[Regulatory mechanisms for the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system]

While the circulating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system(RAAS) plays an important role in the regulation of the sodium and extracellular fluid balance and blood pressure, the tissue RAAS has been reported to be involved in the pathophysiology of organ damage in patients with hypertension and diabetes. However, the regulation of the tissue RAAS, that is the production of angiotensin II and aldosterone within the tissue independently of the circulating RAAS, remains undetermined in detail. The purpose of this article is to review the recent advances in tissue RAAS research with a particular focus on the roles of (pro)renin receptor in the pathological conditions and its physiological function.