Role of Angiotensin Peptides Precursor in Ethanol Mediated Hepato toxicity: Perspective on Angiotensinogen

Abstract

Alcohol usage poses serious social and economical challenges. Its overuse is responsible for loss of billions of dollars due to fatal accidents and causes multiple diseases. Chronic alcoholism leads to liver disorders, including steatosis, hepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Both binge and chronic alcohol drinking result in blood pressure elevation and hypertension. As a significant mechanism, changes in the levels of angiotensinogen-released peptides play an important role in advanced alcohol liver disease. This review summarizes some of the studies that have demonstrated their role in liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hypertension. Further, the individual variants and polymorphic sites may play a role in alcoholmediated regulation of angiotensinogen. Possible role of human angiotensinogen on alcohol hepatotoxicity is also discussed.