Obesity-associated activation of angiotensin and endothelin in the cardiovascular system

• Published in: The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology Vol. 35; no. 6; pp. 826 - 837
• Main Authors: Barton, Matthias, Carmona, Renata, Ortmann, Jana, Krieger, José E., Traupe, Tobias
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2003
• Subjects: Adipocyte; Adipocytes - metabolism; Adiponectin; Angiotensin converting enzyme; Angiotensin II - metabolism; Animals; atherosclerosis; biochemistry; Blood pressure; cardiovascular system; cell biology; Diet; Endothelin-1 - metabolism; Endothelium, Vascular - physiology; Hormones, Ectopic - metabolism; Humans; hypertension; Hypertension - etiology; Hypertension - physiopathology; Insulin Resistance; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Kidney; Kidney - metabolism; kidney diseases; Leptin; Leptin - metabolism; Mice; morbidity; Nerve Growth Factor; obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - physiopathology; pathogenesis; Proteins - metabolism; Rats; renin-angiotensin system; Renin-Angiotensin System - physiology; Resistin; risk; Vascular; Vasoconstriction; Adipocyte; RAS; Vasoconstriction; Vascular; Kidney; ET; Adiponectin; ET A; ARB; HDL; Diet; Leptin; Angiotensin converting enzyme; ACEI; Blood pressure; BMI; Resistin
• ISSN: 1357-2725; 1878-5875
• DOI: 10.1016/S1357-2725(02)00307-2

The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) and the endothelin system have been implicated in the pathogenesis of human cardiovascular and renal diseases, and inhibition of the RAS markedly improves morbidity and survival. Obesity in humans is associated with an increased risk for the development of hypertension, atherosclerosis and focal-segmental glomerulosclerosis, however the exact mechanisms underlying these pathologies in obese individuals are not known. This article discusses the clinical importance of obesity and the current evidence for local activation of the renin–angiotensin system and its interactions with the endothelin system in obesity and the cardiovascular pathologies associated with it.