Extraction, purification, and assay of human renin free of angiotensinase

The effect of β-adrenoceptor blockade on body temperature and plasma renin activity in heat-exposed man

1 The effect of propranolol (5 mg i.v.) on rectal and skin temperatures, heart rate, blood pressure, plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma renin substrate concentration (PRS) was investigated in twelve men exercising in the heat. The effect of practolol (10 mg i.v.) on PRA was investigated in five men. 2 Body temperatures were insignificantly affected by propranolol, while heart rate elevation in response to exercise in the heat was 21% lower than in the same subjects receiving saline. Diastolic blood pressure during exercise was elevated by propranolol. 3 The normal increase in PRA seen in heat exposure was suppressed by propranolol to levels seen when the same exercise was carried out at 25°C. Practolol did not affect the renin response to heat exposure. 4 PRS was not altered significantly by exercise or heat. 5 The results indicate that the increase in PRA seen in the heat is largely a result of increased sympathetic activity.

Activity Assays and Immunoassays for Plasma Renin and Prorenin: Information Provided and Precautions Necessary for Accurate Measurement

Background: Measurement of plasma renin is important for the clinical assessment of hypertensive patients. The most common methods for measuring plasma renin are the plasma renin activity (PRA) assay and the renin immunoassay. The clinical application of renin inhibitor therapy has thrown into focus the differences in information provided by activity assays and immunoassays for renin and prorenin measurement and has drawn attention to the need for precautions to ensure their accurate measurement.

Content: Renin activity assays and immunoassays provide related but different information. Whereas activity assays measure only active renin, immunoassays measure both active and inhibited renin. Particular care must be taken in the collection and processing of blood samples and in the performance of these assays to avoid errors in renin measurement. Both activity assays and immunoassays are susceptible to renin overestimation due to prorenin activation. In addition, activity assays performed with peptidase inhibitors may overestimate the degree of inhibition of PRA by renin inhibitor therapy. Moreover, immunoassays may overestimate the reactive increase in plasma renin concentration in response to renin inhibitor therapy, owing to the inhibitor promoting conversion of prorenin to an open conformation that is recognized by renin immunoassays.

Conclusions: The successful application of renin assays to patient care requires that the clinician and the clinical chemist understand the information provided by these assays and of the precautions necessary to ensure their accuracy.

The serum angiotensinogen concentration and variants of the angiotensinogen gene in white and black children

The T235 allele of the angiotensinogen gene (AGT) has been associated with hypertension. Blood pressure increases faster over time in black children than in white children, and in adults hypertension is more prevalent in blacks. We sought evidence for a role for angiotensinogen to contribute to racial differences in blood pressure in a study of 148 white and 62 black normotensive children (mean age, 14.8 yr). The frequency of the T235 allele was 0.81 in blacks and 0.42 in whites (chi 2 = 77.3, P = 0.0001). The mean angiotensinogen level was 19% higher in blacks than in whites (P = 0.0001 for males, P = 0.004 for females). Genotype was positively related to serum angiotensinogen in white children (P = 0.0001 for males, P = 0.004 for females), but a similar relationship was absent in blacks where the frequency of M235 may have been too low to discern an association. Longitudinal blood pressure (measured twice yearly) adjusted for body mass index showed a marginally significant relationship to the angiotensinogen level (P = 0.07). An independent relationship of serum angiotensinogen with body mass index (P = 0.0001) and race (P = 0.0003) was also observed. In summary, T235 was more frequent, and the level of angiotensinogen was higher in blacks than in whites. Such a racial difference in the renin-angiotensin system may contribute to the disparity in blood pressure levels of white and black young people.

Regional distribution of the angiotensinogens in human placentae

Angiotensinogen is the substrate for the enzyme renin. In addition to the well-characterized low molecular weight forms of angiotensinogen, a high molecular weight form (HMrA) comprises about 15 per cent of the total angiotensinogen in plasma of pregnant women. In the current study the different forms of angiotensinogen were quantitated in different regions of the placenta. The highest concentration of total angiotensinogen was found in the chorion laeve followed by the amnion. It was found that HMrA was the major form of angiotensinogen in all regions of the placenta, accounting for 72, 67, 63, and 59 per cent of the total angiotensinogen in the chorion laeve, chorion plate, amnion, and chorion frondosum, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the distribution of total renin and HMrA. This data in conjugation with previous data indicate that HMrA should be considered a significant component of the renin angiotensin system in the human pregnant state. It is suggested that HMrA may be a component of a tissue specific renin angiotensin system that occurs in the placenta.

