Circulating Ang-II, Centrally Generated Ang-II, and Hypertension

Despite enormous therapeutic advancements, the incidence of hypertension continues to rise and remains a medical burden of global proportions. This is likely due, in part, to the complex pathogenesis of hypertension. In addition to pathological processes in peripheral cardiovascular organs, the central nervous system (CNS) has emerged as a major culprit. The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) plays a crucial role in cardiovascular control, and both systemic angiotensin-II (Ang-II) and centrally generated Ang-II signal through complex neural networks to contribute to the development of hypertension (Figure). Although the effects of Ang-II within the brain are multifaceted, several key hypertensive players have emerged, including oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, and transcription factor activation. The purpose of this review is to provide a brief update on recent work related to Ang-II, the brain, and hypertension with a specific focus on Hypertension articles when appropriate.