Angiotensin III: A physiological relevant peptide of the renin angiotensin system

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) is a peptide hormone system that plays an important role in thepathophysiology of various diseases, including congestive heart failure, hypertension, myocardial infarc-tion, and diabetic nephropathy. This has led researchers to focus extensively on this system, leading to thediscovery of various peptides, peptidases, receptors and signal transduction mechanisms intrinsic to theRAS. Angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin (Ang) II, Ang III, Ang IV, and Ang-(1-7) are the main biologicallyactive peptides of RAS. However, most of the available studies have focused on Ang II as the likely keypeptide from the RAS that directly and indirectly regulates physiological functions leading to pathologicalconditions. However, data from recent studies suggest that Ang III may produce physiologically relevanteffects that are similar to those produced by Ang II. Hence, this review focuses on Ang III and the myriadof physiological effects that it produces in the body.