Interventional Cardiology and Angiology

• Initially, Ang II was identified by its physiologic ability to regulate salt and water metabolism, blood pressure and vascular tone.
• Ang II also functions as a growth factor that stimulates VSMC hypertrophy and is involved in VSMC proliferation following angioplasty.
• Ang II elevates mRNAs enconding PDGF-A, TGF-beta, c-myc, c-fos and FGF-2
• AT1receptor acts as a classical cytokine receptor such as IL-2 or INF-gamma.
• Activation of MAP-kinases, induction of c-fos expression and activation of JAK and Stat 113 in VSMC.
• Reduction of Ang II-induced increase of VSMC 02 radicals.
• A double antiproliferative effect of AngII by inhibition of AT-1 receptor and stimulation of AT2-receptor.
• These data suggest that Ang II plays an important role in various cardiovascular diseases associated with VSMC growth such as restenosis following balloon angioplasty.