INTRODUCTION Blood pressure is lower in females than males. Angiotensin II type-2 receptor (AT2R) induces vasodilation. This study determined whether sex differences in vascular AT2R expression occur and if androgens exert control on AT2R expression in the vasculature. METHODS AT2Rs in the aorta of male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were examined following alteration in androgen levels by go...

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays important roles in tumorigenesis and is involved with several hallmarks of cancer. Evidence shows that angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 receptor (AT1R) blockers may be associated with improved outcome in prostate cancer patients. Furthermore, our previous studies indicate that increased expression of Ang II type 2 receptor (AT2R) alone induced apoptosis in ...

It has been suggested that the effects of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) blockers are in part because of angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) signaling. Interactions between the AT2R and kinins modulate cardiovascular function. Because AT2R expression increases after vascular injury, we hypothesized that the effects on vascular remodeling of the AT1R blocker valsartan and the ACE inhibi...

Although the bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) is known as an ideal cell type for cell-based therapy for MI treatment, the effective subpopulation still remains unknown. Our study aimed at identifying the optimal subset of BMMNCs suited for cardiac regeneration. In this study, we observed that MI led to (i) a significant increase of the c-kit(+)AT2R(+) BMMNC subpopulation in mice and (ii) a ...

The physiological function of angiotensin II (Ang II) is mediated through the Ang II type 1 (AT1R) and type 2 (AT2R) receptors. Our previous studies have demonstrated that cell surface targeting of AT1R is regulated by Rab and Sar1 GTPases and the F(x)(6)LL motif in the membrane-proximal C terminus. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the export of nascent AT2R remain poorly defined. I...

The angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) and the receptor MAS are receptors of the protective arm of the renin-angiotensin system. They mediate strikingly similar actions. Moreover, in various studies, AT2R antagonists blocked the effects of MAS agonists and vice versa. Such cross-inhibition may indicate heterodimerization of these receptors. Therefore, this study investigated the molecular and f...

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), via its receptors, induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and plays an important role in the development of renal tubulointersitial fibrosis. Angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R), which mediates beneficial renal physiological functions, has received attention as a prospective therapeutic target for renoprotection. In this study, we investigated th...

Angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor blocking drugs have been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells and delay the development of prostate cancer. Functional Ang II type 2 receptors (AT2R) are present in these cells and inhibit growth induced by epidermal growth factor. The present studies report apoptosis of prostate cancer cells induced by AT2R overexpression. A recombinant a...

Diabetes Mellitus is associated with severe cardiovascular disorders involving the renin-angiotensin system, mainly through activation of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R). Although the type 2 receptor (AT2R) opposes the effects of AT1R, with vasodilator and anti-trophic properties, its role in diabetes is debatable. Thus we investigated AT2R-mediated dilatation in a model of type 1 dia...

Recent studies suggested that type 2 angiotensin receptor (AT2R) could contribute to regulation of blood pressure and/or vascular remodeling. A key question relates to the effects of potential modulators of vascular AT2R expression. In the present work, we evaluated if high salt intake (70 mmol/L NaCl in drinking water) could modulate rat mesenteric artery AT2R function and expression. Angioten...