Haemodynamic and humoral consequences of chronic infusion of vasopressin in conscious rats

1. To determine the long-term haemodynamic and humoral effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP), a chronic intravenous infusion of AVP was performed in conscious Wistar normotensive rats. 2. AVP (1, 10, 50 or 100 ng/h) or saline as a vehicle control was infused continuously into the right jugular vein at a rate of 1 microL/h using an osmotic minipump for 7 days. 3. As a result, significant elevations of systolic blood pressure were observed in association with increases in plasma AVP concentration. Significant decreases in heart rate were observed during infusion of 100 ng/h of AVP. Mean arterial pressures measured directly on the sixth day of infusion were significantly higher in the rats given 50 ng/h (125 +/- 3 mmHg) or 100 ng/h (125 +/- 2 mmHg) compared with control rats (117 +/- 2 mmHg). Intravenous injection of the V1 antagonist, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP, significantly reduced the elevated mean arterial pressure induced by 50 or 100 ng/h of AVP (-7 +/- 4 and -11 +/- 2 mmHg, respectively). Plasma renin and norepinephrine concentrations were not affected by AVP infusion, while plasma epinephrine concentration was lower in the rats given 100 ng/h of AVP. Intravenous infusion of AVP did not alter bodyweight, serum electrolytes or osmolality. 4. These results suggest that AVP has a long-term pressor effect which is attributable to its vasoconstrictor action in conscious rats.

Effect of chymotrypsin on rat blood pressure

1. Chymotrypsin (Cht) administration (14 mg/kg, i.v.) to rats always caused hypertension; hypotension preceded this effect in 64% of the observations (n = 11). 2. A 68% reduction of circulating kininogen but not of angiotensinogen was observed after Cht administration. 3. Cht effects were not affected by captopril, [Sar1-Leu8]-angiotensin II and alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists. In 70% of the observations (n = 10) hypotension was abolished by a mixture of histamine H1- and H2-antagonists. Therefore histamine release may explain hypotension. 4. Cht released in vitro from rat plasma, a substance producing hypertension in the rat and contraction of the guinea-pig ileum. Both effects were antagonized by [Sar1-Leu8]-angiotensin II. 5. In spite of this angiotensin release in vitro, the hypertensive component of the in vivo response to Cht seems to be due to some other substance.

Comparative endocrinological and clinical effects of percutaneous estradiol and oral conjugated estrogens as replacement therapy in menopausal women

Sixty-three healthy post-menopausal women participated in the study aimed at determining the efficiency of percutaneous administration of estradiol (E2) giving physiological plasma levels of the estrogen to provide an efficient relief of climacteric and urogenital symptoms. Among these women, 31 had previous hysterectomy and were randomly allocated to one of the two estrogen replacement therapies while, similarly, the 32 women having an uterus were randomly divided between two groups who received in addition to estrogens, micronized oral progesterone. As estrogen, women received either E2 by percutaneous administration (Oestrogel) or oral conjugated estrogens (Premarin). With Oestrogel, serum E2 and estrone levels were within those seen during premenopause and showed a ratio close to 1.0. Climacteric symptoms were reduced or eliminated similarly in all groups. No changes was noticed on the concentration of serum angiotensinogen with Oestrogel therapy while a 2.5-fold increase was found in women receiving Premarin. As indicated by the 24-week endometrial biopsy, the progestational response induced by oral progesterone at the dose used was sufficient in twenty out of thirty-two women to cause endometrial atrophy, thus suggesting the need for higher amounts of micronized progesterone in a proportion of women. The present data also indicate that Oestrogel provides efficient relief of climacteric and urogenital symptoms without exerting any detectable effect on hepatic function while maintaining the ratio of serum E2/E1 at the physiological value of 1.0.

The renin-angiotensin system in different stages of spontaneous hypertension in the rat (S H R)

The present study analyzed the concentration of renin-like activity and angiotensinogen concentration (AoC) in different brain areas related to cardiovascular control in SHR and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) animals. Male rats of both strains were studied at 8, 16 and 30 weeks of age. The following brain areas were isolated: anterior, medial and posterior hypothalamus, septal area, periaqueductal gray (PG) and the remaining brain stem; nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and the remaining medulla oblongata. Plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AoC were determined. Renin-like concentration was higher in SHR than in WKY in the anterior hypothalamus, PG and NTS at different stages of hypertension development. AoC was also higher in some areas of the SHR brain during different periods. PRA, plasma and CSF angiotensinogen concentration showed significant differences between both strain of rats during the development of high blood pressure. Present data support the possibility that the central and peripheral renin-angiotensin system may participate in the maintenance of high blood pressure in the SHR animals.

The central and peripheral renin-angiotensin and noradrenergic systems in the spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the components of the renin-angiotensin system in the periphery and in the central nervous system (CNS) of the spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). On the other hand, the norepinephrine (NE) content of the different areas and of the mesenteric artery were also measured. Sixteen SHR and 9 Wistar Kyoto (WKY) control animals were used at about 6 months of age. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected. The brain was dissected into several areas and the mesenteric artery was excised. Plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma angiotensinogen concentration (P1AoC), brain renin (RC) and angiotensinogen concentrations (AoC) were evaluated by radioimmunoassay. NE was determined in all the tissues by a fluorimetric technique. PRA, P1AoC and NE concentration in the mesenteric artery were similar in both groups. An increase in the NE content of the cerebellum was detected in the SHR without changes in the other areas of the CNS. AoC was decreased in the CSF and in the brain stem of the SHR animals. RC was evaluated in the hypothalamus, brain stem, cerebral cortex and cerebellum of the same strain of rats. These results seem to indicate the some alteration of the peptidergic system in the CNS is present in the hypertensive animals.

