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Protective Angiotensin Type 2 Receptors in the Brain and Hypertension

  • Secondary Hypertension: Nervous System Mechanisms (M Wyss, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The goal of this review is to assess the evidence that activation of angiotensin type 2 receptors (AT2R) in the brain can lower blood pressure and possibly constitute an endogenous anti-hypertensive mechanism.

Recent Findings

Recent studies that detail the location of AT2R in the brain, particularly within or near cardiovascular control centers, mesh well with findings from pharmacological and gene transfer studies which demonstrate that activation of central AT2R can influence cardiovascular regulation. Collectively, these studies indicate that selective activation of brain AT2R causes moderate decreases in blood pressure in normal animals and more profound anti-hypertensive effects, along with restoration of baroreflex function, in rodent models of neurogenic hypertension.

Summary

These findings have opened the door to studies that can (i) assess the role of specific AT2R neuron populations in depressing blood pressure, (ii) determine the relevance of such mechanisms, and (iii) investigate interactions between AT2R and depressor angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas mechanisms in the brain.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Nicole Smeltzer for preparing the artwork.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Road, Box 100274, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0274, USA

    Annette D. de Kloet & Colin Sumners

  2. IMM – Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    Ulrike M. Steckelings

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  1. Annette D. de Kloet
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Correspondence to Colin Sumners.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. de Kloet reports a grant from NIH (HL-125805). Dr. Sumners reports a grant from NIH (HL-033610). Dr. Steckelings declares a travel grant for conference attendance and free drug (C21) supply from Vicore Pharma.

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de Kloet, A.D., Steckelings, U.M. & Sumners, C. Protective Angiotensin Type 2 Receptors in the Brain and Hypertension. Curr Hypertens Rep 19, 46 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-017-0746-x

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