Evidence for beta-adrenergic regulation of renal and extrarenal plasma prorenin and renin in dogs

Beta blockade with propranolol for 7 days in healthy normotensive dogs produced a sustained 20-25% drop in heart rate, but only a transient suppression of blood pressure. Plasma renin activity and prorenin were also suppressed transiently, suggesting that both are under beta-receptor regulation. Bilateral nephrectomy (2NX) was followed by rapid clearance of renin from the circulation, at a rate that was minimally influenced by beta blockade. In contrast, the plasma prorenin level rose markedly to a peak within an hour after surgery, leveled off during the next 24 hr, dropped almost toward the pre-2NX baseline by 48 hr, but proceeded to rise again between 48 and 120 hr. Propranolol administration before and during the 2NX period reduced the detectable prorenin, suggesting that its extrarenal source is under beta-adrenergic regulation. The rapid increment of prorenin after 2NX suggests that extrarenal prorenin may have constituted part of the total plasma prorenin before 2NX, and/or had developed sufficiently quickly afterwards to replace and exceed the disappearing renal prorenin. Any fresh increment beyond 48 hr could presumably have been only extrarenal. These observations suggest the existence of a rich beta-regulated extrarenal source of prorenin capable of rapidly supplying the plasma. However, no renin-angiotesin was apparently produced from this prorenin in the nephrectomized state, implying the lack of renal "convertase," without which the prorenin convertase mechanism as a whole was rendered ineffective. The source of the extrarenal prorenin and the identity of the renal convertase remain to be established.     

Identification of renin and renin messenger RNA sequence in rat ovary and uterus

An increase in plasma prorenin during pregnancy suggests that prorenin might be synthesized in the ovary and the secretion of renin or prorenin may be stimulated by an ovarian steroid-mediated process. Recently, renin and angiotensinogen have been identified in human ovarian follicular fluid. However, there is considerable controversy over whether renin is synthesized in the ovary or derived from circulation. In the present study, we confirmed the presence of renin and renin mRNA in rat ovary and uterus by Northern blot analysis with rat renin cRNA as a hybridization probe. Our data show that ovarian or uterine renin is synthesized in the same cells. This suggests that the function of renin might be closely linked to the reproductive process.     

Extrarenal production and activation of human plasma prorenin: the evidence after venous occlusion

Venous occlusion of the left arm in consenting men was induced for 10 or 20 min to stimulate local fibrinolytic and other proteases, thereby favouring the conversion of prorenin to renin. Using the two techniques cryoactivation and tryptic activation, we found that plasma active renin increased significantly after such occlusion (10 and 20 min) while prorenin rose more convincingly and progressively from 10 to 20 min. The renin increase can be partially attributed to hemoconcentration, but in vivo production and (or) local activation of prorenin to renin cannot be excluded. The prorenin rise can apparently be attributed to local extrarenal production, and not to hemoconcentration or influx, since it was progressive and neither prorenin nor renin levels were raised at all in blood circulating outside the occluded arm. Prekallikrein and plasminogen levels were elevated in occlusion plasmas, but responsibility of these enzyme systems for any enhanced activation of prorenin was not established. The trypsin inhibitory capacity was also elevated, increasing the requirement of trypsin to achieve optimal activation of prorenin, but not changing the prorenin estimate itself. Thus, prorenin appears to be released extrarenally, within the vasculature of an occluded arm, while in vitro evidence suggests that the mechanisms for its activation were stimulated. The importance of such extrarenal production and activation of prorenin for renin production under other physiological or pathophysiological conditions remains to be determined.     