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.

Postnatal development of the renin-angiotensin system in thyroidectomized rats

Postnatal changes in plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma renin concentration (PRC), plasma renin substrate (PRS) and plasma angiotensin II concentration (AII) were studied in young thyroidectomized rats from the 4th to the 10th week of life. Although there were no differences in the PRA pattern between thyroidectomized and euthyroid animals, an increase in PRC from the 6th week of life, together with a reduction of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and an increase in the fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) from the 8th week of life, was observed in young hypothyroid animals. Moreover, in thyroidectomized animals, PRS and AII declined until the 10th week of age, while in euthyroid animals an increase of PRS and AII was observed between the 8th and 10th weeks of life. These results show that the changes in sodium renal handling following thyroidectomy could have an influence on the RAS components.

Direct radio-immunoassay of renin substrate: effect of converting enzyme inhibition

A direct radio-immunoassay (RIA) for renin substrate (RS) was compared to the enzymatic (indirect) assay, which measures intact RS only, whereas a direct assay measures both intact RS and des-angiotensin I-RS. In normal subjects, a significant, albeit weak, correlation between the methods was noticed. In hypertensive patients with different levels of plasma renin activity (PRA), RS concentration measured by both assays increased with increasing PRA, and for patients with PRA greater than 10 micrograms AI/l/h, the direct assay gave significantly higher RS values (55%), compared to the enzymatic assay. This indicates consumption of RS by increasing plasma renin and increasing production rate of RS with increasing PRA, of potential importance in the pathogenesis of hypertension. In 11 patients with renovascular hypertension, treatment with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, lisinopril, resulted in a significant increase in PRA, accompanied by a decrease in RS measured by the enzymatic assay. Lowered plasma RS concentration, by reduction of the velocity of the renin-RS reaction, will distort and invalidate results of PRA determination during treatment with ACE inhibitory compounds. No change in RS measured by direct RIA was noticed, however. The results suggest that ACE inhibition may not have an effect upon RS production and that its effect on plasma RS is limited to a reduction of intact RS measured by the enzymatic assay.

Site-specific cleavage of a fusion protein by renin

A double-stranded synthetic oligonucleotide that codes for an amino acid sequence specifically recognized and cleaved by the endopeptidase, renin, was inserted into a plasmid expression vector. The double-stranded oligonucleotide was placed at the junction between the sequences coding for two distinct domains of a fusion protein. The vector used for this analysis expressed a 190-kD Epstein-Barr virus membrane antigen (EBV-MA)-beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) fusion protein (Beisel et al., 1985). The resultant novel protein product expressed by the new construction can be cleaved specifically by renin to yield two distinct polypeptides, EBV-MA and beta-gal, corresponding to the two domains of the original fusion protein product.

Monoclonal antibodies to human renin: properties and applications

A series of 11 different monoclonal antibodies generated against human kidney renin have been characterised. Their binding affinity, inhibition of renin activity, epitope distribution, crossreactivity with related enzymes and finally in vivo pharmacological effects were analysed. All antibodies were found to be specific for primate renin recognising 6 independent antigenic structures on the renin molecule. They expressed different effects on renin activity namely (1) no inhibition, (2) only partial, or (3) complete inhibition. Partially inhibiting antibodies demonstrated specific degrees of inhibition (30, 60 or 80%). One antibody, R-36-16, demonstrated an IC 50 of 1.3 X 10(-11) M/L and, when injected into marmosets, induced complete inhibition of plasma renin activity and reduction of blood pressure. Using a selected pair of antibodies a radioimmunoassay has been established providing a fast and highly reproducible determination of human and marmoset immunoreactive renin, detecting both active and inactive renin down to concentrations of 10 pg/ml (1.25 X 10(-17) moles of renin per 50 microliter sample).

Evidence for the involvement of cerebral renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in stress analgesia

Studies concerning variations of the central renin-angiotensin system (RAS) during immobilization stress in rats have shown a significant increase in renin-like activity in the hypothalamus and fronto-parietal cortex, together with a definite decrease in the hypophysis and pineal gland. The resultant stress analgesia is blocked by the previous administration of naloxone and saralasin (angiotensin II antagonist). The intracerebral administration of renin and angiotensin II produces an increase in latencies to thermoalgesic stimuli; this is reduced, as is immobilization stress, by naloxone and saralasin. Both chemical hypophysectomy obtained by dexamethasone pretreatment as well as surgical epiphysectomy block the stress-induced analgesia. The experimental data obtained argue in favour of the participation of the cerebral RAS in stress analgesia through the indirect mechanism of release of opioid peptides.

A renin-like enzyme in luteal tissue

The aim of this study was to identify immunologically and biologically a renin-like enzyme (RLE) in rat corpora lutea (CL). The biological activity of partially purified extracts of CL was tested in vivo by injection into anesthetized pentolinium-treated rats, obtaining a pressor response similar to renal renin. The enzyme activity in vitro was inhibited to about 50% by pretreatment with a specific antibody against renal renin. When the extracts were incubated with angiotensinogen, the product was inhibited mainly by angiotensin I antibody. The fact that there was no change in RLE content in 24 or 48 h nephrectomized rats, suggested the idea of a local production rather than an active blood renin sequestration.

