Multiple forms of human renin. Purification and characterization

Evaluation of a direct prorenin assay making use of a monoclonal antibody directed against residues 32-39 of the prosegment

BACKGROUND

Prorenin is an early marker of microvascular complications in diabetes. However, it can only be measured indirectly (following its conversion to renin), with a renin immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Unfortunately, treatment with a renin inhibitor interferes with this assay, because renin inhibitors induce a conformational change in prorenin, thereby allowing its detection as renin.

METHODS

We evaluated Molecular Innovation's new direct prorenin ELISA, which makes use of an antibody that recognizes an epitope near prorenin's putative cleavage site (R 43 L 44), thus no longer requiring prorenin activation. Plasma samples of 41 diabetic individuals treated with aliskiren (renin inhibitor) or irbesartan were tested. Semi-purified recombinant prorenin was used as standard, because the ELISA standard yielded approximately 10-fold lower values in the renin IRMA following its conversion to renin.

RESULTS

The ELISA detected prorenin levels that were identical to those determined by the IRMA in untreated and irbesartan-treated individuals. Yet, it yielded higher prorenin levels in aliskiren-treated individuals. Aliskiren, at levels reached in plasma during treatment, did not interfere with the ELISA, but allowed the detection of up to 20-30% of prorenin as renin in the IRMA, thereby resulting in a significant overestimation of renin and an underestimation of prorenin. The ELISA rendered results within 2 h and did not require a pretreatment period of several days to convert prorenin to renin.

CONCLUSION

The new direct assay allows rapid prorenin detection, is not hampered by aliskiren when used at clinically relevant doses, and might be used to identify diabetic patients developing retinopathy and/or nephropathy.

A high molecular weight form of angiotensin I is generated in rat serum incubated with synthetic and native angiotensin I

A high molecular weight form of angiotensin I, 'big angiotensin I' with m.w. 25000 was generated in rat serum incubated with angiotensin I (m.w. 1296). Angiotensin I and 'big angiotensin I' were separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and extracted from the gels. Only sera with high concentrations of angiotensin I (2000-4300 ng per ml) incubated at neutral pH at 24 degrees C for several hours, contained 'big angiotensin I'. 'Big angiotensin I' was stable in sera, where angiotensin I was rapidly degraded. The proportion of 'big angiotensin I' to angiotensin I in sera, where angiotensin I was stable, was approx. 5%. In addition to 'big angiotensin I', which was generated during the incubations, a serum protein with m.w. 60000 was extracted from the SDS-PAGE. This protein had angiotensin I-like activity in the radioimmunoassay, and it was isolated from the unincubated sera in concentrations at the detection limit of the radioimmunoassay.

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Role of the fetal renin-angiotensin system

The twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTS) results from an unbalanced blood supply through placental anastomoses in monochorionic twins. It induces growth restriction, renal tubular dysgenesis, and oliguria in the donor and visceromegaly and polyuria in the recipient. A better understanding of its pathophysiology could contribute to improving the management of TTS, which still carries a high perinatal mortality in both twins. As well as several other candidates, the renin-angiotensin system might be involved in TTS. To evaluate its role in the pathogenesis of the syndrome, we studied the kidneys of 21 twin pairs who died from TTS at 19 to 30 weeks, compared with 39 individuals in a control group, using light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. The overexpression of the renin protein and transcript with frequent evidence of renin synthesis by mesangial cells was observed in the donor kidneys, presumably as a consequence of chronic renal hypoperfusion. This upregulation of renin synthesis might be beneficial to restore euvolemia. In severe cases of TTS, however, angiotensin-II-induced vasoconstriction acts as an additional deleterious factor by further reducing the renal blood flow in donors. In recipients, renin expression was virtually absent, possibly because it was down-regulated by hypervolemia. However, in addition to congestion and hemorrhagic infarction, there were severe glomerular and arterial lesions resembling those observed in polycythemia- or hypertension-induced microangiopathy. We speculate that fetal hypertension in the recipient might be partly mediated by the transfer of circulating renin produced by the donor, through the placental vascular shunts.

Ontogeny of renal renin in congenital hypothyroid rats

In the present study we have found age-related differences between the renal renin activity (RRA) and the immunoreactive renal renin (IRR) profiles during the neonatal development of the rat. RRA was markedly greater in newborn rats than in adult ones, while IRR was low at birth and progressively increased until adulthood. These observations suggest the existence of a control mechanism operating either at the level of the translation of the template or at a post-translational level which varies throughout the development. Since thyroid hormones have been demonstrated to affect several renin-angiotensin components, the neonatal RRA and IRR profiles in congenital hypothyroid rats were evaluated to determine whether renal renin activity or its synthesis could be endogenously regulated by thyroid hormones in the early stages of life. Although significant differences were observed in the RRA profiles of congenital hypothyroid and control rats, no changes were found in the relative amount of immunoreactive protein. These findings indicate that thyroid hormone deficiency does not directly affect renal renin expression during the critical period of the normal morpho-functional development of the newborn.

