Activation of the skin renin-angiotensin system contributes to the development of hypertension

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21606
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 53:Organ-based internal medicine and related fields
• Research Institution: Yokohama City University
• Principal Investigator: TAMURA Kouichi 横浜市立大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (40285143)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 情報伝達系 / 受容体 / 腎臓病・高血圧 / 病態解明 / 治療標的

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recent studies suggests that modulation of vascular function and Na+ storage in the skin may contribute to blood pressure regulation in physiology and pathophysiology. Although the renin-angiotensin system, one of principal blood pressure regulators, reportedly exists in the skin tissue, its functional role remains unclear. This study aims to examine a putative role of skin tissue renin-angiotensin system in blood pressure regulation　by animal experiments using genetic engineered mice and by clinical experiments using human skin samples. The results of our study suggest that functional status of skin renin-angiotensin system activity may exert a modulatory effect on blood pressure in response to certain pathological stimuli.

Free Research Field

一般内科学、腎臓内科学、内分泌内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、外的環境に対する防御機能を担う皮膚組織に存在する循環制御メカニズムの皮膚組織レニン-アンジオテンシン系の意義に着目し、臓器間ネットワーク制御による高血圧克服のための治療標的としての意義を明らかにし、また、皮膚組織と高血圧との新たな接点を提唱することができた。今後は皮膚組織レニン-アンジオテンシン系が、高血圧などの予防・治療法開発の新規標的となる可能性がある。