Renin substrate and the renin-angiotensin system in hog tissues

The individual components of the renin-angiotensin system has been identified in numerous tissues. In this study we have examined whether a functional renin-angiotensin system is operative in several hog tissues including brain, aorta, and liver. The contribution of tissue renin substrate to the rate of local angiotensin generation was also assessed. Electrophoretic differences in plasma and tissue renin substrates, indicating structural differences, were employed as an index of independence of the tissue system from that of the peripheral circulation. Our results indicate that all tissues studied had the potential to locally generate angiotensin and that renin substrate limited to rate of the renin reaction in these tissues. Electrophoretic parameters, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and isoelectric focusing suggest that the tissue renin systems are of local origin. The potential magnitude of local angiotensin production is such that tissue renin-angiotensin systems may significantly contribute to the control and regulation of blood pressure and other regulatory mechanisms influenced by angiotensin.

Angiotensin II generated by a human renal carboxypeptidase

Angiotensin II, the potent hypertensive octapeptide, can be generated by a sequential cleavage of the carboxyl-terminal leucine and histidine from angiotensin I by a human renal extract. This extract does not hydrolyze further the resulting octapeptide. The more widely recognized biosynthetic pathway is by the extracellular dipeptide cleavage of angiotensin I by an enzyme which also degrades bradykinin, i.e., angiotensin converting enzyme. The presence of a carboxypeptidase activity capable of generating but not further hydrolyzing angiotensin II was observed in an ammonium sulfate fraction of a human renal extract. This novel enzymatic activity is distinct from angiotensin converting enzyme activity in that it is not dependent upon calcium and is not inhibited by known angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

Vascular renin-like activity in aorta and mesenteric artery of the rat

Vascular renin-like enzymatic activity (VRLA) has been measured in the artery wall of control and experimental rats. The following groups have been studied: 1-normal salt diet; 2-high salt diet; 3-low salt diet; 4-bilateral nephrectomy (Nx); 5-sham operated for Nx. VRLA was evaluated in the aorta (ARLA) and in the mesenteric arteries (MRLA). Blood samples were obtained for plasma renin activity (PRA) determination. High salt diet decreased PRA, ARLA and MRLA whereas low salt diet increased PRA, did not change ARLA and decreased MRLA. PRA was almost undetectable in Nx animals while ARLA showed a 40% reduction and MRLA was unchanged in these animals. These results would indicate that the changes in PRA induced different variations in the renin-like content of the aorta and the mesenteric artery. The differences could be mainly due to two factors: 1) the capacity of the vascular tissue to bind circulating renin and 2) the capacity of each tissue to synthetize renin-like material in situ.

Brain renin angiotensin system contributes to the salt-induced enhancement of hypertension in SHR

The study was performed to determine whether the brain renin angiotensin system may contribute to the acceleration in hypertension following long-term salt loading in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Five weeks old SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) were given 1% NaCl solution or plain tap water as drinking for 7 weeks. The salt treatment exaggerated the development of hypertension in SHR, but did not change the blood pressure (BP) in WKY. The hypotensive actions of intracerebroventricular (ICV) captopril was greater in SHR treated with salt than in those without treatment, whereas ICV AII increased BP to a similar degree between salt and control SHR. In WKY, the effects of ICV captopril and AII were not altered by the salt loading. The increases in BP induced by ICV hypertonic saline were not different between the rats with and without saline drinking in either SHR or WKY. The intravenous (IV) hexamethonium led to a greater fall in BP in SHR treated with saline than in those without salt, while it tended to produce a smaller decrease in BP in WKY with salt overload than in those without loading. Both duration and magnitude of the depressor effects of IV captopril were reduced by the chronic saline treatment in SHR. The plasma renin concentration (PRC) in both SHR and WKY was significantly suppressed by the salt load. The present results suggest that long-term salt overload may result in the enhanced activity of brain renin angiotensin system, which could be responsible for the exaggerated development of hypertension in SHR. Our observations also provide further evidence that the central renin angiotensin system is independent of the peripheral system.

Dissociation of hyperreninemia and renal prostaglandin synthesis in the adrenalectomized rat

The aim of this study was to determine whether hyperreninemia in the adrenalectomized (ADX) rat is dependent on renal prostaglandin synthesis, as has been suggested for two other hyperreninemic conditions, Bartter's syndrome and chronic liver disease. Plasma renin concentration (PRC) in anesthetized, ADX rats was significantly increased (delta +480%; p less than 0.001) compared to sham-operated controls. In vivo, indomethacin (10 mg/kg i.v.) significantly reduced PRC of anesthetized, ADX rats after both 45 min (delta -34%; p less than 0.05) and 90 min (delta -47%; p less than 0.05). In vitro renin release from renal cortical slices of ADX rats was also significantly greater (delta +130%; p less than 0.05) than from sham-operated control cortical slices. Renin release from cortical slices of ADX rats given dexamethasone (10 micrograms/kg/day) for 4 days prior to sacrifice did not differ from sham-operated control values. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release from cortical slices of ADX rats did not differ significantly from controls. However, PGE2 synthesis in glomeruli microdissected from ADX rats was significantly increased (delta +110%; p less than 0.001) compared to controls. PGE2 synthesis in glomeruli of dexamethasone-treated ADX rats remained significantly elevated compared to controls. Ibuprofen (10(-6) M) decreased PGE2 synthesis in cortical slices by 80%. However, prostaglandin synthesis inhibition had no effect on renin release from either ADX or control renal cortical slices. These results suggest that despite increased glomerular synthesis, prostaglandins do not directly influence renin release in the ADX rat.

