(Pro)renin receptor is a new molecule of the renin-angiotensin system. The (pro)renin receptor binds both renin and prorenin leading to protease activity. Furthermore, the binding of renin/prorenin to (pro)renin receptor activates intracellular signaling. Although these studies show the classical function of the (pro)renin receptor on the plasma membrane as a receptor, subcellular distribution ...

Human ovarian follicular fluid contains renin-like activity. In normal women, circulating levels of prorenin, the biosynthetic precursor of renin (EC 3.4.23.15), change in parallel with changes in progesterone during the menstrual cycle. Therefore, the ovary has been implicated as a source of plasma prorenin. In the present studies, we report the finding of high concentrations of prorenin in hu...

Proteases from human neutrophils can generate angiotensin II directly from angiotensin I or angiotensinogen. We examined whether neutrophil protease also influences angiotensin formation by activating human prorenin (also called inactive renin). When incubated with partially purified plasma and amniotic prorenin, sonicates from 10(6) neutrophils resulted in 120 +/- 30% and 1,240 +/- 290% increa...

The receptor-associated prorenin system (RAPS) refers to the pathogenic mechanism whereby prorenin binding to the (pro)renin receptor [(P)RR] dually activates the tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and RAS-independent intracellular signaling. Here we revealed significant upregulation of prorenin and soluble (P)RR levels in the vitreous fluid of patients with uveitis compared to non-inflammat...

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) produced hormone peptides regulate many vital body functions. Dysfunctional signaling by receptors for RAS peptides leads to pathologic states. Nearly half of humanity today would likely benefit from modern drugs targeting these receptors. The receptors for RAS peptides consist of three G-protein-coupled receptors—the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1 recept...

(Pro)renin receptor [(P)RR], a new component of the tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS), plays a crucial role in inflammation and angiogenesis in the eye, thus contributing to the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In this study, we investigated systemic factors related to plasma levels of soluble form of (P)RR [s(P)RR] in patients with PDR. Twenty type II diabetic patie...

Nephrectomized rats have above-normal plasma prorenin levels, presumably of extra-renal origin, but essentially no renin, suggesting a lack of "convertase" for prorenin activation. Adrenalectomized rats have low plasma prorenin levels accompanied by high renin activity, suggesting enhanced prorenin activation by the action of a stimulated "convertase" mechanism. Cross-circulation between adrena...

To study the distribution of kidney-derived renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components in humans, we monitored the decline in plasma prorenin, renin, angiotensin (Ang) I and Ang II post-nephrectomy. Prorenin and renin decreased biphasically, prorenin displaying a slower elimination. The distribution half life was similar for both. Angiotensins followed the disappearance of renin. One-two days po...

Before discovery of (pro)renin receptor, prorenin was regarded as a source of renin and probable diagnostic marker for diabetic nephropathy/Wilms' tumor. It is now considered that prorenin can perform renin activity by binding to (P)RR and binding mechanism of (pro)renin to (P)RR was indicated in many in vitro studies. Considering the physiological importance and pathological involvement of (P)...

Plasma prorenin, a high molecular weight precursor form of renin, (renin, EC 3.4.23.15; old number, EC 3.4.99.19), was measured three times weekly in normal young women during the menstrual cycle and was related to changes in luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and progesterone. In all subjects a stable baseline level of prorenin occurred during the follicular phase. Then, simultaneously or soon af...