Angiotensin II and extracellular matrix homeostasis

As a circulating hormone, endocrine properties of angiotensin (Ang) II are integral to circulatory homeostasis. Produced de novo its autocrine/paracri ne properties contribute to biologic responses involving various connective tissues (e.g. extracellular matrix, adipose tissue, bone and its marrow). In this brief review, we develop the concept of extracellular matrix homeos tasis, a self regulation of cellular composition and structure, wherein fib roblast-derived AngII regulates elaboration of TGF-beta(1), a fibrogenic cy tokine responsible for connective tissue formation at normal and pathologic sites of collagen turnover. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.