Renin-like activity in vascular tissue of DOC-salt hypertensive rats

The presence of isorenin active at the physiological pH was investigated in DOC-salt hypertensive rats. The effect of chronic captopril treatment was analyzed in similarly treated animals and in control rats. The levels of the plasma (PRA) and vascular enzyme (VRLA) were compared with those of untreated control animals. DOC-salt administration was maintained during 4 or 8 weeks. Captopril was given in the drinking fluid beginning 4 days before DOC-salt treatment. Renin-like activity was measured in the aorta and mesenteric arteries. DOC-salt treatment reduced PRA to almost undetectable levels while aorta renin-like enzyme only decreased to 50% at 4 weeks and was not changed at 8 weeks. Isorenin levels in the mesenteric artery did not show any significant variation. Captopril did not prevent the increase in blood pressure due to DOC-salt administration and it induced a significant increase in PRA and in VRLA in control rats whereas it did not increase either - enzyme in DOC-salt treated rats. In summary these results confirm the existence of a vascular isorenin and suggest that both binding and local synthesis of the enzyme could take place in the arterial wall.

New monoclonal antibodies directed against human renin. Powerful tools for the investigation of the renin system

Monoclonal antibodies directed against human renin were obtained by the fusing of myeloma cells with spleen cells from Balb/c or high-responder Biozzi mice injected with pure tumoral or highly purified renal renin. These procedures resulted in the production of seven stable monoclonal antibodies to human renin. Antibodies in the hybridoma culture medium were screened by binding to pure iodinated renin or insolubilized renin in a solid phase assay. The concentration of purified antibodies that provided a 50% binding to iodinated renin varied from 1 X 10(-10) to 1 X 10(-7) M. Two monoclonal antibodies were found to be potent inhibitors of renin enzymatic activity in vitro, behaving as noncompetitive inhibitors (Ki, 1 to 4 X 10(-10) M). They were specific for primate renin. Three monoclonal antibodies provided suitable immunoadsorbants for renin purification. One of these immunoadsorbants was used for large-scale purification of the renal enzyme, resulting in an 825-fold renin enrichment in a single step. Two antibodies were able to distinguish between active and inactive renin and enabled concomitant separation and purification of the two enzyme forms in various biological fluids. Monoclonal antibodies also stained human and monkey renal renin when indirect immunofluorescence and peroxidase-antiperoxidase techniques were used. A highly sensitive radioimmunometric assay of renin was constructed with two monoclonal antibodies. The sensitivity of this improved assay should permit the detection of renin in normal human plasma. Monoclonal antibodies have been shown to be superior to polyclonal antibodies in the following areas: the separation of active from inactive renin, the purification of renin from biological fluids, and the setting up of a direct assay of plasma renin.

Is renin substrate an erythropoietin precursor?

The biogenesis of erythropoietin is incompletely understood. One hypothesis maintains that erythropoietin is synthesized primarily in the kidney while according to another theory an erythropoietin precursor present in plasma is activated by a renal factor, erythrogenin. An attractive candidate for the erythropoietin precursor is renin substrate (angiotensinogen) which has chemical similarities with erythropoietin. We show here that purified renin substrate from human plasma is immunologically related to human erythropoietin. Moreover, purified renin substrate, like erythropoietin, causes the dose-dependent increase of haemoglobin F in cultured human erythroid leukaemia K562 cells. We conclude that renin substrate is a likely precursor of erythropoietin.

Renin biosynthesis by human tumoral juxtaglomerular cells. Evidences for a renin precursor

