Dual effects of angiotensin II type 2 receptor on cardiovascular hypertrophy

Roles of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the regulation of cardiovascular system under normal and pathological condition have been well documented. Although two major subtypes of Ang II receptors, AT(1) and AT(2), are found in various proportions, the role and signaling mechanisms of AT(2) in the control of hypertrophic responses of cardiac ventricle and vasculature are not clear. Although earlier reports indicated that AT(2)'s functions are essentially growth suppression, an increasing number of recent reports indicate that AT(2) in cardiovascular tissues are often growth promoting. In some tissues AT(1) and AT(2) seem to share a common signaling pathways, at least in part. This review focuses on the accumulating evidence for the AT(2) function in the cardiovascular system.