2 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
The potential therapeutic use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in the treatment of inflammatory diseases
Inflammation is a normal part of the immune response to injury or infection but its dysregulation promotes the development of inflammatory diseases, which cause considerable human suffering. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) are the most commonly prescribed agents for the treatment of inflammatory diseases but they are accompanied by a broad range of side effects, including gastrointestinal and cardiovascular events. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is traditionally known for its role in blood pressure regulation. However, there is increasing evidence that RAS signalling is also involved in the inflammatory response associated with several disease states. Angiotensin II increases blood pressure by binding to angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor, and direct renin inhibitors (DRIs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and AT1 receptor blockers (ARBs) are clinically used as anti-hypertensive agents. Recent data suggest that these drugs also have anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, this review summarizes these recent findings for the efficacy of two of the most widely used antihypertensive drug classes, ACE inhibitors and ARBs, to reduce or treat inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, arthritis, steatohepatitis, colitis, pancreatitis and nephritis