Current vascular pharmacology
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Curr Vasc Pharmacol · Mar 2011
ReviewPleiotropic effects of ARB in vascular metabolism--focusing on atherosclerosis-based cardiovascular disease.
The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an essential role in fluid and electrolyte homeostasis and the regulation of vascular tone; however, dysregulation and over-activation of the RAS lead to the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. The RAS is closely associated with NADPH oxidase, a major enzymatic source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vasculature, and angiotensin II, the final effecter of the RAS, is a potent stimulator of this oxidase. There are accumulating evidences to support the significance of NADPH oxidase in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. ⋯ However, this group of agents exerts a wide variety of biological effects on vascular metabolism, including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory actions. These pleiotropic actions play a role in cardiovascular protection. From a viewpoint of oxidative stress, we discuss pleiotropic effects of ARBs on vascular metabolism focusing on pathogenesis of atherosclerosis-based cardiovascular diseases.