Changes of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in the pancreas of chronic hypoxia and acute pancreatitis.
Emerging data have provided evidence for the presence of a local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the pancreas, which play a role in the regulation of pancreatic microcirculation, thus affecting islet hormonal secretion. The present study aimed, therefore, at elucidating the presence and changes of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and a specific assay for ACE activity using the internally quenched fluorogenic substrate Meoc-DL-Amp-Gly-Lys(epsilon -DNP)-Gln-OH. RT-PCR clearly demonstrated the expression of ACE mRNA in the pancreas. ACE activity was markedly and significantly increased by chronic hypoxia and by acute pancreatitis when compared with that of their respective control pancreas. Addition of captopril, a specific inhibitor for ACE, completely blocked the ACE activity both in the control and experimental groups. All these data suggest that increased activity of pancreatic ACE in chronic hypoxia and acute pancreatitis could have implications for pancreatic physiology and pathophysiology.
Ip
Siu Po
SP
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong, PR China.
Kwan
Pui Chun
PC
Williams
Carvell H
CH
Pang
Susan
S
Hooper
Nigel M
NM
Leung
Po Sing
PS
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A