Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System · 2001 · 19 citations · 2 references
MedicineCardiologyPharmacologyCardiovascular PharmacotherapyClinical PharmacologyPharmacodynamicsBlood Pressure ManagementCardiac MedicationsCardiovascular PharmacologyCoronary Artery DiseaseEndothelial ActivationEndothelial DysfunctionAngiotensin Ii TherapyBlood PressureBlood Pressure PharmacodynamicsEndothelial Cell CultureEndothelial Function ModulationPlaque InstabilityVascular Endothelial Dysfunction
The angiotensin II (Ang II) AT1-receptor antagonists, valsartan and candesartan, were compared with regard to their effect on Ang II-mediated changes in parameters of coronary endothelial function. Ang II (10 microM) induced increased concentrations of the vasoconstrictor endothelin, the procoagulatory substance plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and the precursor of the matrix-metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) in endothelial cell cultures from human coronary arteries. These increases were completely prevented by the addition of 10 microM valsartan or candesartan and partially by the addition of lower concentrations of these drugs, i.e. 1 microM and 0.1 microM. No significant difference between the effect of the two AT1-receptor antagonists was observed. These results suggest that AT1-receptor antagonists not only can reduce blood pressure by blocking the action of Ang II, but might also contribute to the prevention of atherogenesis and plaque instability.
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