Failure of angiotensin II and insulin to stimulate transforming growth factor-beta1. Release from cultured bovine retinal pericytes.

Activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may induce cardiovascular and renal fibrosis in hypertension and diabetes. This fibrogenic effect is mainly mediated by Transforming Growth Factor-B1 (TGF-B1), a multifunctional citokyne released by endothelial, vascular smooth muscle and renal mesangial cells, that is able to increase extracellular matrix deposition. Retinal capillary pericytes have functions similar to those of mesangial cells,...