Development of human fetal kidney in obstructive uropathy: correlations with ultrasonography and urine biochemistry

In utero urethral obstruction results in bilateral hydronephrosis and severe fetal and post-natal morbidity and mortality. Obstetrical management depends on the indirect evaluation of fetal renal function by ultrasonography and biochemical analysis. No direct evaluation of the severity and possible reversibility of renal lesions is available. In this paper we analyzed kidneys from 34 fetuses (14 to 37 gestational weeks) in which (1) isolated bilateral urinary tract obstruction had been detected in utero by sonography, and (2) the severity of sonographic and biochemical prognostic indicators led to the indication of termination of pregnancy or to perinatal death. Pure hydronephrosis was observed in two young fetuses [14 and 20 gestational weeks (GW)] and was associated with regressive changes in two others. In contrast, a wide spectrum of dysplastic renal lesions was present in 30 fetuses and was classified into four subgroups according to the association of dysplasia, hypoplasia and cysts. They had the following characteristics in common: (1) premature cessation of nephrogenesis assessed by the medullary ray counting method; (2) early disappearance or myofibroblastic differentiation of metanephric blastema; (3) early increase in interstitial mesenchyme with widespread expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin by mesenchymal cells; (4) frequent absence of classical criteria of dysplasia (nests of cartilage were observed in only 5 fetuses); (5) an identification, based upon the detection of alpha-smooth muscle actin expression, of the muscular phenotype of mesenchymal cells encircling primitive ducts. In conclusion, (1) the value of prognostic markers in fetuses less than 20 GW should be reconsidered; (2) after 20 GW there is a good correlation between markers predicting poor prognosis and the severity of renal lesions; (3) hypoplasia with disappearance of blastema cells, dysplasia and early interstitial fibrosis are evidence of the irreversibility of renal lesions and preclude any possibility of new nephron formation; (4) these findings suggest that most surgical in utero procedures are performed when irreversible renal lesions have developed.

The glycosylation of the aspartic proteinases from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.)

Plant aspartic proteinases characterised at the molecular level contain one or more consensus N-glycosylation sites [Runeberg-Roos, P., Tŏrmäkangas, K. & Ostman, A. (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 202, 1021-1027; Asakura, T., Watanabe, H., Abe, K. & Arai, S. (1995) Eur. J. Biochem, 232, 77-83; Veríssimo, P., Faro, C., Moir, A. J. G., Lin, Y., Tang, J. & Pires, E. (1996) Eur. J. Biochem. 235, 762-768]. We found that the glycosylation sites are occupied for the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) aspartic proteinase (Asn333) and the cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) aspartic proteinase, cardosin A (Asn70 and Asn363). The oligosaccharides from each site were released from peptide pools by enzymatic hydrolysis with peptide-N-glycanase A or by hydrazinolysis and their structures were determined by exoglycosidase sequencing combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. It was observed that 6% of the oligosaccharides from the first glycosylation site of cardosin A are of the oligomannose type. Modified type glycans with proximal Fuc and without Xyl account for about 82%, 14% and 3% of the total oligosaccharides from the first and the second glycosylation sites of cardosin A and from H. vulgare aspartic proteinase, respectively. Oligosaccharides with Xyl but without proximal Fuc were only detected in the latter proteinase (4%). Glycans with proximal Fuc and Xyl account for 6%, 86% and 92% of total oligosaccharides from the first and second glycosylation sites of cardosin A and from H. vulgare aspartic proteinase, respectively.

Renin-like immunoreactivity in human placenta and fetal membranes

Five antibodies that stained renin in the kidney were used to investigate the presence of renin in human placenta and fetal membranes. Despite a large number of experimental approaches to enhance penetration of the immunoglobulins, only two of them showed immunostaining in placenta and fetal membranes. Staining was found in placental syncytiotrophoblast, the amnionic epithelium overlying the placenta, and in glandular epithelial cells present in the decidua adhering to the fetal membranes. It was most consistent, however, in a small infiltrating cell type dispersed through the fetoplacental layers. The two antibodies that revealed immunostaining in all preparations showed high affinity cross-reactivity with cathepsin D. Among other, less plausible, explanations, this raises the possibility that the bulk of 'renin' found in placenta and fetal membranes is not identical to renal renin, but may be cathepsin D or a substance related to both cathepsin D and renin.

Comparative effects of three different potent renin inhibitors in primates

The goal of the present study was to compare the effects of three potent reference renin inhibitors (remikiren, CGP 38560A, and enalkiren) in sodium-depleted normotensive squirrel monkeys. In these monkeys, arterial pressure was measured in the conscious state with a telemetry system. Oral and intravenous maximal effective doses of the three renin inhibitors were compared in parallel groups of monkeys. In additional experiments, remikiren was given on top of either CGP 38560A or enalkiren in the same animals. Finally, the three drugs were compared with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor cilazapril. The effects of the three drugs on the plasma components of the renin-angiotensin system (plasma renin activity, immunoreactive renin, and immunoreactive angiotensin II concentrations) were also measured. Our results show that remikiren was as effective as cilazapril and markedly more effective than CGP 38560A or enalkiren in reducing arterial pressure in our monkey model. Interestingly, these differences in arterial pressure could not be explained by differences of in vitro potency or different biochemical changes of the plasma components of the renin-angiotensin system, because the inhibitors all reduced immunoreactive angiotensin II to similarly low levels. One possible explanation is that, in our model, remikiren in contrast to CGP 38560A and enalkiren is able to inhibit renin in a functionally important extraplasmatic compartment.

