Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0011881 (diabetic nephropathy)
10,836 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Losartan is an orally active, selective, nonpeptide, angiotensin-II Type I-receptor antagonist, and was the first drug marketed in this class. It has been approved for the treatment of hypertension, and may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents. Based on the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study, losartan has been approved for the reduction of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, but there is evidence that this benefit does not apply to black patients. Based on the Reduction of Endpoints in NIDDM with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan (RENAAL) study, losartan is also indicated for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy with an elevated serum creatinine and proteinuria, in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The focus of this review is the LIFE study.
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PMID:Losartan for the treatment of hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy: the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study. 1550 Mar 78

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a recently discovered homologue of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) that is thought to counterbalance ACE. ACE2 cleaves angiotensin I and angiotensin II into the inactive angiotensin 1-9, and the vasodilator and anti-proliferative angiotensin 1-7, respectively. ACE2 is known to be present in human kidney, but no data on renal disease are available to date. Renal biopsies from 58 patients with diverse primary and secondary renal diseases were studied (hypertensive nephropathy n = 5, IgA glomerulopathy n = 8, minimal change nephropathy n = 7, diabetic nephropathy n = 8, focal glomerulosclerosis n = 5, vasculitis n = 7, and membranous glomerulopathy n = 18) in addition to 17 renal transplants and 18 samples from normal renal tissue. Immunohistochemical staining for ACE2 was scored semi-quantitatively. In control kidneys, ACE2 was present in tubular and glomerular epithelium and in vascular smooth muscle cells and the endothelium of interlobular arteries. In all primary and secondary renal diseases, and renal transplants, neo-expression of ACE2 was found in glomerular and peritubular capillary endothelium. There were no differences between the various renal disorders, or between acute and chronic rejection and control transplants. ACE inhibitor treatment did not alter ACE2 expression. In primary and secondary renal disease, and in transplanted kidneys, neo-expression of ACE2 occurs in glomerular and peritubular capillary endothelium. Further studies should elucidate the possible protective mechanisms involved in the de novo expression of ACE2 in renal disease.
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PMID:Renal ACE2 expression in human kidney disease. 1553 35

Ongoing investigation into the relationship between the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the progression of diabetic renal disease has persisted for the past two decades. Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that the RAS has a pathogenic role, induced by its haemodynamic and non-haemodynamic mechanisms. The discovery of a local intrarenal RAS provides a rationale for investigating the components of RAS, specifically Angiotensin II (AngII) in the diabetic setting. AngII has multiple effects, including activating intracellular second messengers, transcription factors, extracellular matrix protein and also growth factors and cytokines, which lead to many of the structural and functional changes in the diabetic kidney. The beneficial effects afforded by RAS blockade further implicate AngII in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Although AngII is a common suspect in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy RAS blockade does not prevent patients from progressing to end stage renal disease. Evaluating other vasoactive factors, which have similar and distinct functions to AngII, will assist in understanding their potential role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. A large number of researchers are studying vasoactive factors, however, the case for their role in diabetic nephropathy is inconclusive. Further investigation into the effects of inhibiting vasoactive compounds, including endothelin, urotensin II and vasopeptidases, together with inhibiting RAS, may provide another therapeutic avenue for treating diabetic nephropathy.
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PMID:Vasoactive renal factors and the progression of diabetic nephropathy. 1554 22

It is no a secret that we are confronted by an alarmingly increasing number of patients with progressive renal disease. There is ample evidence for the notion that angiotensin II (Ang II) is a major culprit in progression. The vasopeptide Ang II turned out to have also multiple nonhemodynamic pathophysiologic actions on the kidney, including proinflammatory and profibrogenic effects. Diverse complex Ang II generating systems have been identified, including specifically local tissue-specific renin-angiotensin systems (RAS). For example, proximal tubular cells have all components required for a functional RAS capable of synthesizing Ang II. On the other hand, Ang II is not the only effector of the RAS and other peptides generated by the RAS influence renal function and structure as well. Moreover, the discoveries that Ang II can be generated by enzymes other than angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and that Ang II and other RAS derived peptides bind to various receptors with different functional consequences have further added to the complexity of this system. Several major clinical trials have clearly shown that ACE inhibitor treatment slows the progression of renal diseases, including in diabetic nephropathy. Well-controlled studies demonstrated that this effect is in part independent of blood pressure control. More recently, with Ang II type 1 receptor (AT(1)) receptor antagonists a similarly protective effect on renal function was seen in patients with type 2 diabetes. Neither ACE inhibitor treatment nor AT(1) receptor blockade completely abrogate progression of renal disease. A recently introduced novel therapeutic approach is combination treatment comprising both ACE inhibitor and AT(1) receptor antagonists. The rationale for this approach is based on several considerations. Small-scale clinical studies, mainly of crossover design, documented that combination therapy is more potent in reducing proteinuria in patients with different chronic renal diseases. Blood pressure as an important confounder was, however, significantly lower in the majority of this studies in the combination treatment arms compared to the respective monotherapies. In a recent prospective study Japanese authors avoided this confounder and demonstrated that combination therapy reduced hard end-points (end stage renal failure or doubling of serum creatinine concentration) by 50% compared to the respective monotherapies. This effect could not be explained by a more pronounced reduction of blood pressure in the combination therapy group. Although these results are encouraging, administration of combination therapy should be reserved currently to special high risk groups. Further studies are necessary to confirm these promising results. It is possible that combination therapy may increase the risk of hyperkalemia, particularly when with coadministered with medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or spironolactone. In our opinion patients with proteinuria >1 g/day despite optimal blood pressure control under RAS-blocking monotherapy are a high-risk group which will presumably benefit from combination therapy.
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PMID:Combination therapy with ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers to halt progression of chronic renal disease: pathophysiology and indications. 1616 72