Renin substrate (angiotensinogen) preparations in the determination of prorenin and renin: evidence for extrarenal plasma prorenin and its renal "convertase"

Standard methods for determining prorenin-renin concentrations in plasma (PRC) and other tissues require the addition of exogenous renin substrate (angiotensinogen) to improve the kinetics of the renin reaction. We studied the effects of substrate prepared from normal human plasma fraction Cohn IV-4, or from nephrectomized (2NX) sheep plasma, on PRC of normal and 2NX human plasmas before and after prorenin activation by acid, cold, and trypsin, and compared the results with plasma renin activities (PRA, no added substrate). Plasmas from 2NX men exhibited negligible basal PRA, indicating that very little, if any, renin had been formed from the extrarenal prorenin they contained, and suggesting the lack of an endogenous prorenin activating mechanism, or "convertase," of probable renal origin. Prorenin was demonstrable by tryptic activation, more than by acid or cold, at up to about 30% of normal. Addition of Cohn IV-4 substrate to 2NX plasma unexpectedly produced (i) a basal PRC value higher than in normal plasma, (ii) total renin values after activation by acid, cold, and trypsin that were much closer to normal values than reflected by PRA methodology, without a commensurate increase (if anything a decrease) in prorenin as a percentage of total renin estimated by all activation methods, and (iii) substantial equalization of activation effects such that trypsin was no longer more effective than acid and cold (and this was also noted with normal plasma). The skewing effect of adding Cohn IV-4 substrate on the PRC of 2NX plasma was much greater than in normal plasma, even though 2NX plasma already had an above normal level of endogenous substrate and should have been influenced less. Enhancement of PRC was very pronounced even when Cohn IV-4 was added to make up only 9% of total (endogenous + exogenous) substrate in the incubation system, suggesting that it was not the added substrate but a renin-generating contaminant that inflated the PRC. Such inflation could be blocked by adding protease inhibitors, suggesting that the responsible protease(s) acted as a prorenin "convertase" that generated new renin from renal and (or) extrarenal prorenin contributed by the added substrate, as well as by the plasma being assayed. One component of convertase could be kallikrein, which was identified by chromogenic assay, the importance of which relative to total convertase activity is unknown.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Prorenins activation by an enzyme from rat plasma (PreR-Co)

The aim of the present research was to explore the capacity of PreR-Co to process prorenin purified from kidney and corpora lutea (CL) and to study its action on extrarenal tissues. The PreR-Co was obtained from plasma as a single electrophoretic band by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, gel filtration, anti-rat albumin immunoaffinity, and ion-exchange chromatography. Prorenin free of renin was obtained after (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, gel filtration, and ion-exchange chromatography by a passage through an affinity gel of H-77 Sepharose. SDS-PAGE of supernatant and of acidic elution from gel, exhibited a single band of 43 kDa and 35 kDa, respectively; both recognized by the specific anti rat renin antibody. The isolated renin was not attacked by PreR-Co; on the contrary prorenin was completely activated. The product of PreR-Co-activated prorenin showed an analogous MW to that of renin and was recognized by the specific antibody. In addition to processing kidney prorenin, PreR-Co was able to cleave inactive renin from ovary, CL, uterus and adrenal gland homogenates. However, the amount of active renin generated from these tissues was lower than those produced by trypsin activation. PreR-Co is a good candidate for the role of the enzyme involved in tissues prorenin activation.     

High-affinity prorenin binding to cardiac man-6-P/IGF-II receptors precedes proteolytic activation to renin

Mannose-6-phosphate (man-6-P)/insulin-like growth factor-II (man-6-P/IgF-II) receptors are involved in the activation of recombinant human prorenin by cardiomyocytes. To investigate the kinetics of this process, the nature of activation, the existence of other prorenin receptors, and binding of native prorenin, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were incubated with recombinant, renal, or amniotic fluid prorenin with or without man-6-P. Intact and activated prorenin were measured in cell lysates with prosegment- and renin-specific antibodies, respectively. The dissociation constant (K(d)) and maximum number of binding sites (B(max)) for prorenin binding to man-6-P/IGF-II receptors were 0.6 +/- 0.1 nM and 3,840 +/- 510 receptors/myocyte, respectively. The capacity for prorenin internalization was greater than 10 times B(max). Levels of internalized intact prorenin decreased rapidly (half-life = 5 +/- 3 min) indicating proteolytic prosegment removal. Prorenin subdivision into man-6-P-free and man-6-P-containing fractions revealed that only the latter was bound. Cells also bound and activated renal but not amniotic fluid prorenin. We concluded that cardiomyocytes display high-affinity binding of renal but not extrarenal prorenin exclusively via man-6-P/IGF-II receptors. Binding precedes internalization and proteolytic activation to renin thereby supporting the concept of cardiac angiotensin formation by renal prorenin.     

