Angiotensin II (Ang II) is an
octapeptide hormone that plays a axial role in cardiovascular homeostasis.
Typical of abounding proteins, Ang II was called on the base of its first-demonstrated
biological function—the adeptness to act as a vasoactive agonist and abet
abbreviating of claret vessels. Over the years, Ang II has been apparent to
play important roles in mediating hypertension, affection failure, cardiac
remodeling, diabetes, and the proliferative and anarchic responses to arterial
abrasion (see review1). These allegation accept spawned the development of
several classes of pharmacological agents advised at inhibiting the amalgam of
Ang II (eg, angiotensin II-converting agitator inhibitors) or blocking its
activity (eg, angiotensin II receptor antagonists). These agents are now
broadly acclimated in the analysis of hypertension and congestive affection
failure.
