Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2012 Jun 1;17(7):2419-32. doi: 10.2741/4062.
Angiotensin (Ang) II has for long been identified as a neuropeptide located within neurons and pathways of the central nervous system involved in the control of thirst and cardio-vascular homeostasis. The presence of Ang II in ganglionic neurons of celiac, dorsal root, and trigeminal ganglia has only recently been described in humans and rats. Ang II-containing fibers were also found in the mesenteric artery and the heart, together with intrinsic Ang II-containing cardiac neurons. Ganglionic neurons express angiotensinogen and co-localize it with Ang II. Its intraneuronal production as a neuropeptide appears to involve angiotensinogen processing enzymes other than renin. Immunocytochemical and gene expression data suggest that neuronal Ang II acts as a neuromodulatory peptide and co-transmitter in the peripheral autonomic, and also sensory nervous system. Neuronal Ang II probably competes with humoral Ang II for effector cell activation. Its functional role, however, still remains to be determined. Angiotensinergic neurotransmission in the autonomic nervous system is a potential new target for therapeutic interventions in many common diseases such as essential hypertension, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmia.
血管紧张素（Ang）II 长期以来被确定为一种神经肽，位于中枢神经系统的神经元和途径中，参与控制口渴和心血管稳态。Ang II 存在于人类和大鼠的腹腔神经节、背根和三叉神经节的神经节神经元中，这一发现最近才被描述。含 Ang II 的纤维也存在于肠系膜动脉和心脏中，以及含有内在 Ang II 的心脏神经元中。神经节神经元表达血管紧张素原，并与 Ang II 共定位。作为一种神经肽，其细胞内产生似乎涉及除肾素以外的血管紧张素原加工酶。免疫细胞化学和基因表达数据表明，神经元 Ang II 作为一种神经调质和共递质，在周围自主神经和感觉神经系统中发挥作用。神经元 Ang II 可能与体液 Ang II 竞争，以激活效应细胞。然而，其功能作用仍有待确定。自主神经系统中的血管紧张素能神经传递是许多常见疾病（如原发性高血压、心力衰竭和心律失常）治疗干预的一个潜在新靶点。
