Effect of angiotensin II on vascular remodeling

Classically the AT(1) receptors to angiotensin II are considered to be pres ent on the smooth muscle cell membrane in the arterial wail, in which they diffusely regulate peripheral resistances. They are also present on numerou s other cell types, including fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, monocytes and macrophages, endothelial cells, where they participate to the phenotypic m odulation of the cell, involved in their activation leading to tissular rem odeling. The intra-cellular pathway involving the phospholipase C activatio n and the mobilization of intra-cellular calcium is predominantly involved in the functional vasomotor response to angiotensin II. In contrast the int ra-cellular signaling pathway leading to production of oxygen free radicals and activation of the NF-kappa-B system is probably mainly involved in the phenotypic modulation of target cells and their consequences on the vascul ar tissue remodeling.