Cardiovascular disease is the collective term for cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, which are ischemic or hemorrhagic diseases of the heart and peripheral vessels caused by hyperlipidemia, blood viscosity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, etc. Cardiovascular diseases cover a wide range, including heart failure, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, hypertension, etc., and many patients have multiple chronic diseases at the same time.
There are four common causes of cardiovascular disease: (1) vascular factors such as atherosclerosis, hypertensive arterioles, arteritis; (2) hemodynamic factors such as hypertension; (3) high fat Blood rheology abnormalities such as blood sugar and diabetes; (4) blood component factors such as leukemia, anemia, and thrombocytosis.
Smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity, increasing age, ethnicity, genetics, etc. are all risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease is a common disease that seriously threatens human life and health, and has the characteristics of high morbidity, high disability and high mortality. According to the data released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people who die of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in the world is as high as 17.9 million every year, which is equivalent to 1 in every 3 deaths. Data from the World Heart Federation (WHF) shows that the number of people with cardiovascular disease worldwide has exceeded 500 million. Although modern medical treatment and examination methods are relatively complete, cardiovascular disease is still one of the major disease burdens that cause death and disability in the world today.
Since most cardiovascular diseases are closely related to hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, obesity and lifestyle, they are considered preventable and manageable. But cardiovascular disease prevention efforts are often forgotten. Cardiovascular disease treatment is also a major problem. Due to the characteristics of cardiovascular disease itself, it is difficult to design clinical trials of cardiovascular disease drugs, and existing cell and gene therapies still have limitations. As the main responsibility of human life activities, peptides have certain help in the remission and prevention of many diseases. Studies have shown that peptides have certain effects on cardiovascular diseases.
Angiotensin (ANG) is a group of oligopeptide hormones formed by angiotensinogen (AGT) under the action of renin and a series of enzymes.
Angiotensin is widely present in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues, and plays an important role in vasoconstriction, blood pressure elevation, and promotion of adrenal hormone release.
Angiotensin I is a 10-peptide produced by renin acting on angiotensinogen in plasma. Angiotensin I, as a precursor of angiotensin II, also has certain biological effects. Angiotensin I can affect intrarenal blood flow distribution, inhibit renin secretion, and stimulate adrenal medulla to secrete epinephrine.
Angiotensin II is an 8-peptide produced by the hydrolysis of angiotensin I under the action of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Angiotensin II can constrict the arterioles of the whole body to increase blood pressure, and it can also constrict veins, resulting in an increase in blood return to the heart. In addition, it can also promote the secretion of aldosterone by the adrenal cortex. Aldosterone acts on the renal tubules to retain sodium, water, and potassium, resulting in increased blood volume. Angiotensin II also enhances sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity, induces thirst and drinking behavior, and stimulates the secretion of vasopressin and adrenocorticotropic hormone.
Angiotensin (1-7), as an antagonist of angiotensin II, has various effects such as vasodilation, natriuresis, inhibition of smooth muscle hyperplasia, and is of great significance to cardiovascular research.
Adrenomedullin (AM) is a cardiovascular active peptide consisting of 52 amino acids. AM has a variety of physiological effects such as dilating blood vessels, inhibiting vascular remodeling, lowering blood pressure, improving cardiac systolic function, natriuretic diuresis, and regulating renal function. As a monitoring index, AM is of great significance to the assessment of cardiovascular system diseases, and provides new ideas for disease prevention and treatment.
Apelin is an endogenous ligand of angiotensin II receptor-associated protein (APJ). Apelin is an important active peptide whose molecular structure is similar to that of angiotensin II. Apelin can modulate cardiovascular function in a paracrine and/or autocrine manner. Apelin can significantly increase myocardial contraction while dilating blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. It has a unique dual beneficial effect on the improvement of heart pump function and the regulation of blood pressure. Apelin is therefore a powerful tool in the treatment of heart failure and hypertension.
