title: Effects of amino acids and glucose on mesangial cell aminopeptidase a and angiotensin receptors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High protein diets and diabetes increase renal renin angiotensin system (RAS) activity, which is associated with glomerular injury. Aminopeptidase A (APA) is a cell surface metalloprotease that degrades angiotensin II (AII) in the mesangium. Mesangial cells (MC) also possess receptors for AII; the type 1 (AT1 receptor) promotes proliferation and fibrosis, while the type 2 (AT2 receptor) opposes these effects. We evaluated whether amino acids and glucose alter expression of APA, AT1 receptor and AT2 receptor in a manner that further augments RAS activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Confluent rat MC were grown in serum-free media for 48 hours prior to exposing to experimental conditions: control (C), high amino acids (HA, mixed amino acid solution added to raise concentrations 5- to 6-fold over C), high glucose (HG 30, mM glucose). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to assess mRNA for APA, AT1 receptor, AT2 receptor, and beta-actin. Values are expressed relative to beta actin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both HA and HG reduced APA mRNA (HG 1.13 plus minus 0.19, HA 1.12 plus minus 0.16 versus C 1.27 plus minus 0.16 P < 0.05, N = 8). HA increased AT1 receptor mRNA (HA 2.11 plus minus 0.43 versus C 1.14 plus minus 0.28 P < 0.05, N = 8). HG increased AT2 receptor mRNA (HG 1.31 plus minus 0.43 versus C 0.82 plus minus 0.33 P < 0.05, N = 6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A reduction of APA, in response to high levels of amino acids or glucose, could contribute to increased AII as a result of decreased degradation in MC. The effect of amino acids to increase AT1 receptor expression may further enhance adverse hemodynamic and pro-fibrotic actions of AII. Conversely, glucose increased AT2 receptor expression, which could modulate responses mediated by the AT1 receptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, The Heart Institute of Spokane, Spokane, Washington 99204-2340, USA.
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Chouinard
authors.forename: Rick L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Meek
authors.forename: Sheryl K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Cooney
authors.forename: Katherine R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Tuttle
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043384:Glutamyl Aminopeptidase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D050527:Mesangial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2; D043384:Glutamyl Aminopeptidase; D005947:Glucose