scholarly journals Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System and Immunomodulation: A State-of-the-Art Review

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1767
Author(s):  
Driss Laghlam ◽  
Mathieu Jozwiak ◽  
Lee S. Nguyen

The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) has long been described in the field of cardiovascular physiology as the main player in blood pressure homeostasis. However, other effects have since been described, and include proliferation, fibrosis, and inflammation. To illustrate the immunomodulatory properties of the RAS, we chose three distinct fields in which RAS may play a critical role and be the subject of specific treatments. In oncology, RAS hyperactivation has been associated with tumor migration, survival, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis; preliminary data showed promise of the benefit of RAS blockers in patients treated for certain types of cancer. In intensive care medicine, vasoplegic shock has been associated with severe macro- and microcirculatory imbalance. A relative insufficiency in angiotensin II (AngII) was associated to lethal outcomes and synthetic AngII has been suggested as a specific treatment in these cases. Finally, in solid organ transplantation, both AngI and AngII have been associated with increased rejection events, with a regional specificity in the RAS activity. These elements emphasize the complexity of the direct and indirect interactions of RAS with immunomodulatory pathways and warrant further research in the field.

2020 ◽  
Vol 319 (4) ◽  
pp. L596-L602
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Pacheco Silva-Aguiar ◽  
Diogo Barros Peruchetti ◽  
Patricia Rieken Macedo Rocco ◽  
Alvin H. Schmaier ◽  
Patrícia Machado Rodrigues e Silva ◽  
...  

A new form of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by SARS-coronavirus 2 (CoV-2), called COVID-19, has become a global threat in 2020. The mortality rate from COVID-19 is high in hypertensive patients, making this association especially dangerous. There appears to be a consensus, despite the lack of experimental data, that angiotensin II (ANG II) is linked to the pathogenesis of COVID-19. This process may occur due to acquired deficiency of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), resulting in reduced degradation of ANG II. Furthermore, ANG II has a critical role in the genesis and worsening of hypertension. In this context, the idea that there is a surge in the level of ANG II with COVID-19 infection, causing multiple organ injuries in hypertensive patients becomes attractive. However, the role of other components of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) in this scenario requires elucidation. The identification of other RAS components in COVID-19 hypertension may provide both diagnostic and therapeutic benefits. Here, we summarize the pathophysiologic contributions of different components of RAS in hypertension and their possible correlation with poor outcome observed in hypertensive patients with COVID-19.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1367
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Pucci ◽  
Philippe Bogaerts ◽  
Marianne Rooman

SARS-CoV-2 infection is mediated by the binding of its spike protein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which plays a pivotal role in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The study of RAS dysregulation due to SARS-CoV-2 infection is fundamentally important for a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms and risk factors associated with COVID-19 coronavirus disease and to design effective therapeutic strategies. In this context, we developed a mathematical model of RAS based on data regarding protein and peptide concentrations; the model was tested on clinical data from healthy normotensive and hypertensive individuals. We used our model to analyze the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on RAS, which we modeled through a downregulation of ACE2 as a function of viral load. We also used it to predict the effect of RAS-targeting drugs, such as RAS-blockers, human recombinant ACE2, and angiotensin 1–7 peptide, on COVID-19 patients; the model predicted an improvement of the clinical outcome for some drugs and a worsening for others. Our model and its predictions constitute a valuable framework for in silico testing of hypotheses about the COVID-19 pathogenic mechanisms and the effect of drugs aiming to restore RAS functionality.


Placenta ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. S40-S46 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.M. Moritz ◽  
J.S.M. Cuffe ◽  
L.B. Wilson ◽  
H. Dickinson ◽  
M.E. Wlodek ◽  
...  

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4004
Author(s):  
Michael O’Rawe ◽  
Ethan J. Kilmister ◽  
Theo Mantamadiotis ◽  
Andrew H. Kaye ◽  
Swee T. Tan ◽  
...  

