Meet the editor

Aleksandar Kibel is assistant professor at the Department of Physiology and Immunology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Osijek, as well as an internal medicine specialist and cardiology subspecialist at the Department for Heart and Vascular Diseases, Osijek University Hospital Centre, Croatia. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Osijek, with an MD degree in 2009 with a maximum possible grade

average, conducting experimental research activities during almost all study years and receiving awards that included the country's top scholarship ("Top Scholarship for Top Students"). His research activities include laboratory practicums and research visits at a number of foreign institutions, including the University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf (Germany), the Medical College of Wisconsin (USA), Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok (Thailand), etc. He obtained his PhD degree at the Department of Physiology and Immunology with a focus on vascular physiology and pathophysiology and teaches at medical high school, university, and postgraduate doctoral levels. He was a mentor on several diploma works. Prior experience includes work at the Emergency Medicine Department and an internship at the University Hospital Zagreb, as well as volunteer work at the Red Cross. He has published a number of scientific papers and three book chapters, actively participated in many international scientific conferences and research projects at the preclinical and clinical levels, and contributed to pharmacological clinical trials as a subinvestigator. He is guest editor of several special issues and an editorial board member of several international scientific journals.

Contents

*by Alan Poisner*

and Therapeutic Implications

without Adding Fuel to the Fire *by Gabriel Lucca de Oliveira Salvador*

II-Induced Hypertension

and Pregnancy in Mares *by Katy Satué and Ana Muñoz*

II-Induced Kidney Damage

*and Codruta Badescu*

**Preface XI**

**Chapter 1 1**

**Chapter 2 25**

**Chapter 3 39**

**Chapter 4 65**

**Chapter 5 81**

**Chapter 6 111**

**Chapter 7 135**

From Angiotensin to Renin to Prorenin and from the Adrenal to the Kidney to the Placenta and the Lungs: An Historical Journey

*by Manuela Ciocoiu, Iris Bararu-Bojan, Maria Vladeanu* 

Treatment of Essential Hypertension with Emphasis in the Renin-Angiotensin System: How to Prevent Secondary Outcomes

The Intratubular and Intracrine Renin-Angiotensin System in the Proximal Tubules of the Kidney and Its Roles in Angiotensin

*by Xiao C. Li, Ana Paula de Oliveira Leite, Xu Chen, Chunling Zhao,* 

Connexin-Based Channels and RhoA/ROCK Pathway in Angiotensin

*Xiaowen Zheng, Jianfeng Zhang and Jia L. Zhuo*

Scientific Evidences Supporting the Activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System during Estral Cycle

*by Gonzalo I. Gómez, Victoria Velarde and Juan C. Sáez*

The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System: Genomics, Proteomics

Significance of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Clinical Conditions *by Vedran Đambić, Đorđe Pojatić, Anto Stažić and Aleksandar Kibel*

## Contents


## **Chapter 8 151**

The Potential Role of Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) and Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) in COVID-19: Navigating the Uncharted *by Hayder M. Al-Kuraishy, Marwa S. Al-Niemi, Nawar R. Hussain, Ali I. Al-Gareeb, Nasser A. Al-Harchan and Azhar H. Al-Kurashi*

Preface

This book aims to provide a selection of chapters reviewing some of the most relevant and interesting physiological and pathophysiological roles of the renin-

The complex and convoluted RAS has been investigated for many years and, through rigorous scientific research, many important and previously unknown components and functions of the RAS have come to light. These discoveries have been crucial in the understanding of this system and provide a basis for effective modulation of the system as part of therapeutic strategies for a number of widespread disorders. New studies are continuing to elucidate the RAS and the

The first chapter, written by Dr. A. Poisner, gives a chronological overview of the many years and decades of important research of the RAS as the scientific community expanded on the importance of this physiological system and established a structured portfolio of knowledge and information about it. The chapter is written with a focus on the personal experiences of Dr Poisner. The next chapter by Dr M. Ciocoiu et al. discusses the genomics, proteomics and therapeutic implications of the RAS. In the following chapter by Dr A. Kibel and coworkers, the significance of the RAS in clinical conditions is presented. The role of RAS in clinically relevant contexts, such as hypertension, heart failure, diabetes mellitus and others can be crucial for both pathogenic reasons and because of therapeutic targeting. The emphasis of the role of the RAS in the treatment of essential hypertension is brought further into focus by Dr G.B. de Oliveira Salvador in his chapter. The intratubular and intracrine RAS in the proximal tubules of the kidney and Its roles in angiotensin II-induced hypertension is discussed by Dr X. C. Li and colleagues. Interesting new scientific results regarding other roles and mechanisms connected to the RAS are susequently discussed in chapters by Dr K. Satue et al. and Dr G. I. Gomez et al. The final chapter of the book, by Al-kuraishy et al., deals with the implications of the new pandemic of COVID-19 as it relates to specific aspects of the RAS and discusses a potential link to Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4.

Taken together, the selected chapters in the book discuss relevant scientific knowledge about the RAS and intend to introduce the reader to cutting-edge research of the RAS with an accentuation on the mechanisms on functional/physiological

> **Dr. Aleksandar Kibel** Osijek University Hospital,

> > Croatia

angiotensin system (RAS) and discussing novel scientific findings.

mechanisms associated with its functions.

and on the molecular/cellular levels.
