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Review: Brain Aminopeptidases and Hypertension

Unit of Physiology, University of Jaén, Spain

Isabel Prieto

Unit of Physiology, University of Jaén, Spain

Francisco Vives

Department of Physiology, University of Granada, Spain

Francisco Alba

Federico Oloriz Institute of Neuroscience, Granada, Spain

Marc de Gasparo

MGConsulting Co. Rue es Planches 5, 2842 Rossemaison, Switzerland

Ana Belen Segarra

Unit of Physiology, University of Jaén, Spain

Francisco Hermoso

Unit of Physiology, University of Jaén, Spain

Raquel Durán

Department of Physiology, University of Granada, Spain

Manuel Ramírez

Unit of Physiology, University of Jaén, Spain, msanchez{at}ujaen.es

The brain aminopeptidases that participate in the enzymatic cascade of the renin-angiotensin system play a major role in blood pressure (BP) control, and their study offers new perspectives for the understanding of central BP control and the treatment of hypertension. In this system, angiotensin II is converted to angiotensin III (Ang III) by glutamyl aminopeptidase (GluAP) and Ang III is further metabolised to angiotensin IV by alanyl aminopeptidase or arginine-aminopeptidase. It is now clear that Ang III is the key active form of the central angiotensins, exerting tonic stimulatory control over BP Therefore, the development of GluAP inhibitors as potential antihypertensive agents offers new perspectives for therapy. Brain aspartyl JR aminopeptidase, which converts angiotensin I to angiotensin 2-10, is also a possible target for antihypertensive therapy because of its potential role in BP control. Finally, since changes in BP levels, that paralleled changes in brain and plasma aminopeptidase activities, were observed after unilateral lesions of the nigrostriatal system, brain asymmetry, aminopeptidase activities and BP control appear to be related, resulting their interplay in an asymmetrical neuroendocrine response that differentially affect BP control.The study of this interaction may contribute to our understanding of how the brain controls BP

Key Words: Aminopeptidases • Angiotensin • Brain • Hypertension

Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, Vol. 7, No. 3, 129-134 (2006)
DOI: 10.3317/jraas.2006.021


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