Angiotensin II receptor type 1 expression in patients with multifocal atherosclerosis
Local expression of rennin-angiotensin system (RAS) components significantly increases in patients with arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis with or without elevation of RAS activity in the blood. Our objectives was to assessment and compare the expression level of angiotensin II type 1 receptor in the smooth muscle cells in arteries of patients with multifocal atherosclerosis and the role of local angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R) expression in the disease progression. The study results suggest that the tissue RAS activity increases inhomogeneously among patients. It was interestly that AT1R expression levels in intact arteries does not differ of those in atherosclerotic arteries. Most of patients had expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor in smooth muscle of arteries; strong elevation had 43,8% - 50,0%. Our study suggest of role of local RAS activity, but we proposed existence of another than only angiotensin II type 1 receptor mechanisms of low or high susceptibility of arteries to atherosclerosis in patient with multifocal atherosclerosis.