Keywords: renin–angiotensin system, diabetes, angiotensin II, angiotensin-(1-7), insulin, endothelium
Copyright © 2008 Ribeiro Oliveira et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd. This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited. The renin–angiotensin system and diabetes: An update Correspondence: Ana Cristina Simões Silva, Avenida Bernardo Monteiro, 1300 apto 1104, Bairro Funcionários, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 30150-281, Tel +55 31 7814 8682, Fax +55 31 3227 5555, Email
acssilva/at/hotmail.com,
Email: ana/at/medicina.ufmg.br | ||||
Abstract In the past few years the classical concept of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) has experienced substantial conceptual changes. The identification of the renin/prorenin receptor, the angiotensin converting enzyme homologue ACE2 as an angiotensin peptide processing enzyme, Mas as a receptor for Ang-(1–7) and the possibility of signaling through ACE, have contributed to switch our understanding of the RAS from the classical limited proteolysis linear cascade to a cascade with multiple mediators, multiple receptors, and multi functional enzymes. In this review we will focus on the recent findings related to RAS and, in particular, on its role in diabetes by discussing possible interactions between RAS mediators, endothelium function, and insulin signaling transduction pathways as well as the putative role of ACE2-Ang-(1–7)-Mas axis in disease pathogenesis. Keywords: renin–angiotensin system, diabetes, angiotensin II, angiotensin-(1-7), insulin, endothelium | ||||