Molecular and cellular biology of angiotensin-mediated growth of the cardiovascular system

Control of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) and myocyte growth is key to the pathophysiology of many vascular diseases such as restenosis, atherosclerosis, and hypertension-induced hypertrophy. This growth control is highly complex and involves the combined action of neural, hormonal, and mechanical factors. This chapter will focus on the hormonal influences on vascular and cardiac structure. Numerous in vivo studies have implicated angiotensin II (AngII) in the chronic changes in vascular structure that occur during hypertension. 1, 2 Similar studies have implicated AngII in changes of cardiac structure. Multiple lines of investigation suggest that the influence of AngII on growth is due to the induction by AngII of several autocrine growth factors. The molecular and cellular biology of these processes are reviewed in this chapter.

Duke Scholars

Author Victor J. Dzau Medicine, Cardiology