Specific point mutations may not accumulate with aging in the mouse mitochondrial DNA control region

Increasing evidence suggests that mitochondrial function declines during aging in various tissues and in a wide range of organisms. This correlates with an age-dependent large accumulation of specific point mutations in the mtDNA control region that was reported recently in human fibroblast and skeletal muscle. However, evaluations of aging-related mtDNA mutations in other model animal systems. In this study, we analyzed mtDNA control regions of brain, skeletal muscle, heart, and other tissues from aged mice, in search of specific point mutations. A 948-bp fragment covering the entire mtDNA control region from various tissues of mice at the age of 25–26 months was sequenced. The sequence analysis was accomplished with a newly developed program Mutation Quantifier, which was able to accurately detect mutations with frequencies as low as 3%. Probably due to the relative shorter life-span, unlike what has been reported in human mtDNA, our results indicated there might be no significant accumulation of specific mutations in mouse mtDNA control region during aging.     

The effect of acute or chronic administration of prolactin on renal function in feral chickens

The role of the hormone prolactin in avian osmoregulation has not been clearly defined. The increases in plasma prolactin concentrations which have been demonstrated in previous studies in response to osmotic stress are strongly suggestive of a role for prolactin in avian osmoregulation. The present study investigated the effects of either acute or chronic administration of ovine prolactin on plasma electrolytes and renal function in the feral chicken. The effect of acute administration of prolactin depended on the dose of prolactin used. All plasma concentrations of prolactin achieved by the infusions were greater than reported values for endogenous prolactin. Acute infusion of prolactin at the lower dose increased the fractional excretion of sodium and chloride significantly, whereas the higher dose of prolactin had no effect. However, chronic administration of ovine prolactin had no significant effects on plasma electrolytes and renal function. It is possible that the role of prolactin in avian osmoregulation is a combination of its effects on the kidneys and also on extrarenal tissues such as the intestine and nasal salt glands (where present). Accepted: 22 August 1997     

The renin and iso-renin-angiotensin system in rats with experimental pitutary tumors (38585).

Renin, iso-renin, angiotensin I. angiotensin-converting enzyme, and angiotensinases were measured in plasma and in various extrarenal tissues of rats. Despite complete suppression of plasma renin in rats bearing pituitary tumors iso-renin and all other components of the renin-angiotensin system were found to be at or above control concentrations. The results strongly suggest that there is local synthesis of iso-renin in extrarenal tissues.     

Prorenin induces ERK activation in endothelial cells to enhance neovascularization independently of the renin-angiotensin system

Prorenin is an enzymatically inactive precursor of renin, and its biological function in endothelial cells (ECs) is unknown despite its relevance with the incidence of diabetic microvascular complications. Recently, (pro)renin receptor was identified, and the receptor-associated prorenin system has been discovered, whereas its expression as well as function in ECs remain unclear. In the present study, we found that ECs express the (pro)renin receptor, and that prorenin provoked ERK activation through (pro)renin receptor independently of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Prorenin stimulated the proliferation, migration and tube-formation of ECs, while it inhibited endothelial apoptosis induced by serum and growth factor depletion. MEK inhibitor abrogated these proangiogenic effects of prorenin, while AT1 receptor antagonist or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor failed to block them. In vivo neovascularization in the Matrigel-plugs implanted into mouse flanks was significantly enhanced by prorenin, in which significant ERK activation was detected in ECs. Furthermore, tumor xenografts stably transfected with prorenin demonstrated the significantly accelerated growth rate concomitantly with enhanced intratumoral neovascularization. Our data demonstrated that the RAS-independent (pro)renin receptor-mediated signal transduction plays a pivotal role in the regulation of ECs function as well as in the neovascularization, and thus prorenin is potentially involved in the pathophysiology of diabetic microvascular complications as well as cancers.     