Renin biosynthesis was studied in a juxtaglomerular cell tumor. The tumoral tissue had a high renin content (180 Goldblatt Units/g of tissue), was heavily stained by immunofluorescence using human renin antiserum, and exhibited numerous characteristic secretory granules by electron microscopy. In one series of experiments, renin biosynthesis was studied in tissue slices, by following the incorporation of radiolabeled amino acids into specific immunoprecipitable renin. Time course studies showed that renin was first synthesized in a high molecular weight form, 55,000 mol wt, i.e., 10,000 mol wt higher than that of active renin, and was then converted into a 44,000-mol wt form. In a second series of experiments renin tumoral cells were cultured. Small, round, birefringent cells obtained after collagenase digestion produced renin in both primary culture and subculture media. After 5 d most of the renin found in the culture medium was inactive, but could be activated by trypsin treatment. The tumoral tissue exhibited a strong renin immunofluorescence and numerous secretory granules were observed by electron microscopy. In contrast, the renin-producing cells isolated from this tumor and grown in culture showed little renin immunofluorescence and no secretory granule could be observed. The renin-producing cells in primary culture and subculture were pulsed with radiolabeled amino acids, and immunoprecipitable radiolabeled renin was found in the culture media, thus demonstrating the actual biosynthesis of the enzyme. This renin was not stored inside cultured cells but was rapidly released into the medium and had a molecular weight of 55,000. No conversion of this inactive high molecular weight renin into the active, 44,000 mol wt form of renin was observed. We postulate the existence of two pathways for the processing, packaging, and secretion of renin in the tumoral cells: in juxtaglomerular cells of tumoral tissue renin is synthesized as a preprorenin and rapidly converted into prorenin (55,000 mol wt), which is in turn packaged in secretory granules where it is processed into active renin (44,000 mol wt) and finally secreted; in the cultured tumoral cells renin is still biosynthesized as a preprorenin molecule and then converted into prorenin, but is neither stored as granules nor processed into active renin. In this case the renin is released in an inactive form.

An increase in high-molecular weight renin substrate associated with estrogenic hypertension

We have previously reported that estrogens have the potential to induce new forms of renin substrate in addition to elevating the major circulating form of this protein. One of these estrogen-induced forms had a molecular weight in excess of 150,000. In this study we have compared the plasma concentration of the high-molecular-weight renin substrate in normotensive women receiving estrogen therapy and women with estrogenic hypertension. A statistically significant elevation of this protein was associated with estrogenic hypertension and normotensive pregnant women at term. This form of renin substrate differed from the major form with respect to electrophoretic mobility, isoelectric point, and immunologic cross-reactivity. In addition, kinetic analysis indicated that this high-molecular-weight substrate has a significantly higher affinity for the enzyme renin than the major circulating form (Km = 1800 +/- 290 versus 3520 +/- 260 ng angiotensin I equivalents/ml). These results suggest that in addition to renin substrate concentration, substrate composition may play an important role in blood pressure regulation.

Inhibition of renin by conformationally restricted analogues of angiotensinogen

[Cys(5),Cys(10)]Angiotensinogen-(5-14)-peptide analogues and homologues were synthesized, in which a disulphide bond between residues 5 and 10 stabilized a 9-->6 beta-turn proposed for the substrate. These compounds were competitive inhibitors of human and pig renins with K(i) values of the order of 10(-6)-10(-5)m, indicating that the conformation proposed for the substrate is important for the interaction with the enzyme.

Inhibition of rat renin by antibody elicited against pure mouse renin and the effect on blood pressure

Antibodies raised against mouse submaxillary renin showed affinity for rat renal renin. The affinity was characterized by enzyme kinetics in vitro. The antibodies and the purified Fab fragments showed total inhibition of rat renin, with a Ki of 6.5 +/- 0.7 x 10(-8)mol/l for the Fab fragments. The effect of enzymatic inhibition on blood pressure in anaesthetized rats was compared with converting enzyme inhibition. The antibodies showed a significant effect on blood pressure, with a depressor effect corresponding to that of the converting enzyme inhibitor [SQ 20 881]. The reduction of mean arterial pressure was from 116 +/- 3 to 108 +/- 3 mmHg for the antibodies and to 107 +/- 4 mmHg for the converting enzyme inhibitor. The pressor response of infused rat renal renin was totally blocked by the antibodies while pressor responses of angiotensin II were unchanged.

Purification and characterization of two forms of rat plasma proangiotensin

Two forms of rat plasma proangiotensin were purified by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose at pH 6.5, DEAE-Sepharose at pH 8.9, Sephadex G-150, hydroxyapatite and hexyl-agarose. Both forms were finally separated by affinity chromatography on concanavalin-A--Sepharose. Presence or absence of carbohydrate side chains seems to be the only difference between these forms of proangiotensin. Both proteins consist of single polypeptide chains having apparent molecular weights of 52000 and 55000 and isoelectric points around 4.7 and 4.4, respectively. No significant difference between the proteins could be observed with respect to the amino-terminal amino acid sequence which was found to be the same (H2N-Asp-Arg-Val) as for angiotensin I and II. Furthermore, extensive digestion with renin, releasing the decapeptide angiotensin I, did not significantly reduce the molecular weights of both polypeptides. It can therefore be concluded that the angiotensin I peptide is located at the amino terminus of the prohormone. Kinetic constants measured for the release of angiotensin I by renin were found to be Km = 5.0 microM proangiotensin and V = 270 nmol of angiotensin I h-1 unit renin-1 for the concanavalin-A-binding form and Km = 5.6 microM proangiotensin and V = 250 nmol angiotensin I h-1 unit renin-1 for the prohormone which did not bind to concanavalin-A--Sepharose. The form of proangiotensin not bound to concanavalin-A--Sepharose was found to be more thermally labile (tm of 59.0 degrees C) than the form binding to concanavalin A (tm of 61.5 degrees C, where tm = temperature at which 50% reactivity is lost).

