Renin, a major regulatory component of the renin-angiotensin system, plays a pivotal role in regulating blood pressure and electrolyte homeostasis and is predominantly expressed in the kidney. Several cAMP-responsive elements have been identified within renin gene promoters. Here, we study how 2 such elements, renin proximal promoter element-2 (RP-2) and overlapping cAMP and negative regulatory...

Renin is an aspartyl protease which is highly homologous to the lysosomal aspartyl protease cathepsin D. During its biosynthesis, cathepsin D acquires phosphomannosyl residues that enable it to bind to the mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P) receptor and to be targeted to lysosomes. The phosphorylation of lysosomal enzymes by UDP-GlcNAc:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosaminylphosphotransferase (phospho...

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...

Renin is known as a secretory glycoprotein produced, stored and released by the kidney. Renin cleaves angiotensin (ANG) I from angiotensinogen, which is further cleaved to ANG II by ANG-converting enzyme. ANG II acts via specific receptors located at the cell membrane. Recently renin transcripts have been discovered which encode a cytosolic protein that cannot be secreted. These transcripts are...

Inactive renin in rat arterial walls was investigated according to the following experiments. Dialysis at pH 7.4 following dialysis at pH 3.3 of the arterial tissue resulted in a significant rise of renin activity, from a control value of 0.41 +/- 0.07 to 0.62 +/- 0.06 ng/ml/h (p less than 0.01). Treatment with trypsin of the arterial tissue caused a rapid and apparent increase in the renin act...

The present study aims to investigate the regulatory effect of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) on cAMP homeostasis and renin degranulation in As4.1 and rat renin-rich kidney cells. It was found in the present study that NaHS at 0.1-10 μM significantly decreased cAMP production in As4.1 cells treated with isoproterenol (a β-adrenoceptor agonist), forskolin (an adenylyl cyclase activator), or 3-isobutyl...

Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is a clinical scenario that leads to obstructive nephropathy. UUO alters the expression of many mediators in the ipsilateral kidney. Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in UUO. Angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7) as the main arms of RAS influence kidney function which may alter by UUO. Ang II via Ang II receptor subtypes I (AT1R) ...

Fifty years ago, investigators identified renin inhibition as the preferred pharmacologic approach to blockade of the renin-angiotensin system. Renin is a monospecific enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of angiotensin II. Amplified enzymatic activity and additional physiological effects occur when renin and pro-renin bind to the (pro)renin receptor. Until very recentl...

Renin transcripts lacking exon 1 and thus the signal sequence for co-translational transport to the endoplasmatic reticulum encode for a protein (exon[2-9]renin), that is confined to the cytoplasm. The function of exon(2-9)renin is currently unknown. Mitochondrial renin increases under conditions which stimulate aldosterone production. We hypothesized that exon(2-9)renin (1) is translated into ...

Patients with renin-producing tumours are characterized by high circulating active renin and aldosterone levels, hypokalaemia and high blood pressure. Most renin-secreting tumours are of renal origin and are thought to arise from the juxtaglomerular apparatus. Extrarenal renin-secreting tumours are very rare. Pulmonary [1], pancreatic [2], orbital [3] and other origins have been described. Ovar...