The Renin-Angiotensin System and Its Blockers

Abstract

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.

Keywords: renin-angiotensin system; angiotensin II; bradykinin; ACE inhibitors; angiotensin receptor blockers; aliskiren