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is characterized by glomerulopathy and tubulointerstitial expansion followed by renal fibrosis. Angiotensin II (Ang II) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) are involved in the pathogenesis of DN, while Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) is important in advanced glycation end-product (AGE)-induced effects in renal interstitial (NRK-49F) fibroblasts. Thus, we studied the role of Ang II, CTGF, and JAK2 in AGE-induced effects in NRK-49F cells. We found that AGE (150 microg/ml) increased mitogenesis and type I collagen production at 7 days while Ang II (10(-7)M) increased mitogenesis and type I collagen production at 3 days. We also found that AGE (150 microg/ml) increased angiotensinogen protein at 2 days, which was attenuated by AG-490 (a JAK2 inhibitor). AGE (150 microg/ml) increased CTGF mRNA and protein expression at 3 and 5 days, respectively. Ang II (10(-7)M) increased CTGF mRNA and protein expression at 1 and 2 days, respectively, which were attenuated by AG-490. Moreover, losartan (a type I angiotensin receptor blocker) and captopril (an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor) attenuated AGE-induced CTGF mRNA/protein expression while attenuating AGE-induced mitogenesis and type I collagen production. AG-490 and CTGF antisense (but not sense) oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) attenuated Ang II (10(-7)M) and AGE-induced mitogenesis and type I collagen production at 3 and 7 days, respectively. We concluded that AGE (150 microg/ml)-induced mitogenesis and type I collagen production are dependent on the Ang II-JAK2-CTGF pathway in NRK-49F cells. Moreover, Ang II-induced mitogenesis and type I collagen production are dependent on the JAK2-CTGF pathway.
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PMID:Advanced glycation end-product-induced mitogenesis and collagen production are dependent on angiotensin II and connective tissue growth factor in NRK-49F cells. 1577 Jun 49

The introduction of Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) in 1995 was another milestone in the pharmacological management of hypertension. Due to the manifold effects on several target organs Angiotensin II is one of the most important mediator in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The blockade of the Angiotensin II receptor type 1 is a crucial cornerstone in interrupting the pathophysiological pathways in hypertension. Furthermore ARB have an excellent tolerability comparable with placebo. In the last decade large placebo-controlled trials could prove the efficiency of ARB in terms of morbidity and mortality. Patients after acute myocardial infarction and patients with chronic heart failure benefit from treatment with ARB equally compared to treatment with ACE inhibitors. Combining ARB and ACE inhibitors in patient after myocardial infarction increases the rate of adverse events without improving survival. Increase of microalbuminuria and worsening of diabetic nephropathy is reduced by ARB in patients with diabetes type 2, but an advantage over ACE inhibitors could not be documented. Hypertensive patients with electrocardiographically left ventricular hypertrophy treated with ARB seem to have an additional benefit in terms of morbidity and mortality compared to treatment with beta-blockers. In the early treatment of stroke patients treated with ARB have a lower 12-mounth mortality than patients receiving placebo. In conclusion, Angiotensin II receptor blockers are due to their well proved efficiency, the cardio- and renoprotective qualities and the excellent tolerability profile a useful therapeutic option in the management of patients with hypertension.
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PMID:[Angiotensin II receptor blockers--evidence along the cardiovascular continuum]. 1588 24

