Angiotensin II receptors are the specific receptors of angiotensin II of the renin-angiotensin system. The existence and role of the receptors in the skin have not been determined. We immunohistochemically studied the expression of angiotensin receptors in the human skin. The results demonstrated the expression of angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1) in the normal human suprabasal epidermis. The e...

To investigate whether chronic alcohol consumption induces vascular injury via angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 (AT1) receptor-dependent superoxide generation, male transgenic mice with knockout of AT1 gene (AT1-KO) and age-matched wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice were pair-fed a modified Lieber-DeCarli alcohol or isocaloric maltose dextrin control liquid diet for 2 months. Ethanol content (%, W/V) in...

It has been shown that nitric oxide (NO) may regulate angiotensin II (Ang II) receptors in vitro. To determine whether the chronic inhibition of NO synthesis upregulates cardiac Ang II receptors in a rat model, we evaluated the in vivo effect of Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on several Ang II receptors and on the expression of AT1 receptor mRNA in heart tissue. The chronic admin...

OBJECTIVES It has been reported that patients carrying the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) deletion DD genotype with the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) C allele are at increased risk for myocardial infarction. The frequency distribution of the ACE and AT1 receptor gene polymorphism and their possible relation regarding malignant ventricular arrhythmias in patients with coronary artery disease ...

Active Na+ reabsorption by alveolar epithelial cells generates the driving force used to clear fluids from the air space. Using single-channel methods, we examined epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) activity of alveolar type I (AT1) cells from live 250- to 300-microm sections of lung tissue, circumventing concerns that protracted cell isolation procedures might compromise the innate transport proper...

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a central role in blood pressure regulation. Although clinical and experimental studies have suggested that inhibition of RAS is associated with progression of anemia, little evidence is available to support this claim. Here we report that knockout mice that lack angiotensin II, including angiotensinogen and renin knockout mice, exhibit anemia. The anemi...

Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor activation as well as proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) are involved in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The detailed underlying mechanisms including interactions between inflammatory agonists and the renin-angiotensin system are poorly understood. Stimulation of cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs)...

The classically recognized functions of the renin-angiotensin system are mediated by type 1 (AT1) angiotensin receptors. Whereas man possesses a single AT1 receptor, there are two AT1 receptor isoforms in rodents (AT1A and AT1B) that are products of separate genes (Agtr1a and Agtr1b). We have generated mice lacking AT1B (Agtr1b -/-) and both AT1A and AT1B receptors (Agtr1a -/-Agtr1b -/-). Agtr1...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of the bradykinin B1 receptor (B1R) on the angiotensin receptor AT1 blockade-dependent cardioprotective effects, we studied the B1R regulation in wild-type rats treated with the AT1 antagonist, irbesartan (IRB), and also in transgenic rats with cardiac overexpression of the human AT1 (TGR-alphaMHCAT1) after induction of myocardial infarction (MI). In addition, ...

AIMS Abnormal fetal and early postnatal growth is closely associated with adult-onset metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the underlying etiological factors remain complex. The presence of the autoantibody against the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-Ab), a known risk factor for pre-eclampsia, may create a suboptimal intrauterine fetal environment. The current study investigated whether midd...