Abstract: Diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes are associated with vascular functional and structural changes including endothelial dysfunction, altered contractility and vascular remodeling. Cellular events underlying these processes involve changes in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) growth, apoptosis, cell migration, inflammation, and fibrosis. Many factors influence cellar changes, of which angiotension II (Ang II) appears to be amongst the most important. Angiotensin II increases vascular endothelin-1 (ET-1) tissue levels, which in turn mediate a major part of Ang II-stimulated vascular growth and hypertension in vivo. Ang II also stimulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in vascular smooth muscle cells. In this report, we discuss the role of angiotensin II, endothelin-1 and reactive oxygen species on smooth muscle proliferation. Key words: angiotension II, endothelin-1, reactive oxygen species?
