The ocular renin-angiotensin system: a therapeutic target for the treatment of ocular disease

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2014

Publication Title

Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Keywords

Angiotensin II, Eye, Glaucoma, Ocular, Renin–angiotensin system, Retina

ISSN

0163-7258

Volume

142

Issue/No.

1

First Page

11

Last Page

32

Abstract

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is most well-known for its role in regulation and dysregulation of blood pressure as well as fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. Due to its ability to cause cardiovascular disease, the RAS is the target of a multitude of drugs that antagonize its pathophysiological effects. While the "classical" RAS is a systemic hormonal system, there is an increasing awareness of the existence and functional significance of local RASs in a number of organs, e.g., liver, kidney, heart, lungs, reproductive organs, adipose tissue and adrenal. The eye is one of these organs where a compelling body of evidence has demonstrated the presence of a local RAS. Individual components of the RAS have been shown to be present in many structures of the eye and their potential functional significance in ocular disease states is described. Because the eye is one of the most important and complex organs in the body, this review also discusses the implications of dysregulation of the systemic RAS on the pathogenesis of ocular diseases and how pharmacological manipulation of the RAS might lead to novel or adjunctive therapies for ocular disease states.

ORCID ID

0000-0002-6434-2160

DOI

10.1016/j.pharmthera.2013.11.002

Link to Full Text
Peer Reviewed

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