Assessment of the angiotensin hormones as potential new treatments in cardiovascular disease

Angiotensin 1-9 and angiotensin 1-7; assessment of their mechanisms of action as counter-regulatory renin angiotensin system peptides in cardiovascular disease

Heart and circulatory disease is Scotland's biggest killer and new treatments are urgently needed. Hormones are chemical messengers that circulate in the blood to control the activity of the circulatory system and organs such as the heart. The body keeps hormone levels in check to ensure it functions normally. However, in some diseases it is often the production of too much of a particular hormone that is the root cause. Dr Stuart Nicklin from the University of Glasgow (BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre) is investigating a hormone called angiotensin II, too much of which may lead to heart and circulatory disease because it can raise blood pressure, cause the heart to enlarge, and damage the kidneys. The body uses other hormones (called angiotensin 1-7 and 1-9) to block the effects of angiotensin II. The team wish to understand more about how angiotensin 1-7 and 1-9 function, because they could form the basis for new treatments for heart and circulatory disease.