| Summary: | Research on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has contributed significantly
to advances in understanding cardiovascular and renal homeostasis and to the
treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This review offers a brief history of
the RAS with an overview of its major components and their functions, as well
as blockers of the RAS, their clinical usage and current research that
targets various components of the RAS. Because angiotensin-converting enzyme
(ACE) metabolizes two biologically active peptides, one in the
kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) and one in the RAS, it is the essential
connection between the two systems. ACE releases very powerful hypertensive
agent, angiotensin II and also inactivates strong hypotensive peptide,
bradykinin. Inhibition of ACE thus has a dual effect, resulting in decreased
angiotensin II and increased bradykinin. We described the KKS as well.
|
|---|
