The renin–angiotensin system and diabetes: An update

Abstract

Antônio Ribeiro-Oliveira Jr1, Anelise Impeliziere Nogueira1, Regina Maria Pereira2, Walkiria Wingester Vilas Boas3, Robson Augusto Souza dos Santos4, Ana Cristina Simões e Silva51Laboratório de Endocrinologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, 2Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Centro Universitário de Belo Horizonte, UNIBH, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; 3Hospital Life Center, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; 4Laboratório de Hipertensão, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; 5Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilAbstract: In the past few years the classical concept of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) has experienced substantial conceptual changes. The identification of the renin/prorenin receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme homologue ACE2 as an angiotensin peptide processing enzyme, Mas as a receptor for Ang-(1-7) and the possibility of signaling through ACE, have contributed to switch our understanding of the RAS from the classical limited-proteolysis linear cascade to a cascade with multiple mediators, multiple receptors, and multi-functional enzymes. In this review we will focus on the recent findings related to RAS and, in particular, on its role in diabetes by discussing possible interactions between RAS mediators, endothelium function, and insulin signaling transduction pathways as well as the putative role of ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas axis in disease pathogenesis.Keywords: renin–angiotensin system, diabetes, angiotensin II, angiotensin-(1-7), insulin, endothelium