Activation and measurement of plasma prorenin in the rat.

Prorenin determination in rat plasma has been problematic from the outset. Consequently, its existence is questioned by some and its quantity by others, making it difficult for knowledge to advance as to its function relative to the renin system. The present study examines major variables in the determination of rat plasma prorenin and renin, notably different prorenin activation protocols involving blood samples obtained under various conditions from animals under different anesthetics. We found that a trypsin activation step with 5 mg/mL plasma, 60 min at 23 degrees C, followed by a PRA step of 10 min at 37 degrees C, resulted in the highest prorenin estimates, up to approximately 400 ng.mL-1.h-1 in terms of angiotensin I, as compared with published values of 0-190, based on other protocols. These estimates were obtained despite considerable destruction of angiotensinogen (renin substrate) by trypsin. Cryoactivation of prorenin was much less effective than in human plasma but, when followed by trypsin, it facilitated greater activation than with trypsin alone. Comparable fresh and fresh-frozen plasmas had similar prorenin-renin values, but lower values were observed in plasmas that had been repeatedly frozen and thawed. Conscious rats and those anesthetized with Inactin or ether had higher renins and prorenins than those anesthetized with methoxyflurane or halothane. Rats with kidneys in place during blood collection had higher renins (but not prorenins) than those whose kidneys were clamped off, suggesting that last-minute renin release during blood collection had occurred. We conclude that (i) trypsin generates increased renin, or renin-like, activity in plasma, suggesting activation of a precursor; (ii) on this basis, high prorenin levels exist in normal rat plasma; (iii) renin and prorenin levels are variously influenced by different anesthetics and blood handling procedures; (iv) variation in prorenin levels suggests that it is a dynamic (functional?) component of the renin system; (v) prorenin measurements are heavily influenced by methodological variations during the trypsin step or the subsequent PRA step; (vi) using standardized methodology, the rat can serve as a model for investigating the function of prorenin in normotension and hypertension.     

Phenotypic characterization of a novel HO-1 depletion model in the rat

Although the protective role of HO-1 induction in various forms of kidney disease is well established, mechanisms other than heme catabolism to biliverdin, bilirubin and carbon monoxide have recently been identified. Unraveling these mechanisms requires the generation of appropriate animal models. The present study describes the generation of a HO-1 deficient Hmox1 ^?/? rat model and characterizes its renal and extrarenal phenotype. Hmox1 ^?/? rats had growth retardation and splenomegaly compared to their Hmox1 ^+/+ littermates. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis-type lesions and interstitial inflammatory infiltrates were prominent morphologic findings and were associated with increased blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and albuminuria. There was no increase in iron deposition in glomeruli, tubules or interstitium. Iron deposition in spleen and liver was reduced. Electron microscopic examination of glomeruli revealed edematous podocytes with scant areas of foot process effacement but otherwise well preserved processes and slit-diaphragms. Of the filtration barrier proteins examined, β-catenin expression was markedly reduced both in glomeruli and extrarenal tissues. Since the rat is the preferred laboratory animal in experimental physiology and pathophysiology, the rat model of HO-1 deficiency may provide a novel tool for investigation of the role of this enzyme in renal function and disease.     

Measurement of inactive renin in normal, nephrectomized, and adrenalectomized rats.

