The Relevance of the Renin-Angiotensin System in the Development of Drugs to Combat Preeclampsia

Figure 1

The renin-angiotensin system. Circulating angiotensinogen, derived from the liver, is cleaved by renin to produce angiotensin I. Renin is released into the circulation via the juxtaglomerular cells in the kidney in response to extracellular volume depletion. Angiotensin I is cleaved by angiotensin-converting enzyme into the highly biologically active peptide hormone angiotensin II. Angiotensin II interacts with two major subtypes of cell surface receptor: type I and type II. The actions of angiotensin II are mainly mediated via the angiotensin type I receptor.