Re Richard N
Research Division, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA.
Nat Clin Pract Cardiovasc Med. 2004 Nov;1(1):42-7. doi: 10.1038/ncpcardio0012.
Accumulating evidence has made it clear that not only does the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) exist in the circulation where it is driven by renal renin, but it is also active in many tissues-and likely within cells as well. These systems might not be completely independent of each other, but rather interact. These local RAASs affect tissue and cellular angiotensin II concentrations and appear to be associated with clinically relevant physiologic and pathophysiologic actions in the cardiovascular system and elsewhere. Evidence in support of this possibility is reviewed here. In addition, direct (pro)renin action after binding to its specific receptor, the existence of renin transcripts, which apparently encode an intracellular renin, the discovery of an angiotensin-converting-enzyme homologue (ACE2), which leads to enhanced generation of angiotensin-(1-7) and the newly appreciated role of angiotensin-receptor dimerization in the regulation of angiotensin activity, all point to the conclusion that the RAASs are complexly regulated, multifunctional systems with important roles both within and outside the cardiovascular system.
越来越多的证据表明，肾素-血管紧张素-醛固酮系统（RAAS）不仅存在于由肾素驱动的循环系统中，而且在许多组织中也具有活性，可能在细胞内也是如此。这些系统可能并非完全相互独立，而是相互作用的。这些局部RAAS会影响组织和细胞中血管紧张素II的浓度，并且似乎与心血管系统及其他部位的临床相关生理和病理生理作用有关。本文将对支持这种可能性的证据进行综述。此外，（前）肾素与其特异性受体结合后的直接作用、肾素转录本的存在（其显然编码一种细胞内肾素）、血管紧张素转换酶同系物（ACE2）的发现（其导致血管紧张素-（1-7）生成增加）以及血管紧张素受体二聚化在血管紧张素活性调节中的新认识作用，都表明RAAS是复杂调节的多功能系统，在心血管系统内外均具有重要作用。
