Regulation of apoptosis by angiotensin II in the heart and lungs (review)

Cell death by apoptosis is now known to be an important mechanism of cell p opulation control in organ development and in normal tissue homeostasis. In appropriate apoptosis also contributes to the pathogenesis of a number of d iseases involving the heart and lungs. Knowledge of the regulation of apopt osis in these organs is therefore of fundamental importance. A growing body of evidence suggests that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), traditionall y viewed as an endocrine system in the regulation of blood pressure, also f unctions as a regulator of apoptosis in a variety of cell types through bot h paracrine and autocrine mechanisms that are likely independent of the end ocrine RAS. Much of the evidence in support of this premise comes from inve stigations of cardiac myocytes, endothelial cells and epithelial cells of t he lung, both in culture and in situ within human pathological specimens an d animal models of heart, vascular and pulmonary disease. Evidence from eac h of these areas is reviewed and discussed in relation to diseases of the h eart, vascular system and lungs.