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Control of Energy Balance by the Brain Renin-Angiotensin System

  • Hypertension and the Brain (S Stocker, Section Editor)
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Abstract

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) exists as a circulating hormone system but it is also used by various tissues of the body, including the brain, as a paracrine signaling mechanism. The local brain version of the RAS is mechanistically involved in fluid balance and blood pressure control, and there is growing appreciation for a role of the brain RAS in the control of energy balance. Here, we review major evidence for the control of energy balance by the brain RAS; outline the current understanding of the RAS components, targets, and mechanisms involved; and highlight some major questions that currently face the field.

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Acknowledgments

KEC was supported by a predoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association’s Midwest Affiliate (14PRE20380401). JLG was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (HL098276, HL084207), American Heart Association (14IRG18710013, 15SFRN23730000), American Diabetes Association (1-14-BS-079), University of Iowa Office of the Vice President for Research & Economic Development, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles’ Diabetes Research Center.

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Correspondence to Justin L. Grobe.

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Conflict of Interest Justin L. Grobe reports grants from NIH, the American Heart Association, and the American Diabetes Association. Kristin E. Claflin reports grants from the American Heart Association.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Hypertension and the Brain

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Claflin, K.E., Grobe, J.L. Control of Energy Balance by the Brain Renin-Angiotensin System. Curr Hypertens Rep 17, 38 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-015-0549-x

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