Glioblastoma (GB) is an aggressive primary brain tumor. Despite intensive research over the past 50 years, little advance has been made to improve the poor outcome, with an overall median survival of 14.6 months following standard treatment. Local recurrence is inevitable due to the quiescent cancer stem cells (CSCs) in GB that co-express stemness-associated markers and components of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). The dynamic and heterogeneous tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a fundamental role in tumor development, progression, invasiveness, and therapy resistance. There is increasing evidence showing the critical role of the RAS in the TME influencing CSCs via its upstream and downstream pathways. Drugs that alter the hallmarks of cancer by modulating the RAS present a potential new therapeutic alternative or adjunct to conventional treatment of GB. Cerebral and GB organoids may offer a cost-effective method for evaluating the efficacy of RAS-modulating drugs on GB. We review the nexus between the GB TME, CSC niche, and the RAS, and propose re-purposed RAS-modulating drugs as a potential therapeutic alternative or adjunct to current standard therapy for GB.


2020 ◽  
Vol 145 (10) ◽  
pp. 682-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reinhold Kreutz ◽  
Engi Abd El-Hady Algharably ◽  
Detlev Ganten ◽  
Franz Messerli

AbstractTwenty years ago, an enzyme homologous to the previously known angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was identified, and subsequently named ACE2. In the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), ACE2 has counter-regulatory functions against the classical effector peptide angiotensin II, for example in blood pressure regulation and cardiovascular remodeling. However, ACE2 provides an initially unexpected interesting link between virology and cardiovascular medicine. That is, ACE2 represents the binding receptor for the cellular uptake of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Thus, ACE2 is relevant for COVID-19. In this context, it was suspected that therapy with RAS blockers might promote transmission and complications of COVID-19 by upregulation of ACE2 expression. The aim of this short review is, to describe the link between the RAS, particularly ACE2, and COVID-19. Based on our analysis and evaluation of the available findings, we justify our conclusion: important drugs such as ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers should continue to be prescribed according to guidelines to stable patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehsan Tabatabai ◽  
Majid Khazaei ◽  
Mohammad Reza Parizadeh ◽  
Mohammad Nouri ◽  
Seyed Mahdi Hassanian ◽  
...  

: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer globally. Despite extensive preclinical and clinical studies, it is still among the leading causes of cancer-related death, and a need for new therapeutic options is required. The renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in regulating blood pressure and cell growth. In addition to their hemodynamic effects, some of the renin-angiotensin system components, such as angiotensin, are also growth factors that promote cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and its dysregulation is reported to be associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer. Here we describe the critical role of the renin-angiotensin system pathway in colorectal cancer as well as the preclinical and clinical investigations renin-angiotensin system inhibitors: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Several studies have been shown that the inhibition of these pathways can reduce tumor growth and metastasis; however, some of the data remain inconsistent. There is accumulating evidence of the therapeutic potential of some inhibitors, such as Losartan which are now in clinical phases in the treatment of several malignancies using Nivolumab in combination with FOLFIRINOX in pancreatic cancer. Further investigations are warranted to improve the efficacy and selectivity of current and future anticancer strategies targeting renin-angiotensin systems.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Trimarchi ◽  
M. Forrester ◽  
F. Lombi ◽  
V. Pomeranz ◽  
M. S. Raña ◽  
...  

Patients with Fabry disease present a higher risk of cardiovascular and kidney morbidity. We present a patient with a past history of biopsy-proven Fabry disease and stage 3 chronic kidney disease. Proteinuria partially dropped from 6.8 g/day to 2.1 g/day despite an aggressive regime which consisted of low-salt diet, agalsidase beta infusions, dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system, and low-dose maintenance of steroids. As proteinuria is considered a risk marker of cardiovascular disease and of progression of kidney disease, we added amiloride 5 mg/day, a drug with proven effects in podocyte stabilization and proteinuria actions at the distal convoluted tubule. Proteinuria finally decreased to 0.8 g/day. This report highlights the relevance of intervening on proteinuria in a multitarget approach in order to reduce it as much as possible. Due to this pharmacological response, we suggest that although agalsidase beta specific treatment protects the endothelium, the podocyte, and the tubule in Fabry disease and secondary haemodynamic and immunologic pathways are treated with inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system and steroids, amiloride may act as a complementary tool in podocyte stabilization and in proteinuria effects at the distal tubule.


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