New Aspects Of The Renin Angiotensin System In Cardiovascular And Renal Diseases

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a hormonal system that is responsible for regulating plasma sodium ion concentration and arterial blood pressure in the body. The system involves several peptides such as angiotensin I and II as well as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) to enable the constriction of arterial blood vessels in the lung. Angiotensin II also stimulates the production of the hormone aldosterone in the kidneys which brings sodium ions into the bloodstream in exchange for potassium ions. Malfunctions of the RAS can lead to hypertension, heart failure, diabetes and renal complications. Thus the biochemical components of this system serve as important targets for therapeutic drugs. This monograph is a compilation of updated reviews on the RAS. The monograph covers describes the components of the system to explaining its physiological and clinical features in the cardiovascular system and the kidneys. This is followed by sections explaining the biochemistry of the RAS system in cardiovascular and renal disease and the pharmacology of relevant therapeutic drugs. Additional information on the effect of exercise states and methods to quantify angiotensins for molecular diagnosis is also presented in the concluding sections. Information in the monograph will be of interest to physiologists and endocrinologists involved in medical studies or clinical practice. Readers will be able to understand the RAS with a holistic frame of reference.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a hormonal system that is responsible for regulating plasma sodium ion concentration and arterial blood pressure in the body. The system involves several peptides such as angiotensin I and II as well as angiotensin co

This book offers the latest research into the role of the renin angiotensin system on cardiac and vascular functions and in cardiovascular diseases. It covers vital aspects such as intracellular signaling and regulation of cell volume in the failing heart.

This book on “Renin-Angiotensin System in Cardiovascular Disease” includes 25 chapters, which are organized in three sections, namely (i) modulatory aspects, (ii) pathophysiological aspects, and (iii) pharmacotherapeutic aspects. It includes an updated as well as comprehensive knowledge about molecular and cellular aspects for the role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the pathophysiology and therapy of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, and heart failure. This book emphasizes the molecular and cellular mechanisms, signaling transduction pathways involved in the development of different cardiovascular diseases due to the prolonged activation of RAS. Furthermore, biochemical mechanisms are outlined for the inhibition of this system by the blockade of angiotensin converting enzyme as well as angiotensin II type 1 receptors in patients suffering from cardiovascular abnormalities. Since cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide, leading to approximately 17.9 million deaths each year, there is a keen interest in understanding the pathogenesis and improving its therapy. In this regard, we can attest that this book provides ample information about essential components of RAS and their role in the development of cardiovascular disease. From the selection of recognized global experts in their area of investigation, this book can be seen to cover diverse cardiovascular aspects and molecular and cellular mechanisms of angiotensin II action for the development of different cardiovascular abnormalities. It is our contention that this book will be most suitable for promoting knowledge in the field of RAS biology and will be of great interest to health professionals involved in both experimental and clinical cardiology as well as academic investigators and cardiovascular scientists, graduate students, and fellows worldwide.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is one of the most important endocrine (tissue-to-tissue), paracrine (cell-to-cell) and intracrine (intracellular/nuclear) humoral systems in the regulation of blood pressure, cardiovascular, and kidney function in health and disease. The RAS has remarkably evolved from the initial discovery of the rate-limiting enzyme renin to a complex biochemical and physiological cascade involving more than a dozen members. Currently, there are up to five axes or pathways identified in the RAS; each has its substrate, enzyme, effector peptide, receptor, and downstream signaling pathways. These include the renin/ACE/ANG II/AT1 receptor, the APA/ANG III/AT2 receptor, the ACE2/ANG (1-7)/Mas receptor, the prorenin/prorenin receptor (PRR), and the ANG IV/AT4 receptor (IRAP) pathways. Accordingly, the roles of the RAS have expanded well beyond the classic endocrine paradigm as a powerful vasoconstrictor, a potent aldosterone stimulator, or a sodium-retaining hormonal system. The goals of this article are to review and discuss the current insights into and new perspectives on the expression, localization, and novel actions of the RAS with a focus in the kidney. Special emphasis will be placed on recently discovered new members of the RAS derived from studies using innovative mutant rats or mice that either overexpress (knockin) or are deficient (knockout) of a particular substrate, enzyme, ANG peptide, or receptor. This new knowledge will help improve our understanding how each of these pathways act directly or indirectly to regulate blood pressure, cardiovascular and kidney function in physiology, and can be targeted to treat hypertension, cardiovascular and renal diseases.

Until recently, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has been considered a systemic endocrine hormonal system exclusively. It is now known that each component of the renin-angiotensin system is produced, synthesized and indeed, present in many organisms including the heart and vessels. This volume presents the most recent clinical and laboratory experiences of the leading physicians and investigators in the field of the local cardiac renin-angiotensin aldosterone system. Cardiovascular, renal and hypertension oriented physicians, investigators and scientists would find this book of interest. Edward D. Frohlich, M.D., M.A.C.P, F.A.C.C., is the Alton Ochsner Distinguished Scientist at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is also Professor of Medicine and of Physiology at Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, and Clinical Professor of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology at Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans. He is past Editor-in-Chief of the American Heart Association journal HYPERTENSION. Richard N. Re, M.D., is the Section Head, Hypertension at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is also Ochsner's Scientific Director of Research.

This book of the series on “Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease” includes state-of-the-art information on the status of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the form of 24 chapters. This book has been organized into three sections: (i) General Implications of RAS in human health and Infectious Diseases, (ii) Lung, Liver and Kidney Diseases, and (iii) Development of Cancer. Each chapter has discussed comprehensive knowledge regarding the molecular and cellular aspects of the role of RAS in the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of different disease processes. Biochemical mechanisms associated with angiotensin II type 1 and type II receptors, and angiotensin (1-7) MAS receptors for the occurrence of both harmful and beneficial effects of prolonged activation of RAS in different diseases have been outlined. It is noteworthy to point out that different chapter in this book were prepared by recognized global expertise in the area of inflammation, oxidative stress and signal transduction pathways to highlight the role of RAS in different diseases. It is our sincere hope that this book will be of great interest to both biomedical investigators and health professionals as well as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows all over the world.

Recent studies have shown that the heart possesses an intrinsic renin angiotensin system that is controlled by tissue-specific parameters that are activated by biomechanical stress. This book reviews the latest information on the way in which both the plasma and cardiac renin angiotensin systems affect heart function. It covers the cell and molecular biology of these systems, with contributions on renin synthesis, uptake and the intracellular signalling pathways. Particular insight comes from transgenic mouse models in which either mouse or human genes for various components of the renin angiotensin system are expressed. Other topics covered include wound healing as well as the trophic effects of aldosterone. Contains the most recent findings on the renin angiotensin system and the heart Written by an international team of distinguished scientists Covers both the cellular and molecular basis of the renin angiotensin system and the clinical relevance of this research