In a new method for measurement of inactive rat plasma renin, the trypsin generated angiotensin I immunoreactive material, which was HPLC characterized as similar to tetradecapeptide renin substrate, is removed by a cation exchange resin before the renin incubation step. The method also corrects for trypsin destruction of endogenous angiotensinogen by the addition of exogenous angiotensinogen. When measured with this method inactive renin in rat plasma decreased after nephrectomy and increased after adrenalectomy. This is in accordance with findings in humans. A sexual dimorphism of prorenin (inactive renin) in rat plasma, similar to that reported in humans and mice, was demonstrated. Thus, inactive renin in the rat is no exception among species, and the rat might be a suitable animal model for further studies dealing with the physiology of prorenin in plasma and tissues.     

Renin--angiotensin antagonists and the regulation of blood pressure.

The role of the renin--angiotensin system in the regulation of blood pressure in dogs and in human subjects was assessed by the use of the nonapeptide converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI), permitting the following conclusions: 1) In the normal, sodium replete dog, the renin--angiotensin system plays little role in the regulation of blood pressure. 2) As sodium depletion progresses, the renin--angiotensin system becomes increasingly important in the maintenance of blood pressure. In the markedly hypovolemic animal, blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II leads to prolonged hypotension of shock-like levels. 3) The renin--angiotensin system is responsible for the initiation of renovascular hypertension. Blood pressure does not rise during chronic renal artery constriction when the generation of angiotensin II is prevented by the CEI. Although angiotensin II is essential for the initiation of the elevated blood pressure, the renin--angiotensin system plays a decreasing role in the maintenance of the chronic hypertension as sodium and water are retained, and plasma volume increases. 4) In congestive failure induced in the conscious dog by circulatory impairment, the renin--angiotensin--aldosterone system plays an essential role in the compensatory response. During chronic administration of the CEI, the animal cannot compensate even for a relatively mild degree of constriction, and remains hypotensive. In the dog with congestive failure, as in the dog with renovascular hypertension, plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone are elevated early in the syndrome; during this phase, injection of the nonapeptide produces a marked drop in blood pressure. With the retention of sodium and water, and expansion of plasma and extravascular fluid volumes, PRA and plasma aldosterone return to control levels in the new steady state. The inhibitor no longer produces a drop in blood pressure. Thus, the sequential changes in the renin--angiotensin--aldosterone system are remarkably similar in renovascular hypertension and congestive failure. 5) In the normal, salt replete human subject the renin--angiotensin system plays little role in the regulation of blood pressure either in the recumbent or upright posture. However, with relatively mild sodium depletion, the CEI transiently lowers blood pressure even in the recumbent subject. In the absence of angiotensin II such sodium-depleted subjects are unable to compensate when tilted upright, and faint within minutes.     

Trypsin activation of human and cat prorenin: a comparative study.

Prorenin can be converted to renin by limited proteolysis with trypsin. In the current study we compared conditions for activation of human renal and ovarian prorenin and cat renal prorenin with either liquid-phase trypsin or trypsin bound to sepharose (solid phase). Higher concentrations of trypsin were required to activate cat prorenin than human prorenin. Human prorenin was destroyed by high concentrations of trypsin, while cat prorenin was not destroyed by up to 2 mg/mL solid-phase trypsin. For both human and cat prorenin, addition of the competitive serine protease inhibitor benzamidine--HCl increased the concentration of trypsin needed to activate prorenin, resulting in slightly higher levels of human prorenin but lower levels of cat prorenin. For human samples, activation with solid-phase trypsin resulted in slightly higher estimates of prorenin than liquid-phase trypsin. These results demonstrate species differences in the susceptibility of prorenin to trypsin cleavage. Cat prorenin requires more trypsin to be activated and is less susceptible to destruction than human prorenin.     