Ro 42-5892 is a potent orally active renin inhibitor in primates

The goal of the present study was to characterize the new renin inhibitor Ro 42-5892 in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, Ro 42-5892 inhibited purified human renin and human plasma renin specifically with an IC50 of 0.7 nM and 0.8 nM, respectively. In vivo, Ro 42-5892 reduced mean arterial blood pressure in sodium-depleted marmosets and squirrel monkeys with as low a dose as 0.1 mg/kg orally. Higher doses reduced pressure by 30-35 mm Hg in both species. The duration of blood pressure decrease with 3 mg/kg orally was more than 24 hours. Maximal changes of plasma renin activity, immunoreactive angiotensin I, and immunoreactive angiotensin II were observed at 15 minutes. Renin was reduced by 74 +/- 31%, angiotensin I by 85 +/- 14%, angiotensin II by 89 +/- 17%, and immunoreactive active renin was increased by 70 +/- 39%. However, unlike pressure, these maximal effects were only transient with complete recovery of renin at 60 minutes under still reduced levels of angiotensin I (61 +/- 24%) and angiotensin II (71 +/- 38%) and increased concentrations of active renin (86 +/- 30%). The blood pressure lowering was due to specific renin inhibition as exemplified by the influence of the kidney, sodium status, species, or stereoselectivity. Moreover, the reduction of arterial blood pressure was similar to the action of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor cilazapril and was not associated with reflex tachycardia in contrast to the pure vasodilator minoxidil. We conclude that Ro 42-5892 is a potent orally active renin inhibitor acting mainly by inhibition of renin in an extraplasmatic compartment.

Human prorenin

Human prorenin is the enzymatically inactive biosynthetic precursor of renin. Recent interest has focused on the posttranslational sorting and processing of prorenin to renin since markedly increased levels of circulating prorenin have been associated with both physiological and pathological changes. These observations raise the question of whether prorenin processing may be a regulatory event in renin production in the kidney. In the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney, prorenin can be sorted to either of two pathways: 1) the regulated pathway, which is mediated by secretory granules, where a thiol protease resembling cathepsin B processes prorenin to renin by cleavage of the amino terminal 43-amino acid prosegment, which allows exposure of the active site of renin, or 2) the constitutive pathway, which is not regulated and does not involve conversion of prorenin to renin. Studies in which segments of prorenin are modified by site-directed mutagenesis suggest that the prosegment and glycosylation are not required for sorting, although they may influence or participate in sorting, or both. Certain areas in the prosegment are important determinants of enzyme activity and ability to cleave the prosegment. Further structural analysis of prorenin will be useful to assess details of its sorting and processing. In addition, a number of extrarenal tissues such as uterine lining, ovarian theca, corpus luteum, pituitary, and adrenal, express the renin gene. These tissues have different capabilities to sort and process prorenin compared with kidney, and some tissues secrete only prorenin. Whether prorenin-to-renin conversion is necessary to activate these local renin-angiotensin systems is a key issue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Low angiotensinogen levels are related to the severity and liver dysfunction of congestive heart failure: implications for renin measurements

PURPOSE

To compare the determination of plasma renin activity (PRA) and the direct measurement of active renin by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) as methods of assessing the renin system in patients with congestive heart failure.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The status of the renin-angiotensin system in congestive heart failure was assessed by measuring the plasma renin substrate concentration, PRA, and plasma concentration of active renin in 37 patients with mild to severe congestive heart failure. Natremia and plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) were determined as biologic indexes of the severity of heart failure, and concentrations of prealbumin and retinol-binding protein were used as indexes of liver dysfunction.

RESULTS

The PRA and the concentrations of active renin and ANF were markedly higher in patients with New York Heart Association class IV heart failure than in patients with class II to III heart failure, while natremia and the concentrations of renin substrate, prealbumin, and retinol-binding protein were markedly lower in the class IV patients than in the class II to III patients. Plasma renin substrate concentration was negatively correlated with active renin concentration (n = 37, r = -0.45, p = 0.005), and positively related to natremia (r = 0.56, p less than 0.0005), prealbumin (r = 0.54, p less than 0.001), and retinol-binding protein (r = 0.60, p less than 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Low levels of plasma renin substrate can be considered as an indirect index of the severity of heart failure that reflects both the high level of circulating active renin and the decrease in hepatic protein output. In patients with class IV heart failure, low levels of renin substrate led to a marked underestimation of active renin concentration from measurements of PRA. In contrast, direct IRMA of active renin measures the true plasma active renin concentration, independent of plasma renin substrate, and closely reflects renin secretion.

