Renin-angiotensin system: a review of historical perspectives

Abstract

The article is a review of publications concerning historical perspectives of the renin-angiotensin system. The discovery of its components is presented in chronological order, beginning with the initial identification of renin and proceeding to the subsequent discoveries of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, angiotensin-(1-7), Mas receptor. This paper presents a modern classification of the renin-angiotensin system, dividing it into classical and non-classical branches, based on the determination of the biological effects of its components. Significant attention is devoted to elucidating the biochemical cascade of the renin-angiotensin system, its physiological transformations, and its implications in human body processes. The detrimental cardiac effects of the classical renin-angiotensin system are highlighted, along with the crucial role played by its alternative axis in counteracting the development of cardiovascular diseases. The article presents data on the involvement of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and its receptors in coronavirus infections, susceptibility to infection, and disease progression.