In vivo biodistribution of stem cells using molecular nuclear medicine imaging

Studies on stem cell are rapidly developing since these cells have great therapeutic potential for numerous diseases and has generated much promise as well as confusion due to contradictory results. Major questions in this research field have been raised as to how and in which numbers stem cells home to target tissues after administration, whether the cells engraft and differentiate, and what their long-term fate is. To answer these questions, reliable in vivo tracking techniques are essential. In vivo molecular imaging techniques using magnetic resonance imaging, bioluminescence, and scintigraphy have been applied for this purpose in experimental studies. The aim of this review is to discuss various radiolabeling techniques for early stem cell tracking, the need for validation of viability and performance of the cells after labeling, and the routes of administration in experimental animal models. In addition, we evaluate current problems and directions related to stem cell tracking using radiolabels, including a possible role for their clinical implementation.     

The molecular biology of human renin and its gene

The molecular biology of renin, prorenin, and the renin gene have been studied. A tissue-specific pattern of expression was found in rat and human tissues. In the human placenta, the transfected and endogenous renin promoters are active, and renin mRNA levels and transfected promoter activity are increased by a calcium ionophore plus cAMP. Cultured pituitary AtT-20 cells transfected with a preprorenin expression vector mimick renal renin release by converting prorenin to renin and releasing renin in response to 8Br-cAMP. Studies with mutant renin genes suggest that the body of renin directs renin to the regulated secretory pathway, and renin glycosylation affects its trafficking. Chinese hamster ovary cells were used to produce recombinant prorenin. Infused prorenin was not converted to renin in monkeys. Renin crystals were used to determine its three-dimensional structure. Renin resembles other aspartyl proteases in the active site and core, but it differs in other regions that probably explain renin's unique substrate specificity. Based on structural and mutational analysis, a model for human prorenin was built that suggests lysine -2 of the prosegment interacts with active site aspartate residues, and that the prosegment inactivation of renin is stabilized by binding of an amino terminal beta strand into a groove on renin.     

Renal dopamine receptors and hypertension

Dopamine has been recognized as an important modulator of central as well as peripheral physiologic functions in both humans and animals. Dopamine receptors have been identified in a number of organs and tissues, which include several regions within the central nervous system, sympathetic ganglia and postganglionic nerve terminals, various vascular beds, the heart, the gastrointestinal tract, and the kidney. The peripheral dopamine receptors influence cardiovascular and renal function by decreasing afterload and vascular resistance and promoting sodium excretion. Within the kidney, dopamine receptors are present along the nephron, with highest density on proximal tubule epithelial cells. It has been reported that there is a defective dopamine receptor, especially D(1) receptor function, in the proximal tubule of various animal models of hypertension as well as in humans with essential hypertension. Recent reports have revealed the site of and the molecular mechanisms responsible for the defect in D(1) receptors in hypertension. Moreover, recent studies have also demonstrated that the disruption of various dopamine receptor subtypes and their function produces hypertension in rodents. In this review, we present evidence that dopamine and dopamine receptors play an important role in regulating renal sodium excretion and that defective renal dopamine production and/or dopamine receptor function may contribute to the development of various forms of hypertension.     

TSPO protein binding partners in bacteria,animals, and plants

The ancient membrane protein TSPO is phylogenetically widespread from archaea and bacteria to insects, vertebrates, plants, and fungi. TSPO’s primary amino acid sequence is only modestly conserved between diverse species, although its five transmembrane helical structure appears mainly conserved. Its cellular location and orientation in membranes have been reported to vary between species and tissues, with implications for potential diverse binding partners and function. Most TSPO functions relate to stress-induced changes in metabolism, but in many cases it is unclear how TSPO itself functions—whether as a receptor, a sensor, a transporter, or a translocator. Much evidence suggests that TSPO acts indirectly by association with various protein binding partners or with endogenous or exogenous ligands. In this review, we focus on proteins that have most commonly been invoked as TSPO binding partners. We suggest that TSPO was originally a bacterial receptor/stress sensor associated with porphyrin binding as its most ancestral function and that it later developed additional stress-related roles in eukaryotes as its ability to bind new partners evolved.