Research on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has contributed significantly to advances in understanding cardiovascular and renal homeostasis and to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This review
offers a brief history of the RAS with an overview of its major components and their functions, as well as
blockers of the RAS, their clinical usage and current research that targets various components of the RAS.
Because angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) metabolizes two biologically active peptides, one in the
kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) and one in the RAS, it is the essential connection between the two systems.
ACE releases very powerful hypertensive agent, angiotensin II and also inactivates strong hypotensive
peptide, bradykinin. Inhibition of ACE thus has a dual effect, resulting in decreased angiotensin II and
increased bradykinin. We described the KKS as well.
