Review
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Hypertens. Aug 23, 2012; 2(4): 34-44
Published online Aug 23, 2012. doi: 10.5494/wjh.v2.i4.34
Oxidative stress-mediated effects of angiotensin II in the cardiovascular system
Hairuo Wen, Judith K Gwathmey, Lai-Hua Xie
Hairuo Wen, Lai-Hua Xie, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
Judith K Gwathmey, Gwathmey Inc., Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
Judith K Gwathmey, School of Optometry, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Worcester, MA 01608, United States
Author contributions: Wen H and Xie LH drafted the manuscript; Wen H, Gwathmey JK and Xie LH edited and revised the manuscript and approved the final version of manuscript.
Supported by A NIH R01 Grant, No. HL097979 (to Xie LH)
Correspondence to: Lai-Hua Xie, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07101, United States. xiela@umdnj.edu
Telephone: +1-973-9722411 Fax: +1-973-9727489
Received: December 26, 2011
Revised: March 27, 2012
Accepted: June 12, 2012
Published online: August 23, 2012
Abstract

Angiotensin II (Ang II), an endogenous peptide hormone, plays critical roles in the pathophysiological modulation of cardiovascular functions. Ang II is the principle effector of the renin-angiotensin system for maintaining homeostasis in the cardiovascular system, as well as a potent stimulator of NAD(P)H oxidase, which is the major source and primary trigger for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in various tissues. Recent accumulating evidence has demonstrated the importance of oxidative stress in Ang II-induced heart diseases. Here, we review the recent progress in the study on oxidative stress-mediated effects of Ang II in the cardiovascular system. In particular, the involvement of Ang II-induced ROS generation in arrhythmias, cell death/heart failure, ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension are discussed. Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II is an important molecule linking Ang II, ROS and cardiovascular pathological conditions.

Keywords: Angiotensin II; Oxidative stress; Mitochondria; Arrhythmias; Ischemia-reperfusion; Hypertrophy; Hypertension