Of interest, cross-talk between hypercholesterolemia and the renin-angiotensin-system exists at multiple levels of insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction.
Although the mechanisms of interaction between these two risk factors have not been completely elucidated thus far, there is rapidly growing evidence that the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) can be considered as the common link between hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.
Cigarette smoking and hypercholesterolemia influence the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) functions, including increased RAS-mediated vasoconstriction, mitogenic signaling, and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) expression.
In addition, there is growing evidence of an interaction between hypercholesterolemia and the renin-angiotensin system in the risk for hypertension and atherosclerosis.