title: Expression of classical components of the renin-angiotensin system in the human eye.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the relative expression of clinically-relevant components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the adult human eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained 14 post-mortem enucleated human eyes from patients whom had no history of inflammatory ocular disease nor pre-mortem ocular infection. We determined the gene expression for prorenin, renin, prorenin receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme, angiotensinogen and angiotensin II Type 1 receptor, on tissue sections and in cultured human primary retinal pigment epithelial and iris pigment epithelial (RPE/IPE) cell lines, using both qualitative and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Protein expression was studied using indirect immunofluorescence (IF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost all components of the classical RAS were found at high levels, at both the transcript and protein level, in the eyes' uvea and retina; and at lower levels in the cornea, conjunctiva and sclera. There was a much lower level of expression in the reference cultured RPE/IPE cells lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study describes the distribution of RAS in the normal adult human eye and demonstrates the existence of an independent ocular RAS, with uveal and retinal tissues showing the highest expression of RAS components. These preliminary findings provide scope for examination of additional components of this system in the human eye, as well as possible differential expression under pathological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia andrew.white@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Andrew J R
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarat C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cheruvu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarris
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Surabhi S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Liyanage
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Eugenie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lumbers
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeanie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wakefield
authors.affiliation: Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McCluskey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000808:Angiotensinogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002460:Cell Line; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012083:Renin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D014602:Uvea / Q000378:metabolism; D000093342:Prorenin Receptor
chemical_list: D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000808:Angiotensinogen; C488034:ACE protein, human; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D012083:Renin; D000093342:Prorenin Receptor
keywords: Angiotensin; angiotensin-converting enzyme; choroid; conjunctiva; cornea; eye; normal human eye; receptor; renin; retina; sclera; uvea