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[The current focus on cardiovascular growth in arterial hypertension]
1Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Zaragoza.
Insights
The cardiovascular system acts as an endocrine organ, producing substances that regulate its function. Abnormalities in this system may contribute to cardiovascular disease and hypertension, suggesting new drug targets.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Endocrinology
- Molecular Cardiology
Context:
- The cardiovascular system possesses endocrine functions beyond its mechanical roles.
- Endothelial cells and cardiovascular myocytes synthesize and secrete local regulators.
Purpose:
- To explore the cardiovascular system's endocrine role in regulating contractility and growth.
- To investigate the link between endocrine dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases like hypertension.
Summary:
- The cardiovascular system synthesizes and secretes vasoactive substances and growth factors.
- Abnormalities in producing or responding to these substances can lead to excessive cardiovascular cell growth.
- These dysregulations are implicated in the development of arterial hypertension.
Impact:
- Highlights the cardiovascular system as an endocrine organ.
- Suggests novel therapeutic targets for antihypertensive drugs focused on cardiovascular endocrine systems.
Abstract:
Recent data have demonstrated that together with an impulsive-conductive function, the cardiovascular system is an organ that synthesizes and secretes several substances involved in the local regulation of its properties. This is the case of endothelial cells and cardiovascular myocytes which produce vasoactive substances and growth factors capable of modulating intra-, auto-, and paracrinally [correction of paraclinically] cardiovascular contractility and growth. It is currently postulated that different genetic or acquired abnormalities in the production of one or more than one of these substances and/or in the response to them, could provoke an excessive increase and/or a disordered growth of the cardiovascular muscles cells. At the same time, both abnormalities could contribute to the initiation and the development of arterial hypertension. The new antihypertensive drugs could be targeted to the cardiovascular endocrine systems.