Angiotensin II-mediated signal transduction events in vascular smooth muscle cells: kinases and phosphatases.

In this short review, the protein kinases and phosphatases that are involved in angiotensin II-mediated signal transduction in vascular smooth muscle cells are discussed. Reversible phosphorylation by the actions of kinases and phosphatases is a common signal transduction mechanism that many cell types utilize to stimulate cell growth. Besides its vasoconstrictor activity, angiotensin II stimulates hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle cells and is involved in neointimal proliferation following balloon angioplasty. Understanding angiotensin II-stimulated kinases and phosphatases, as well as the crosstalk among phosphorylation pathways, may form the basis for the development of new therapeutic treatment of hypertension and/or restenosis.