Therapeutic Approaches to the Alternative Angiotensin-(1-7) Axis of the Renin-Angiotensin System.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States despite the recent advances in drug development, changes in lifestyle and screening protocols. A key target in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and hypertension is the renin-angiotensinsystem (RAS), a circulating and tissue system involved in the regulation of blood pressure, fluid balance and cellular injury. Pharmacologic approaches have traditionally focused on the Ang II-AT1receptor axis of the RAS to prevent the generation of Ang II with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or to block the binding of Ang II to the AT1 receptor (AT1R) with selective antagonists (ARBs).