AGT and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: We [8] have recently demonstrated that blockade of RAS with direct renin inhibitor aliskiren or valsartan (an ARB) effectively attenuated ER stress in renal tubular epithelial cells induced by PA or high-fat diet in mice, suggesting a role of Ang II as a regulator of ER stress and apoptosis in obesity-associated in kidney diseases.