Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects over 8 million individuals in the United States alone. This is a form of atherosclerosis in which plaques preferentially build up inside the arteries of the legs to limit blood flow. These patients are at high risk for heart attack and stroke, with at least half dying from coronary artery disease. Our understanding of the causes of PAD remains incomplete. The renin-angiotensin hormone system is one mechanism known to contribute to atherosclerosis. Pharmacologic blockade of the hormone angiotensin II is beneficial in forms of atherosclerosis, including peripheral arterial disease, to improve blood vessel damage and functional outcomes. These therapies also increase circulating levels of angiotensin-(1-7), a hormone that dilates blood vessels. Angiotensin-(1-7) improves blood vessel function and reduces inflammation to protect against atherosclerosis in animal models; however, there are no clinical data in patients with atherosclerosis. The overall goal of this project is to examine the cardiovascular effects of angiotensin-(1-7) in PAD.