Renal secretion and hepatic clearance of human multiple renin forms

Human active renin can be separated into at least five forms by isoelectric focusing. The present study assessed the preferential renal secretion and hepatic degradation of renin forms in humans. The renin form profile of secreted renal renin was determined before transplant in an ex vivo kidney donor perfusion system and compared with the peripheral plasma multiple renin form profile of normal subjects. The effect of hepatic degradation on renin forms was assessed in hepatic vein plasma in comparison with infrarenal vena cava plasma in hypertensive patients during renal vein renin studies. The results revealed a significantly greater proportion of the more basic forms in the perfusate of donor kidneys compared with normal plasma. In hypertensive patients the proportion of the more basic renin forms in the hepatic vein was significantly decreased in comparison with the infrarenal vena cava. Thus, the human kidney may preferentially secrete the more basic renin forms. In contrast, the liver preferentially degrades the more basic forms, giving these forms a shorter plasma half-life. The preferential secretion and clearance of the more basic forms of renin may contribute to short-term control of human renin-angiotensin system activity.

Recombinant human prorenin from CHO cells: expression and purification

The gene for human preprorenin was obtained from total RNA prepared from primary human chorion cells. An expression vector was constructed containing an SV40 early promoter, a human preprorenin cDNA, bovine growth hormone poly-A addition signal, and a dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) expression cassette. This vector was inserted into the DXB-11 Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line. The recombinant protein was exported by CHO cells into the tissue culture media. At harvest the prorenin levels ranged from approximately 1-5 mg/L. For prorenin isolation the cell culture supernatants were processed by filtration, concentration, dialysis, and batch extraction. Preparative-scale isolation of prorenin was accomplished using blue-dye chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography. The isolated prorenin yielded a single SDS-gel band with Mr approximately 40,000. The proprotein was characterized with respect to N-terminal sequence and N-linked sugar composition. Trypsin-activated renin prepared from the proprotein was characterized with respect to N-terminal sequence and pH-activity profile. Enzyme activity was measured with a newly developed fluorogenic peptide substrate containing the P6-P'3 sequence of human angiotensinogen.

Binding of a Bolton-Hunter substituted homostatine analog to affinity-immobilized human renin

The binding of a Bolton-Hunter reagent substituted homostatine analog, SDZ 213-776, to human renin was investigated at pH 6.5 and 7.4. At both pH values, SDZ 213-776 bound to human renin in a reversible and saturable manner. The binding characteristics conformed to a one-site binding model. The dissociation constant Kd, obtained at equilibrium, was four-fold lower at pH 6.5 that at pH 7.4 (0.94 nM vs 3.7 nM). Under non-equilibrium conditions, only the association kinetic constant k+1 was affected by pH. The results of the binding assay at pH 6.5 correlated well with those obtained in enzymatic assay at the same pH.

Renin inhibitors

Since the early 1980s, an intensive effort has been focused on the development of orally effective and long-acting inhibitors of renin. During this time, in vitro potency has increased greatly, with several transition-state inhibitor designs yielding inhibitors with subnanomolar IC50 values. In the meantime, both the molecular weight and peptide character of the inhibitors has decreased as important binding elements have been focused into smaller and more stable structures. The resulting inhibitors have shown promising activities in several in vivo models and (in two cases) in man. Nevertheless, renin inhibitors reported to date have limited oral bioavailability and short duration of action, and improvements in both will be necessary for them to compete effectively with ACE inhibitors. Renin inhibitors which have entered clinical studies have at least one naturally occurring amino acid and three or more amide bonds. It is reasonable to expect that continued development will produce wholly nonpeptide inhibitors with still lower MW, and it may be these "second-generation" inhibitors which will succeed as therapeutic agents. Development of orally effective and long-acting inhibitors of renin will enable their long-term antihypertensive efficacy and possible advantages over ACE inhibitor to be investigated.

N-terminal domain of pepsin as a model for retroviral dimeric aspartyl protease

Autolysis of porcine pepsin at pH 4 affords a derivative possessing intrinsic proteolytic activity. This derivative was isolated by alumina pseudo-affinity chromatography and gel-filtration and was found to result from the tight association of two identical molecules, 135 amino acids long, emerging from the N-terminal domain of pepsin. This finding emphasizes a similarity with the only aspartyl-proteases known to act as dimers, the retroviral proteases.

Human placental chorionic renin: production, purification and characterization

Native human renin, produced from the culture of human chorionic trophoblasts, has been purified to homogeneity on a milligram scale using a five-step purification scheme. The chorion cells secrete 50-200 milliGoldblatt Units of trypsin-activatable prorenin per ml into the medium. The pro-enzyme is partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatographies on QAE-Sephadex and cibracon blue-agarose. Following conversion of prorenin to the active enzyme by porcine trypsin, the renin is purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography and gel filtration. Chorionic prorenin has a molecular weight of 43,000; the active enzyme 40,000. Both proteins exist as a single polypeptide chain as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. The average specific activity of six different preparations was found to be 1072 Goldblatt Units/mg. The amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence of the active enzyme has been determined and is identical to the human kidney enzyme. Microheterogeneity of chorionic renin was demonstrated by isoelectrofocusing analysis. The physical characterization of chorionic renin is compared with that reported for the human kidney enzyme.

Comparative enzymatic studies of human renin acting on pure natural or synthetic substrates

Some of the essential structural requirements for the enzymatic reaction of pure human renin acting on pure human and rat angiotensinogen and on their synthetic tetradecapeptide substrates were investigated. The five carboxy terminal amino acids of synthetic tetradecapeptides played a significant role in substrate recognition and/or hydrolysis by human renin. Kinetic constants Km, Kcat and kcat/Km of the various human renin assays were different according to the substrate used. The presence of either an asparagine or a threonine residue in the S'4 renin subsite did not affect significantly the kinetic constant values. A tyrosine residue, rather than a histidine residue, in the S'3 renin subsite gave the best synthetic substrate studied. When tyrosine residue was present in the S'2 renin subsite an important decrease in kcat was observed. Human angiotensinogen was hydrolysed by human renin with lower Km and kcat values than those measured with human and porcine synthetic substrates, suggesting that the 3-dimensional structure of human angiotensinogen plays a key role in the hydrolysis. This finding was supported by assays performed with rat angiotensinogen, which was cleared by human renin with the same kcat value as rat tetradecapeptide, but with a 49-fold lower Km. Between human and rat angiotensinogen a kcat/Km value of only 2-fold higher has been found in the renin assay using human substrate.

Renin activity determination using human plasma as a substrate

A method for human renin activity determination using human plasma as the substrate is described. Angiotensin I is generated by incubating renin with human plasma, which is available along with the commercial radioimmunoassay kit for angiotensin I. The method obviates the need to isolate and purify the substrate, human angiotensinogen, from human plasma. In addition, the assay is highly renin specific, sensitive, and convenient to use for the routine determination of active human renin during its isolation and purification from tissue extracts or from genetically engineered bacterial and nonbacterial expression systems.

A bacteriophage transcription terminator permits the cloning of a mammalian expression vector carrying the human preprorenin gene in E. coli

We constructed a plasmid-based expression vector carrying the murine metallothionein gene promoter, the human preprorenin gene, the Tn5 neomycin phosphotransferase II gene, and a complete bovine papilloma virus genome. We were unsuccessful in cloning the preprorenin gene in E. coli when it was inserted into a plasmid vector 3' to the metallothionein gene promoter. This result was consistent with our previous data suggesting that expression of the preprorenin gene is toxic to E. coli (Weighous, T.F. et al; (1986) Gene 45: 121-129). We then inserted a DNA fragment from bacteriophage lambda carrying the t1 transcriptional terminator between the promoter and the preprorenin gene; this vector was stably maintained in E. coli. Prior to introducing the vector DNA into mouse cells for expression studies the terminator was removed. Mouse cells carrying the vector DNA secreted high levels of human prorenin for greater than six weeks.

Immunocytochemistry of renin in renal tumours

We used a panel of two polyclonal antisera and two monoclonal antibodies to human renin to assess the tissue distribution of immunoreactive renin in a range of tumours and normal human tissues. The only tissue showing positive staining for renin was kidney and all four antisera stained the myoepithelioid cells in the renal cortex. In the survey of tumours we found immunoreactive renin only in renal tumours, namely, renal cell carcinoma, and nephroblastoma (Wilms' tumour). The renin-positive cells were sparse and distributed mainly along the course of the tumour blood vessels. They stained positively with all four antibodies and, in pairs of serial sections, we showed that the same cell reacted with two different antisera. This suggests that renal cell carcinoma and nephroblastoma have within them cells which contain renin.

Biochemical evidence for existence of immunoreactive renin in human prolactinoma tissue

High activity of renin was demonstrated in human prolactinoma tissue. This activity was almost completely inhibited by specific antibody raised against human renal renin, indicating that it was not due to the nonspecific action of proteases. The specific activity of renin was 5.04 ng of angiotensin I generated/mg of protein per h, comparable to that of the pituitary tissue prepared from postmortem human subjects. The biochemical properties of the prolactinoma renin were generally similar to those of well-known kidney enzyme, such as molecular mass (Mr = 46,000), optimum pH (6.0), and glycoprotein nature. However, the isoelectric points (pI) of the prolactinoma renin (pI = 4.90, 5.04, 5.24 and 5.41) differed somewhat from those of plasma and kidney renins reported hitherto. These results indicate that true renin can be produced in human prolactinoma tissue.

Malignant hypertension due to a renin-secreting renal cell carcinoma--an ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study

This is a case report of a 14-year-old girl who presented with malignant hypertension. She had high plasma levels of both active and inactive renin and investigation revealed a renal tumour. The tumour, a renal cell carcinoma, was removed by nephrectomy following which the blood pressure and the plasma renin levels fell to normal. An immunocytochemical study using an antibody to pure human renin showed no detectable renin in the kidney but the tumour contained a population of granular cells which showed strong positive staining for immunoreactive renin. We present the clinical, biochemical, histological, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural features of this case as evidence that this was a renin-secreting renal cell carcinoma.

Complete purification of human renal renin and sequence of the amino terminus

Renin was completely purified from human kidney cortex using a rapid 3-step procedure which included homogenization and ammonium sulfate precipitation, aminohexyl pepstatin affinity chromatography, and affinity chromatography using a synthetic octapeptide renin inhibitor (H-77) with a reduced peptide bond between Leu5 - Leu6. Three kg of cortex dissected from 10 kg of human cadaver kidney yielded 0.7 mg protein with a specific activity of 1123 GU/mg protein and an overall recovery of 52%. Both gel filtration high pressure liquid chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) revealed a molecular weight of 44,000, although 22,000 and 18,000 molecular weight bands were also identified by SDS PAGE. Amino terminal sequencing demonstrated a leucine residue at the 1 position indicating that prorenin is converted to renin following cleavage at the carboxyl end of two dibasic residues, Lys-2-Arg-1. Sequencing of the first 19 amino acids was in agreement with the sequence deduced from human renin cDNA sequence.

Different production and decay rates of six renin forms isolated from rat plasma

Rat kidney contains six forms of renin, which are in different proportion from those found in plasma. We tested the hypothesis that differential removal and production of the forms might explain the differences between stored and circulating renins. In one group of rats, the six forms of renin were measured in plasma, 10 min after hemorrhage, or after aortic constriction. Plasma was run on an isoelectric focusing gel, and the six peaks of renin activity were expressed either as angiotensin I per hour per milliliter or as a percentage of the total plasma renin concentration. After hemorrhage or aortic constriction, the concentration of each form was significantly increased; the profile of circulating renin was significantly modified, showing an increase in proportion of form 2 and a decrease of forms 4, 5, and 6. In a second group, the disappearance of each form was measured 0 to 100 min after nephrectomy and fitted a two-exponential decay curve. Interpreted as a two-pool system with degradation from pool 1, the degradation rate decreased progressively, going from form 1 to 6. In a third group, arterial and renal venous blood were collected. The profile of secreted renin was calculated from the arterial venous difference. This profile fitted the prediction of the two-compartment model. Our data support the hypothesis that the proportion of each circulating renin form is the result of a balance between the rate of production of renin of constant composition and the degradation of the six forms at different rates.

Secretion of enzymatically active human renin from mammalian cells using an avian retroviral vector

Recombinant plasmid-based retroviral expression vectors were constructed using a modified spleen necrosis virus (SNV) containing the Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene promoter controlling the expression of the Tn5 neomycin phosphotransferase II gene (NPTII gene). The human renin (HRn) gene (hrn) was inserted into the 5' end of the SNV sequences such that in concatemeric plasmid DNA its expression was controlled by the strong promoter in the SNV long terminal repeat (LTR). Dog cells transfected with the concatemeric plasmid DNA secreted a small amount of a HRn-like 43-kDa protein. After cotransfection of chicken cells with concatemeric plasmid DNA and proviral DNA of reticuloendotheliosis virus strain A, infectious stocks of viruses were recovered. Cells infected with the virus carrying the viral LTR-hrn gene oriented for expression secreted the 43-kDa HRn-like protein at about 100-fold higher levels than the cells transfected with the plasmid DNAs. Biological activity of secreted HRn was determined by measuring levels of angiotensin I generated by incubating culture media with either a porcine or human angiotensinogen substrate. Infected dog cells produce about 40 ng of enzymatically active HRn per 10(6) cells per 24 h. These data indicate that retroviral expression vectors provide a good system for obtaining the secretion of high levels of enzymatically active heterologous proteins from mammalian cells.

Multiple forms of immunoreactive renin in human pituitary tissue

Immunoreactive renin was demonstrated in pituitary tissues of postmortem human subjects with different diseases. The specific immunoreactive renin activity comprised the majority of the tissue renin-like activity (mean, 83%), indicating the absence of nonspecific actions of proteases such as cathepsin D. We used three pituitary specimens with high levels of the specific renin activity for further biochemical characterization of the enzyme. Small differences were found in the molecular mass (45 K, 42 K and 37 K), binding to concanavalin A-Sepharose, and isoelectric points (pI) (4.72, 4.78, 4.86, 5.06, 5.28 and 5.44). These results seem to be interpreted as evidence for the presence of specific renin in the human pituitary with microheterogeneity.

Electrophoretic characterization of active renin from human kidney and inactive renin from a human chorionic cell culture

Enzymatically inactive human renin from chorionic cells in culture is significantly distinct in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (pH 8.17, 0 degree C) from active human kidney renin. The inactive renin is larger and more basic than the active renin; their molecular weights derived from gel electrophoretic retardation coefficients relate as 47.5/35.3 kDa, their valences (net protons/molecule) as 2.14/1.85. In gel electrofocusing conducted in a mixture of simple buffers, both inactive and active renins exhibit 2 components at the steady-state. The molecular size and basicity of inactive renin are consistent with the hypothesis that it may be a precursor (prorenin), although the possibility that it is an inhibitor complex cannot be ruled out.

Renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme in human neuroblastoma tissue

High activity of renin was demonstrated in human neuroblastoma tissue. This activity was inhibited by specific antibody raised against human renal renin, indicating that it was not due to the nonspecific action of proteases. The specific activity of renin was 122.8 ng of angiotensin I generated mg of protein-1 h-1. It shared some biochemical features with well-known kidney renin, such as molecular weight, optimum pH, the presence of trypsin-activatable inactive renin, and glycoprotein nature. Furthermore, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity (2.64 nmol mg of protein-1 min-1) was found in the tissue. This activity was inhibited by captopril, a specific ACE inhibitor, or by omission of chloride ion. These results suggest that true renin in addition to ACE exists in human neuroblastoma tissue.

The granular peripolar cell of the human glomerulus: a new component of the juxtaglomerular apparatus?

Using serial sections of resin-embedded tissue we found granular peripolar cells in six human kidneys. They were present in 3% to 28% of the glomeruli. Using an immunoperoxidase staining technique and an antibody to pure human renin we showed that the human peripolar cell contains no immunostainable renin. The number of peripolar cells correlated with the number of juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGAs) with renin-containing cells; their distribution within the renal cortex was similar, both being found predominantly in glomeruli in the superficial cortex. There was a close anatomical relationship between the peripolar cells and the renin containing cells in individual JGAs. These findings suggest the possibility of a functional relationship between the peripolar cell and the other components of the juxtaglomerular apparatus.

Modification of renin isoelectric heterogeneity in Goldblatt hypertensive rat

Six forms of renin have been described in rat kidney. Different stimuli resulted in secretion of unique profiles of those forms. We studied their storage and secretion in the two-kidney, one-clip Goldblatt hypertensive rat (GHR). Renal venous blood, kidney homogenates, and incubation media from cortical slices were subjected to isoelectric focusing. In all samples tested, six peaks of renin activity were found with isoelectric points at pH 5.90, 5.70, 5.40, 5.20, 5.00, and 4.80. The quantity of renin activity for each form was expressed as a percentage of the total recovered from the gel. In control kidneys the profile of renin stored and that released by in vitro slices were similar. However, in plasma, the percentage of renin focusing at the more basic pH was decreased. This is in agreement with other work showing that the liver removes the more basic forms more rapidly than the acidic forms. The clipped kidney of GHR secreted, both in vivo and in vitro, a profile of renin forms that was significantly different from the control kidney. The difference was expressed by an increase in the secretion of the more acidic forms by the clipped kidney. It is hypothesized that changes in the secretory profile of renin may reflect changes in storage and synthesis of those forms.

True renin in human pituitary tissue

Readily detectable levels of renin activity were demonstrated in human pituitary tissues. This activity was inhibited by specific antibody raised against human renal renin, indicating that it was not due to the nonspecific action of proteases. It shared some biochemical features with well-known kidney renin, such as molecular weight, optimum pH, and the presence of trypsin-activatable inactive renin. These results suggest that true renin exists in human pituitary tissue.

Construction of a model for the three-dimensional structure of human renal renin

The aspartyl proteases that have had their complete three-dimensional structures determined by x-ray diffraction techniques exhibit a high degree of structural homology and a correspondingly high degree of sequence homology. Using this homology, we constructed a model for the three-dimensional structure of human renal renin. We then refined and evaluated the model with the energy refinement program called CHARMM. We found that the model for human renin differs from that of mouse submaxillary gland renin in certain features, which may account for the differences in substrate specificity and antibody binding. Amino acid differences between human and mouse renin in the regions that bind the P1' side chain of the substrate appear to change only the shape of the S1' subsite of the enzyme, so that either valine or leucine side chains of the substrate can be accommodated by human renin. Amino acids in the solvent-accessible surface of the 75-85 flap appear to be distinctly different between the two structures and could account for the differences observed in antibody binding to human and mouse renin.

Renin storage and cell differentiation in juxtaglomerular cell tumors: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of three cases

Three renin-secreting juxtaglomerular cell tumors were studied by ultrastructural and immunocytochemical methods. Both active and inactive renins were identified in tumor extracts. By immunofluorescence and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method with antirenin antiserum, immunolabeling was intracytoplasmic and irregularly distributed throughout the tumor tissue. Electron microscopic examination revealed various types of secretory granules, including atypical giant crystalloid protogranules in one case, and the postembedding PAP procedure showed labeling of all types of granules. Acid phosphatase staining was observed within secretory granules and autophagic vacuoles. The process of renin storage and release is discussed. The presence in one case of a neural component and a distal tubular structure supports the view of a hamartomatous lesion.

Diagnosis and treatment of renin-secreting tumors. Report of three cases

During the past 10 years, we have found renin-secreting renal juxtaglomerular cell tumors in three hypertensive patients (two women, one man, aged 22, 69, and 21 years, respectively). The major chemical and biological findings revealed the association of severe hypertension with hypokalemia and increased plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone. The diagnosis of such tumors is difficult, and two of the three patients were followed up for four and five years respectively before undergoing surgery. The pharmacological blockade of the renin system by various agents (beta-blockers, angiotensin II antagonists, and captopril) and its effects on blood pressure and plasma renin activity proved to be unreliable. Renal venous catheterization for renin measurements failed to provide adequate localization of the tumor. Direct radioimmunoassay, however, showed the total plasma renin to be markedly elevated. In addition, renal arteriography showed an avascular area corresponding to the renin-secreting tumor in each of the three patients. All three patients were cured of hypertension and hypokalemia by excision of the tumor.

Human renin gene is on chromosome 1

DNA sequences encoding kidney renin were localized to region p21----qter of human chromosome 1 by Southern blot analysis of mouse-human somatic cell hybrids with a cloned human renin DNA probe. The renin gene may be a member of a chromosome 1 linkage group which is conserved in mouse and man. Available evidence suggests this gene is present in one copy per haploid genome. Thus those renin-like molecules detected immunologically in tissues other than the kidney (such as brain, placenta, uterus, pituitary, vasculature, and adrenal) may be derived from this single gene. Since renin messenger RNA in human kidney is about 1550 nucleotides long, reported molecular weights in excess of 45,000 for circulating renin represent posttranslational or postsecretory modifications of the polypeptide.

Immunocytochemical localisation of renin in nephroblastoma

An antibody to pure human renin and an immunoperoxidase technique were used to stain immunoreactive renin in nephroblastomas. In an unselected series of surgically removed nephroblastomas immunoreactive renin was found in 10 of 19 tumours (53%). Tissue obtained at necropsy from 12 cases of disseminated nephroblastoma was also studied, and immunoreactive renin in metastatic tumours was found in three cases. Patients' blood pressures and serum potassium concentrations showed no evidence of excess renin activity. It is therefore suggested that if nephroblastomas contain renin as commonly as this study suggests, then any hormone secreted may be biologically inactive.

Investigations of components of the renin-angiotensin system in rat vascular tissue

Investigations were performed on components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in homogenate extracts of vascular tissue and aortic smooth muscle cells cultivated in vitro. Determinations of isoelectric points and pH optima indicated the existence in aortic homogenate extracts of two local angiotensin I (AI)-forming enzymes (AIFE) that were different from those of plasma, renal cortex, veins, and aortic smooth muscle cells. The pH optima for AI-converting enzyme (ACE) from vascular tissues, aortic smooth muscle cells, and plasma were in the same range (pH 8.0-8.5), and in agreement with those measured previously in other tissues. In contrast, in vitro studies with the ACE inhibitors MK-421 and MK-422 and measurement of isoelectric points suggested that aortic ACE was different from the plasma enzyme. AIFE and ACE activities were found to be elevated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The biochemical characteristics of the enzymes investigated in the vascular tissue of SHR were not different from those of the normotensive controls. AI- and AII-degrading enzymes were found both in aortic tissue and in aortic smooth muscle cells. One potent AI-degrading enzyme different from ACE was observed in aortic tissue. A high ratio of AI/AII immunoreactivities in arterial walls suggests the availability of renin substrate, and that AI-degrading enzymes are the rate-limiting enzymes for AII formation. The results further support the concept of an intrinsic vascular RAS.

The site of renin in the human uterus

Renin has been known to be present in the human uterus for many years. The study reported in this paper deals with the identification of the site of renin in the human uterus by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique, using anti-human renin. Cells containing renin granules have been demonstrated only in patients complaining of menorrhagia. The cells occur singly and in clusters in the interarteriolar connective tissue within myometrium adjacent to the endometrium. The cells bear a striking resemblance to those of the juxta-glomerular apparatus of the kidney.

Antisera to human renin normalize renin-dependent hypertension in the monkey: therapeutic implications

Polyclonal antisera raised against pure human renin normalize renin-dependent blood pressure elevation in the monkey (M. fascicularis). In vitro, comparable inhibition of either human or monkey plasma renin by the antisera was demonstrated. In vivo, intravenous infusion of 2 ml of antisera did not change mean arterial pressure of salt-repleted monkeys, however, its administration to salt-depleted monkeys with elevated plasma renin activity lowered mean arterial pressure 10 Torr. A 25 Torr rise in mean arterial pressure and increase in plasma renin activity occurred promptly after inflation of a suprarenal aortic cuff in conscious uninephrectomized monkeys. Administration of 2 ml of antisera to these monkeys normalized mean pressure, which was reduced by an additional 10 Torr if the animals were previously salt-depleted. Maximal hypotension occurred within 1 hour and was sustained for approximately 10 hours. Because of the differing specificities of polyclonal antisera, sera raised in two laboratories against human renin purified from different sources were employed. Identical results were obtained. This is the first demonstration of the use of antisera to inhibit endogenous renin activity in primates and predicts the in vivo efficacy of renin antisera as experimental, diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

Absence of renin-like activity in rat aorta and microvessels

Vascular renin-like activity was studied in the aortas and the cerebral microvessels of Sprague-Dawley rats and in the aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Methods were employed to maximize detection of tissue renin and to simultaneously minimize contamination of that activity by either plasma renin or nonspecific proteases capable of angiotensin I generation. To this end, renin activity was measured near its pH optimum; plasma renin was eliminated by nephrectomy; and nonspecific proteases such as cathepsin D were either inhibited by proteolytic blockers or removed by chromatography over immobilized bovine hemoglobin. Aortic vascular renin-like activity was detected in rats not subjected to nephrectomy and could be inhibited by preincubation of samples with antimouse renin antibody shown to cross-react and inhibit rat plasma renin activity. Furthermore, vascular renin-like activity disappeared after nephrectomy in parallel with the disappearance of plasma renin activity. In the absence of contaminating enzymatic activities, no tissue renin-like activity could be demonstrated in either aortas or cerebral microvessels of Sprague-Dawley rats or in aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats.