent; however, little ...

Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) are the two ligands of the Tie-2 receptor, a receptor tyrosine kinase that is expressed on the endothelium. A balanced angiopoietin/Tie-2 system is critical for the maintenance of vascular integrity. We investigated the potential role of a disrupted angiopoietin/Tie-2 system on hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial infarction and impaired ang...

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a key role in blood pressure regulation, fluid and electrolyte balance, cellular growth, thirst, and cardiac/renal function. The classic system primarily involves 2 enzymes: renin, which cleaves angiotensinogen to the inactive decapeptide angiotensin (Ang) I; and Ang-converting enzyme (ACE), a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase that hydrolyzes Ang I to the octa...

Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) affect angiogenesis differently during embryogenesis and tumorigenesis. In an attempt to understand the molecular basis underlying the distinct roles of those two homologous molecules, we investigated the association of Ang-1 and Ang-2 with the extracellular matrix (ECM). TA3 murine mammary carcinoma (TA3) and Lewis lung carcinoma cells expressi...

We found colocalization of renin, angiotensin (Ang) I and Ang II in juxtaglomerular (JG) cells of the kidney. Coexistence of Ang II in renin granules was demonstrated by electron microscopic immunogold labeling of these components. Coexistence of both Ang I and Ang II in the high density renin storage granules were also demonstrated by gradient centrifugation of renal homogenate. These findings...