AGT and glomerulosclerosis: During hypertension, the role of Angiotensin II (Ang II) is central, besides its hemodynamic role, and has been associated in animal models with podocyte loss [295], enhancement of matrix production by mesangial cells [296] and glomerulosclerosis, but also with changes in transporter expression in the tubule [297] and interstitial fibrosis [298], as well as oxidative stress and inflammation [299].