Apoptosis and angiotensin II: Yet another renal regulatory system?

Apoptosis plays a key role in the regulation of normal renal structure and kidney remodeling in various renal diseases. Angiotensin II plays a promine nt role in renal injury through its receptor subtypes, the type I (AT1) rec eptor and the type 2 (AT2) receptor, which involve different molecular mech anisms. In addition to its haemodynamic actions, angiotensin II induces apo ptosis. Angiotensin II also increases proliferation in the kidney. A close correlation between renal cell proliferation and apoptosis has been shown i n renal diseases as well as in the angiotensin II infusion model. Angiotens in induces upregulation of p53 and other pro-apoptotic proteins. Recent stu dies suggest that both AT1 and AT2 receptors influence the apoptotic proces s in the kidney. These apoptotic effects of angiotensin II should be consid ered as representing another regulatory mechanism that may modulate the bal ance between cell growth and proliferation within the kidney. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.