Angiotensin II AT2 subtype receptors: an emerging target for cardiovascular therapy

This article reviews the impressive amount of knowledge accumulated in the last few years on the angiotensin II AT2 subtype receptor. Although still elusive, a large body of experimental evidence strongly suggests that it may play an important role in the adaptive changes of the cardiovascular structures in response to pathological conditions such as myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure or hypertension. The most intriguing aspects of the biology of this receptor, however, appear to be: 1) the regulation of its transcription, which plays an important role in the expression of the protein in adults or in injured tissues; 2) its interaction or "cross-talk" with the predominant angiotensin II receptor, the AT1 subtype, or with the receptors of other growth factors or cytokines; and 3) its connections with the bradykinin/nitric oxide pathways. These aspects may be relevant for the therapeutical use of drugs which antagonize the renin-angiotensin system, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists, as well as for new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.