Angiotensin-(l-7): A New Hormone of the Angiotensin System

• Published in: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. 1979) Vol. 18; no. 5 Suppl III; pp. III-126 - III-133
• Main Authors: Ferrario, Carlos M, Brosnihan, K Bridget, Diz, Debra I, Jaiswal, Neelam, Khosla, Mahesh C, Milsted, Amy, Tallant, E Ann
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA American Heart Association, Inc 01-11-1991; Hagerstown, MD Lippincott
• Subjects: Angiotensin I; Angiotensin II - physiology; Angiotensinogen - genetics; Angiotensins - metabolism; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biotransformation; Endocrine kidney. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Peptide Fragments - physiology; Renin - genetics; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Vertebrates: endocrinology
• ISSN: 0194-911X; 1524-4563
• DOI: 10.1161/01.hyp.18.5_suppl.iii126

We provide a new foundation for an alternative interpretation of the biochemical physiology of the brain and other tissue angiotensin systems on the basis of research done in our laboratory. This perspective is prompted by the discovery that angiotensin-(l-7) has cellular functions that differ from those established for angiotensin II. Although angjotensin-(l-7) is not an agonist in terms of activating vasoconstrictlon, stimulating thirst, or promoting aldosterone release, the heptapeptide caused neuronal excitation and vasopressin release with a potency similar to that found with angiotensin II. furthermore, angiotensin-(l-7) enhances the production of prostanoids by a receptor-mediated event that causes no associated rise in intracellular Ca. These actions of angiotensin-(l-7) provide a new understanding of the heterogeneous functions of angiotensin peptides as modulators of a wide range of regulatory functions in mammals.