Vascular renin as a determinant of the circulatory response to renin

The effect of an injection of partially purified rat renin on the blood pressure, plasma and aortic renin was studied in rats 18 hours after bilateral nephrectomy. Blood pressure rose and remained elevated 6 hours after renin injection, returning to normal at 9 hours. Aortic renin concentration was increased and showed a similar response pattern to blood pressure whereas plasma renin concentration fell to subnormal levels within 3 hours. The blood pressure response was prevented by converting enzyme inhibition and at 3 and 6 hours was reversed by saralasin infusion. These results demonstrate that circulating renin is taken up by vascular tissue and the pressor response to exogenous renin is related to aortic but not plasma renin.

Angiotensin--forming enzyme active at the physiological Ph in the brain of normal and nephrectomized rats

Enzymatic activity generating angiotensin at pH 5.5 and 7.2 has been detected in different areas of the central nervous system (CNS) of the rat. Control animals and those subjected to bilateral nephrectomy 48 h before the experiment (Nx) were analyzed. The different areas of the CNS were studied by the incubation of tissue homogenates in the presence (enzyme concentration) or not (enzyme activity) of an excess of added angiotensinogen. Concentration was determined by incubation at pH 7.2 and 5.5 while activity was evaluated only at pH 7.2. The enzymatic renin-like concentration at both pHs did not change after Nx thus showing they do not depend on plasma and vascular renin. On the other hand the activity of the enzyme showed a significant increase in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum after Nx suggesting an increased concentration of renin substrate and/or different concentrations of inhibitors or activators of the enzymatic system in those areas.

Age dependence of human plasma renin substrate

Renin substrate (angiotensinogen) was measured with an assay employing exhaustive incubation of plasma with purified human kidney renin and radioimmunoassay of the angiotensin I (AI) generated. Plasma renin substrate concentration was higher at the age of 3 days (females: 2028 +/- 551, males: 1951 +/- 565 micrograms AI/l, mean +/- SD) than in age group 0-15 years (females: 1513 +/- 555, males: 1263 +/- 392 micrograms AI/l). Plasma renin substrate concentration at the age over 15 years (females: 1780 +/- 464, males 1752 +/- 321 micrograms AI/l) was higher than in children 0-15 years. Expectedly, high concentrations of plasma renin substrate were found in pregnant women at term (4127 +/- 1961 micrograms AI/l).

Dexamethasone hypertension in rats

The effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on systolic blood pressure, sodium balance and the renin-angiotensin system were studied in rats. DEX significantly increased systolic blood pressure within three days of its administration, but this effect of DEX on blood pressure was not enhanced by concurrent use of saline solution. In DEX-treated rats, urine volume was significantly increased and urinary sodium excretion showed a tendency toward a slight increase compared to control rats. On the 8th day of DEX administration, plasma renin substrate (PRS) was significantly elevated compared to control rats, whereas plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) was not significantly different from that of control rats. These results suggest that hypertension induced by DEX may not be dependent on sodium retention or activation of the renin-angiotensin system.

Renin substrate, active and acid-activatable renin concentrations in human plasma and endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle

Renin substrate, active and total renin concentrations were measured in plasma and endometrial samples obtained from 101 patients, all of whom were having normal menstrual cycles. The endometrial samples were found to contain all of these components of the renin-angiotensin system in considerably higher concentrations than those found in the plasma. There was no correlation between the plasma and endometrial concentrations of any of these substances and it is suggested that they may be produced locally in the endometrium. A marked increase in the angiotensin producing potential of the endometrium was noted immediately before menstruation, indicating a possible function in the control of endometrial blood flow.

Induction of plasma proangiotensin by steroid hormones in nephrectomized rats

The response of plasma proangiotensin to various steroids was studied in bilaterally nephrectomized rats. In male animals, estradiol and testosterone increased the proangiotensin level up to 250% and 180% respectively. In female animals, both hormones lead to an increase of proangiotensin up to 220% of the controls, when given at optimal dose. The dose dependence on estradiol and testosterone was about the same in male rats, whereas in female animals the formation of proangiotensin was stimulated by much lower doses of estradiol as compared to testosterone. Adrenalectomy plus nephrectomy reduced the proangiotensin level to 20-30% of the value measured in animals nephrectomized only. Cortisol caused a rapid increase of plasma proangiotensin up to 1000% in adrenalectomized animals. Independent from the adrenal state, the amounts of cortisol necessary to induce proangiotensin were very low as compared to the dose response of other proteins, biosynthesis of which is regulated by cortisol. 21-Dehydrocortisol and aldosterone induced proangiotensin with the same efficiency as cortisol, whereas several other chemically related steroids were less active or inactive. Comparing the biological activity of the various steroids tested, it has to be concluded that the delta 4-ene-3-one structure of ring A, the 11 beta-OH group of ring C and the carbonyl group at C-20 of the ketol side-chain of cortisol are very important with respect to proangiotensin induction. The response of proangiotensin to cortisol, 21-dehydrocortisol and aldosterone could be inhibited by actinomocin D and cycloheximide, whereas the effects of estradiol and testosterone could be reversed by cycloheximide only.