Hypertension is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality; therefore, blood pressure (BP) lowering plays a central role in reducing the cardiovascular complications of hypertension, including stroke. Recent outcomes studies--Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension, Reduction of Endpoints in Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan, and the Irbesartan Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy Trial--suggest that some angiotensin II antagonists are associated with CV and renal effects beyond their ability to lower BP in patients with hypertension or diabetic nephropathy and may play a role in the prevention of new-onset type 2 diabetes. Angiotensin II antagonists are associated with a wide variety of vascular, cardiac, and renal effects, as well as molecule-specific effects independent of those induced by the angiotensin-I receptor. These actions may offer a mechanistic explanation for the outcome benefits observed in patients with hypertension or diabetic nephropathy. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium-channel blockers may also have effects that are not completely explained by differences in the antihypertensive response to these agents, but the evidence is less robust. Collectively, these findings suggest that management of patients with hypertension, with or without diabetes or renal disease, should no longer be viewed as simply a matter of correcting elevated BP. Antihypertensive agents that possess CV benefits beyond their BP-reducing effects should be used to prevent the development of end-organ damage.
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PMID:Do angiotensin II antagonists provide benefits beyond blood pressure reduction? 1602 Apr 2

Although hemodynamic and metabolic factors are individually implicated in the development of diabetic nephropathy, their interaction has not been defined clearly. In this study, the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) and advanced glycation end products (AGE) both individually on each other are explored and compared. In the first study arm, Sprague-Dawley rats received a continuous infusion of AGE-modified rat serum albumin (RSA) or unmodified RSA for 4 wk with or without the angiotensin receptor type 1 antagonist valsartan. In the second arm, animals received a continuous infusion of Ang II (58.3 ng/kg per min) with or without the AGE inhibitor pyridoxamine. Components of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system were measured using real time reverse transcription-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and standard angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity assays. Renal and serum AGE were quantified by immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and AGE-fluorescence. After an infusion of AGE-RSA, renal expression of angiotensinogen, ACE, renin, and angiotensin receptor type 1 were increased significantly (all P < 0.01), and ACE activity was elevated. This was associated with tubular and glomerular hypertrophy and AGE accumulation, which could be antagonized by valsartan. However, valsartan had no effect on increased filtration fraction associated with an AGE-RSA infusion. At the same time, an infusion of Ang II increased the serum and renal accumulation of AGE and advanced oxidation protein products and induced renal hypertrophy and salt retention that could be antagonized by pyridoxamine. However, pyridoxamine had no effect on renal vasoconstriction manifested by reduced renal blood flow. AGE and Ang II have overlapping activities in the kidney. The beneficial effects of blockade of either pathway underline the importance of this interaction in diabetic renal disease and the aging kidney.
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PMID:Interactions between renin angiotensin system and advanced glycation in the kidney. 1610 77

Angiotensin II plays a central role in the pathogenesis and progression of proteinuric nephropathies and related cardiovascular complications. Losartan is a selective non-peptide angiotensin Type 1-receptor blocker (ARB) with unique uricosuric effect, not shared by other ARBs. Losartan has demonstrated renoprotective effects in animals and humans with diabetic and non-diabetic renal diseases similar to those of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, with a lower incidence of dry cough and angioneurotic oedema. A reduced incidence of cerebrovascular events and diabetes has been reported in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy on losartan therapy compared with patients treated with atenolol. Whether ARBs have superior cardioprotective effects, compared with other blood pressure medications, is still unknown. Combined angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and ARB therapy improves renal outcomes in non-diabetic nephropathies more than single drug renin-angiotensin system inhibition. Whether this also applies to diabetic nephropathy and related cardiovascular outcomes is still unknown.
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PMID:Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system and cardio-renal protection: focus on losartan and angiotensin receptor blockade. 1614 12

Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the kidney. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a central role in the ECM synthesis and degradation in the glomeruli and tubulointerstitium leading to renal fibrosis. High glucose (HG) induces cellular ROS through protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent activation of NADPH oxidase and through mitochondrial metabolism. ROS thus generated activate signal transduction cascade (PKC, mitogen-activated protein kinases, and janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription) and transcription factors (nuclear factor-kappaB, activated protein-1, and specificity protein-1), up-regulate transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), angiotensin II (Ang II), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene and protein expression, and promote formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE). PKC, TGF-beta1, Ang II, and AGE also induce cellular ROS and signal through ROS leading to enhanced ECM synthesis. NF-kappaB-MCP-1 pathway is activated by ROS and promotes monocyte recruitment and profibrotic process in the kidney. HG- and TGF-beta1-induced PAI-1 up-regulation is mediated by ROS and contribute to ECM accumulation via suppression of plasmin ativity. TGF-beta1-induced myofibroblast transformation of renal tubular epithelial cells (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) is also mediated by ROS and contribute to tubulointerstitial fibrosis. In summary, ROS transduce and amplify glucose signalling in renal cells under high glucose environment and play a critical role in excessive ECM deposition in the diabetic kidney. A better understanding of ROS production and removal will allow more effective therapeutic strategies in diabetic renal and other vascular complications.
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PMID:Reactive oxygen species amplify glucose signalling in renal cells cultured under high glucose and in diabetic kidney. 1617 88


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