title: Renin expression by vascular endothelial cells in culture.
abstract: Cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells were examined for renin activity by biochemical, immunological, and immunohistochemical techniques. When cell sonicates were incubated with renin substrate, linear generation of angiotensin I was observed (1.12 +/- 0.2 ng angiotensin I/10(6) cells per hr). The effect of pH on this activity was similar to that of bovine renal renin, and renin antibodies inhibited a large portion of the enzymatic activity. Furthermore, immunofluorescence microscopy with antirenin antisera confirmed the presence of renin within these cells. Biosynthetic radiolabeling, followed by immunoprecipitation, demonstrated de novo synthesis of a renin precursor in the endothelial cells, which was processed to a more mature protein. Thus, bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture contain and biosynthesize renin, a key component of the renin-angiotensin system. The expression of renin activity by endothelium may contribute to the local regulation of vascular tone.
mesh_terms: D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000378:metabolism; D000808:Angiotensinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D012083:Renin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000808:Angiotensinogen; D000803:Angiotensin I; D012083:Renin