Comparison of metabolic and clinical effects of four oral contraceptive formulations and a contraceptive vaginal ring

A group of 100 women desiring OC received one of the following four formulations on a randomized basis: (1) mestranol 50 micrograms and norethindrone 1 mg, , (2) ethinyl estradiol 50 micrograms and norethindrone 1 mg, (3) ethinyl estradiol 35 micrograms and norethindrone 1 mg, and (4) ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms and levonorgestrel 150 mg. An additional 10 women received a CVR containing levonorgestrel and estradiol. Measurement of a large number of serum chemistries, lipids, proteins, clotting factors, and liver enzymes was obtained before and 3 and 6 months after starting medication. Clinical factors such as weight, blood pressure, bleeding or spotting, or any adverse side effects were also recorded. There was no significant difference in the metabolic parameters measured among the four oral contraceptives except the increase in angiotensinogen was slightly less in the groups receiving the compounds with 30 or 35 micrograms estrogen and the groups receiving the norgestrel compound had no increase in triglycerides and a slight decrease in cholesterol levels. When the CVR was compared with all oral contraceptives it was found to produce no change in angiotensinogen levels and a decrease in triglycerides. Some of each group of OC users had a lowering of antithrombin III to abnormal levels but none of the CVR users had his amount of decrease. As oral steroids with 30 or 35 micrograms of estrogen do not produce significantly less metabolic alteration than do compounds with 50 micrograms of estrogen, it is unlikely that their use will reduce the incidence of the uncommon serious adverse effects associated with OC use. However, since the CVR's did not increase angiotensinogen, their use as contraceptives will most likely not produce hypertension and possibly the other serious circulatory problems which are increased in some OC users.

Acceleration of hypotension and development of stroke in the spontaneously hypertensive rat by unilateral ureteral obstruction

Unilateral uareteral obstruction (UUO) in 6-week old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (6-w-SHR) accelerated the elevation of blood pressure and developed stroke with high frequency from 3 weeks after operation, whereas UUO had no effect in either 20-week old SHR or 6-week old normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats. Urinary protein excretion and plasma urea and renin concentrations in 6-w-SHR began to increase 2 weeks after UUO. Removal of the obstructed kidney in 6-w-SHR one week after UUO prevented the acceleration of hypertension, while the same treatment 2 weeks after operation did not. In the ureter-obstructed kidneys of 6-w-SHR, hydronephrotic atrophy was markedly observed already one week after operation, while in the opposite kidneys, hypertensive vascular lesions were manifested from the second week. These results indicate that with regard to reversibility of the hypertensive process, the obstructed kidney is more important in the early postoperative stages and the contralateral kidney more important later.

Simultaneous measurement of PRA, PRC and PRR and the relation of renin reaction rate to renin substrate concentration

We have altered the method for measuring plasma renin concentration (P.R.C.) originated by Haas, et al (7) by using radioimmunoassay of angiotensin I and avoiding the addition of extrinsic renin substrate. Thus modified, the method gives values for P.R.A. (plasma renin activity), P.R.C. (plasma renin concentration), and also P.R.R. (plasma renin reactivity), which is the rate of reaction of renin substrate in the plasma with added extrinsic renin. By applying this modified method to a wide variety of plasma samples and independently measuring plasma renin substrate concentration (P.R.S.) in the same samples, we found a good correlation between P.R.R. and P.R.S. Our results indicate that the rate of the renin - renin substrate reaction in human plasma is proportional to renin substrate concentration over a wide range of values up to 5000 ng angiotensin I/ml or higher. Thus, first order reaction kinetics with respect to substrate concentration is followed even at high substrate levels and the Km must be high. An additional finding was that pregnant women have elevated P.R.C. levels in contrast with women taking oral contraceptives who have P.R.C. levels lower than normal.

Human plasma angiotensinogen: a review of purification procedures

The current status of the purification and characterization of human angiotensinogen is reviewed. One problem encountered in the past has been the copurification of a protein with similar porperties. This protein has tentatively been designated alanine-protein. An efficient separation of angiotensinogen and alanine-protein was obtained on a zinc chelate column. Alanine-protein has been purified and its amino acid and carbohydrate composition determined. The COOH-terminal amino acid and the NH2-terminal amino acid were determined to be serine and alanine, respectively. Alanine-protein exhibited multiple forms on isoelectric focusing.

Hypertension and aldosterone overproduction without renin suppression in Cushing's syndrome from an adrenal adenoma

Adrenal steroids and compenents of the renin-angiotensin system were measured before and after adrenalectomy in a woman with Cushing's syndrome and hypertension from a functioning adrenocortical adenoma. Aldosterone, deoxycorticosterone and cortisol were produced in excess by the adenoma, and were measured in tumor tissue. High plasma renin substrate concentrations, and normal basal and furosemide-stimulated plasma renin activities and plasma renin concentrations which were present before surgery, decreased after adrenalectomy, and the hypertension diminished. The inappropriately normal levels of renin and potassium in this patient, despite autonomous aldosterone overproduction, suggest an ineffective mineralocorticoid action of aldosterone, possibly from interaction with her other adenoma-produced steroids. The decrease in components of the renin-angiotensin system suggests a partial renin-dependence of her hypertension.