[Involvement of angiotensin II in development of atherosclerosis]

Angiotensin II has been shown to be a potent vasoconstrictor, and it may promote in the development of atherosclerosis. Hyperlipidemia and hypertension is a risk factor for atherosclerosis, but reductions in lipid levels and blood pressure do not necessarily result in blocking lesion development in animal models of atherosclerosis. We previously reported that tissue angiotensin II levels in atherosclerotic lesion in monkeys fed a high cholesterol diet were increased significantly compared with that in normal lesion. In this atherosclerotic model, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker(ARB) significantly reduced the progression of atherosclerosis, while it did not affect blood pressure and plasma cholesterol levels. Increase of angiotensin II action may play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis.