Differences in pattern of plasma angiotensinogen in native and nephrectomized rats

Blood pressure-independent cardiac hypertrophy induced by locally activated renin-angiotensin system

Cardiac hypertrophy is frequent in chronic hypertension. The renin-angiotensin system, via its effector angiotensin II (Ang II), regulates blood pressure and participates in sustaining hypertension. In addition, a growing body of evidence indicates that Ang II acts also as a growth factor. However, it is still a matter of debate whether the trophic effect of Ang II can trigger cardiac hypertrophy in the absence of elevated blood pressure. To address this question, transgenic mice overexpressing the rat angiotensinogen gene, specifically in the heart, were generated to increase the local activity of the renin-angiotensin system and therefore Ang II production. These mice develop myocardial hypertrophy without signs of fibrosis independently from the presence of hypertension, demonstrating that local Ang II production is important in mediating the hypertrophic response in vivo.

Renin-angiotensin system components in the interstitial fluid of the isolated perfused rat heart. Local production of angiotensin I

We used a modification of the isolated perfused rat heart, in which coronary effluent and interstitial transudate were separately collected, to investigate the uptake and clearance of exogenous renin, angiotensinogen, and angiotensin I (Ang I) as well as the cardiac production of Ang I. The levels of these compounds in interstitial transudate were considered to be representative of the levels in the cardiac interstitial fluid. During perfusion with renin or angiotensinogen, the steady-state levels (mean +/- SD) in interstitial transudate were 64 +/- 34% (P < .05 for difference from the arterial level, n = 8) and 108 +/- 42% (n = 6) of the arterial level, respectively; the levels in coronary effluent were not significantly different from those in interstitial transudate. Ang I was not detectable in interstitial transudate during perfusion with Tyrode's buffer or angiotensinogen. It was very low in interstitial transudate during perfusion with renin and rose to much higher levels during combined renin and angiotensinogen perfusion. The total production rate of Ang I present in interstitial fluid could be largely explained by the renin-angiotensinogen reaction in the fluid phase of the interstitial compartment. In contrast, the total production rate of Ang I present in coronary effluent and the net ejection rate of Ang I via coronary effluent were, respectively, 4.6 +/- 2.2 and 2.8 +/- 1.3 (P < .01 and P < .05 for difference from 1.0, n = 6) times higher than could be explained by Ang I formation in the fluid phase of the intravascular compartment. Ang I from the interstitial fluid contributed little to the Ang I in the intravascular fluid and vice versa. These data reveal two tissue sites of Ang I production, ie, the interstitial fluid and a site closer to the blood compartment, possibly vascular surface-bound renin. There was no evidence that the release of locally produced Ang I into coronary effluent and interstitial transudate occurred independently of blood-derived renin or angiotensinogen.

Elevated des-AngI-angiotensinogen levels by nephrectomy and adrenalectomy

This study investigates the time course of plasma levels of angiotensinogen (Aogen) and of the Aogen metabolite des-AngI-angiotensiongen (des-AngI-Aogen) in nephrectomized rats with and without adrenals for 24 h. After nephrectomy the plasma Aogen levels increased 5-fold over the following 24 h. The increase is significantly lower after sham nephrectomy (3.7-fold, P < 0.05) and if the kidneys are withdrawn without decapsulization (2.4-fold, P < 0.05). A small and transient increase arise after nephrectomy plus adrenalectomy (1.6-fold after 8 h, P < 0.005). After adrenalectomy alone Aogen levels continuously shrink to 38% of control values after 24 h. Plasma des-AngI-Aogen levels increase 2.1- to 3.7-fold 24 h after the different nephrectomy procedures. In connection with recent findings these data support the notion that the increase in Aogen plasma levels after bilateral nephrectomy is triggered by renin, released during surgery. High plasma levels of des-AngI-Aogen after nephrectomy indicate that AngI is generated by tissue renin, e.g., in the adrenals. This suggests that after nephrectomy the plasma des-AngI-Aogen levels should be a valuable proof for the evaluation of the amount of generated angiotensin.

Molecular forms of rat angiotensinogen in plasma and brain: identification by isoelectric focusing and immunoblot analysis

Angiotensinogen (Ao) is the glycoprotein precursor of the vasoactive peptide angiotensin II. While Ao is synthesized as multiple molecular forms, the biochemical characteristics of this protein in blood and other tissues have not been defined. In this study, the charge heterogeneity of Ao in rat plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and that secreted by astrocyte and neuronal cultures was examined using analytical isoelectric focusing in combination with immunoblotting and quantitative image analysis. Normal rat male plasma Ao separated into 9 isoforms in the pI range 4.34-4.92 (1, 4.34; 2, 4.41; 3, 4.48; 4, 4.58; 5, 4.61; 6, 4.66; 7, 4.68; 8, 4.81; 9, 4.92); the percentage contribution of each to total plasma Ao was 13, 20, 23, 18, 2, 7, 10, 5, and < 1, respectively. A similar isoelectric focusing pattern was observed in female rat plasma with the exception that the relative contribution of isoform 6 was reduced to 2% of total Ao. Cerebrospinal fluid Ao displayed a more diverse charge heterogeneity than plasma Ao, focusing over a broader pI range of 4.42-5.24. Astrocytes and neurons secreted Ao isoforms in the pI range 4.44-5.29 and 4.42-4.95, respectively, with the astrocyte cultures showing additional bands towards the cathode. It was concluded that rat Ao is secreted as multiple charged forms that are regulated in a sex- and cell-specific manner. These differences between plasma and brain Ao suggest a functional diversity, a view which is supported by recent evidence linking Ao variants to hypertension.

Plasma angiotensin in binephrectomised mice

Plasma renin-angiotensin parameters were measured before and 24h after binephrectomy (BNx) in male Swiss (Ren-1, Ren-2) and BALB/c (Ren-1) female mice (representing the extremes of differences in tissue renin expression), together with in vivo inhibition of residual renin. Plasma Ang II increased from 18.9 +/- 7.3 to 48.1 +/- 16.9 pg/ml after BNx in conscious Swiss mice (+/- sd, p < 0.001, n = 11&12), renin activity (PRA) increased 2.76 times, angiotensinogen (aogen) increased 4.57 times and renin concentration (PRC) fell by 65%. In BALB/c, Ang II+Ang III decreased slightly (56.6 +/- 11 to 37.7 +/- 14.7, p < 0.05, n = 5&6), PRA was unchanged, aogen increased 12 times and PRC fell by 93%. Plasma ACE decreased by 26% and 28% respectively. Aogen did not increase further when post BNx plasma renin was inhibited with antirenin in vivo during 20h. Thus plasma angiotensin is maintained or considerably increased following BNx in mice and the change is consistent with first-order kinetics with respect to renin and aogen in the circulation. Whether the strain carries one or two renin genes, high renal and extrarenal renin production combined with a low plasma aogen phenotype yields resting angiotensin levels similar to other mammals. A kinetic regulation of aogen levels is proposed in mice wherein Ang II production is limited by low substrate concentration thereby ensuring normotension in the face of abundant extrarenal renin secretion.

Location and secretion of brain angiotensinogen

Angiotensinogen is a glycoprotein with intriguing structural similarities to the serine proteinase inhibitors but with only one known function: to act as a substrate in the enzymatic generation of angiotensin peptides. It is expressed as a constitutive protein by the liver and various other tissues, including the brain. It is in this tissue that the expression of angiotensinogen attains its most complex and controversial manifestations. In late gestation, an unfolding of cellular expression occurs, starting at an epicentre in the eppendymal and astroglia cells of the hypothalamus, which rapidly and sequentially spreads to sub-cortical and then cortical regions, concentrating at sites of electrolyte, fluid and pressure regulation. This initial burgeoning of astroglial angiotensinogen is trailed by a wave of neuronal expression in various limbic and sensorimotor regions of the brain. The predominance of AT2 receptors in these regions suggests that the RAS actions are mediated by AT2 receptors. The angiotensinogen found in the CSF and secreted by cultures of glia and neurones is similar to the two major molecular sizes found in plasma. However, by electrophoretic separation on the basis of charge imparted by differential glycosylation, it can be shown that glia and neurones secrete distinct forms. The expression of different forms is under hormonal regulation. If these structural forms are shown to affect function, then the resulting ramifications may extend to pathological conditions, such as hypertension. Primary cell cultures of astrocytes secrete angiotensinogen constitutively and in a region-specific manner related to the size of the sub-population of secretory cells. Neurone cultures secrete angiotensinogen at about 25% the rate of hypothalamic astrocytes. The use of RT-PCR shows that both cell types express angiotensinogen mRNA. There is still an unresolved mismatch between these data and in situ hybridization histochemistry which shows expression limited to astrocytes but it is suggested that changes to more appropriate techniques will resolve any outstanding discrepancies.

Monoclonal antibodies against human angiotensinogen, their characterization and use in an angiotensinogen enzyme linked immunosorbent assay

Monoclonal antibodies were produced against human angiotensinogen. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed using a high affinity monoclonal antibody as catching antibody and a polyclonal rabbit anti human angiotensinogen antibody as detecting antibody in a "sandwich" ELISA. Linear range of the ELISA was 15-450 pmol/l of human angiotensinogen. Intra- and inter- assay variation coefficients were in the range of 2% to 8%. A correlation coefficient, r = 0.97, (n = 20), with values obtained by radioimmunoassay. This correlation coefficient, obtained by using both normal and pregnant sera, confirmed that the ELISA fulfill the requirements for clinical useful assay. Characterization of the antibodies were performed with respect to affinity constant and epitopes.

Half-life of rat angiotensinogen: influence of nephrectomy and lipopolysaccharide stimulation

The in vivo half-life of two differently glycosylated subforms of rat angiotensinogen (Ao), Ao-1 and Ao-2, was studied in native and nephrectomized rats, as well as in rats treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The metabolic clearance rate of both 125I-labeled derivatives fits a two-compartment model using a non-linear curve fitting program (SCTFIT). Both forms show an initial rapid phase with a half-life of about 1 h. This clearance rate was not altered by either nephrectomy or LPS administration. In the intact rat the two forms were eliminated with a second slower phase half-life of 8.07 h (Ao-1) and 4.53 h (Ao-2), respectively. Following nephrectomy, in the absence of renin, the slower phase of clearance of both forms decreased (t1/2 Ao-1:9.77 h; t1/2 Ao-2: 10.50 h). Induction of low renin concentrations by LPS administration decreased the half-life of the more highly glycosylated form Ao-1 (t1/2: 6.93 h), while that of Ao-2 increased (t1/2: 5.07 h). Inactive angiotensinogen, des-AngI-Ao, of both forms demonstrated a faster metabolic clearance rate in native rats than that of the intact glycoproteins (t1/2 Ao-1: 5.68 h; t1/2 Ao-2: 3.97 h). Based on the plasma levels of these two angiotensinogen subtypes in normal rats, these data suggest a higher secretion rate by the liver for the more highly glycosylated form Ao-1 and a slower clearance rate by the kidney. In contrast, the less glycosylated form shows more rapid elimination by the kidney. Following nephrectomy both glycoproteins are secreted and eliminated in an equimolar ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Renin-angiotensin system in sepsis

The time course of the components of the renin-angiotensin system was investigated in the plasma of three patients on the intensive care unit. Two of them, which were both polytraumatized, suffered from adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). All patients had sepsis and impaired pulmonary and renal function. Plasma samples were investigated for up to two weeks, in which time all three patients showed a decrease in their angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) plasma concentration. Two of the patients with deteriorating renal function had three to four times elevated angiotensinogen (Ao) plasma levels, which were measured by both the direct and indirect radioimmunoassay. The ratio of the mean values between both assays was 1:1 in two patients and shifted to higher values in the direct assay in the third patient. This suggests that higher amounts of des-AngI-angiotensinogen were present in the latter patient, because "inactive" Ao is also detected by the direct assay. The decrease in active Ao may be caused by an up to twenty times elevated plasma renin activity (PRA). The PRA was correlated with the angiotensin I (AngI) plasma levels. However, at PRA values higher than 200 pmol AngI/ml/h this correlation decreased because of the rapid substrate consumption. In addition there was a good correlation between AngI and AngII plasma levels in two patients which could not be observed in the patient with the highest PRA and AngII values. A relationship between plasma ACE concentration and AngII formation could not be observed. Thus in two of the three septic patients the components of the renin angiotensin system were extremely stimulated at very low blood pressure values. These data show, that it is reasonable to follow the time course of the components of the renin angiotensin system in single patients. In addition it is demonstrated that the direct measurement of Ao is a valid supplement in the diagnosis of the renin angiotensin system.