Most of the known actions of Angiotensin II (Ang II) are mediated by AT1 receptors, the AT2 receptor contributes to the regulation of blood pressure and renal function
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Angiotensin II raises blood pressure (BP) by a number of actions, the most important ones being vasoconstriction, sympathetic nervous stimulation, increased aldosterone biosynthesis and renal actions. Other Angiotensin II actions include induction of growth, cell migration, and mitosis of vascular smooth muscle cells, increased synthesis of collagen type I and III in fibroblasts, leading to thickening of the vascular wall and myocardium, and fibrosis. These actions are mediated by type 1 Ang II receptors (AT1).
Angiotensin II (1 nM) induces the expression of LOX-1 and VEGF and enhances capillary formation from human coronary endothelial cells in Matrigel assay. Angiotensin II -mediated expression of LOX-1 and VEGF, capillary formation, intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, and phosphorylation of p38 as well as p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinases, are suppressed by anti-LOX-1 antibody, nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase inhibitor apocynin and the Ang II type 1 receptor blocker Losartan, but not by the Ang II type 2 receptor blocker PD123319.