# Angiotensin-(1-7) and Cardiovascular Derangements in Obesity Hypertension

> **NIH HL R01** · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR · 2026 · $706,467

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Obesity is a global epidemic that is associated with sympathetic overactivation, endothelial dysfunction, and
insulin resistance; all of which can contribute to hypertension development. Despite well-established clinical
associations, the mechanisms connecting obesity with hypertension remain poorly understood, with several
antihypertensive therapies eliciting detrimental metabolic effects. This illustrates the need to identify new
targets with a positive metabolic profile for treatment of obesity hypertension. We propose that angiotensin-(1-
7), a protective hormone of the renin-angiotensin system, provides this ideal target. In support of this concept,
we have shown that acute and chronic angiotensin-(1-7) treatment reduces cardiovascular sympathetic tone
and blood pressure and improves endothelial function and insulin sensitivity in obese mouse models. There is
limited clinical data, however, with no information on systemic effects of angiotensin-(1-7) on cardiovascular or
metabolic outcomes in any patient population including obesity hypertension. To address this critical gap, we
obtained preliminary data in obese hypertensive subjects suggesting that: circulating angiotensin-(1-7) levels
are reduced and negatively correlate with blood pressure; acute intravenous angiotensin-(1-7) infusion reduces
blood pressure and may increase endothelial-dependent vasodilation and decrease sympathetic tone; and
angiotensin-(1-7) may improve insulin sensitivity, findings consistent with the positive metabolic effects seen in
animal models. Based on these data, this proposal will test the central hypothesis that angiotensin-(1-7)
improves cardiovascular and metabolic-related derangements in obesity hypertension. We propose proof-of-
concept mechanistic studies to examine the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of acute intravenous
angiotensin-(1-7) infusion in obese hypertensive subjects. We will test hypotheses that angiotensin-(1-7) can:
reduce sympathetic ac

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11309599
- **Project number:** 5R01HL170140-03
- **Recipient organization:** PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Amy Christine Arnold; Alfredo  Gamboa
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** HL
- **Fiscal year:** 2026
- **Award amount:** $706,467
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2024-04-15T00:00:00 → 2029-03-31T00:00:00

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11309599

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11309599, Angiotensin-(1-7) and Cardiovascular Derangements in Obesity Hypertension (5R01HL170140-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-07-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11309599. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*