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The angiotensin II type 2 receptor in the brain
Department of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology and Pharmacology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Tohon, Ehime, Japan
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: horiuchi{at}m.ehime-u.ac.jp.
Recent clinical studies indicate that blockade of the renin-angiotensin system is important to prevent stroke, and accumulating results of basic research also indicate the possible involvement of the central renin-angiotensin system in ischaemic brain damage and cognition. When the angiotensin II type 1 receptor is blocked by an angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker, unbound angiotensin II acts preferentially on the angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor. These results suggest the pathophysiological importance of the AT2 receptor in the clinical use of angiotensin type 1 receptor blockers, which are widely used in patients with hypertension with the expectation of a decrease in the onset of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. We review here the possible roles of AT2 receptor activation in the brain, focusing on ischaemic stroke, cognitive function and neurogenesis, and potential effects of specific AT2 receptor agonists.
First published on October 27, 2009 |
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