Anti-renin Antibody Research Articles

The feedback regulation of angiotensinogen production by components of the renin-angiotensin system.

The in vivo generation of angiotensin appears to be dependent on both plasma renin and angiotensinogen concentrations. Much less is known about the control of hepatic angiotensinogen synthesis and release, as compared to that of renin. In this study, we examined the feedback regulation of angiotensinogen synthesis and release by various components of the renin-angiotensin system, using an in vitro rat liver slice system. Livers were removed for study from rats which were subjected to various systemic infusions or physiological perturbations. Infusion of angiotensin II has been reported to increase angiotensinogen release rate. However, infusion of angiotensin I (with simultaneous suppression of plasma renin by antirenin antibody infusion and angiotensin II production by captopril administration) had no effect on the angiotensinogen release rate. Direct infusion of renin in rats treated with captopril resulted in further suppression of the angiotensinogen release rate, compared with those given captopril alone. We postulate that renin (or des-angiotensin I-angiotensinogen) inhibits the angiotensinogen release rate, whereas angiotensin II stimulates it. Angiotensin I has no effect on angiotensinogen release rate. This hypothesis was evaluated further in rats with various physiological states. Indeed, when conditions were such that the renin-angiotensin system was completely suppressed, such as binephrectomy and antirenin antibody infusion, angiotensinogen release rate was markedly stimulated. When angiotensin II production was prevented by captopril treatment, angiotensinogen release rate declined. This appeared to be the case for all states of sodium balance. Thus, angiotensinogen release rate is subject to a complex feedback control by other components of the renin-angiotensin system.

Antibodies as specific renin inhibitors: studies with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and Fab fragments.

The use of antirenin antibody and Fab may provide a more specific physiologic tool and potential therapeutic agent than the existing pharmacologic inhibitors. The antibody combining site, by virtue of its larger size than organic compounds, has the capacity for a larger number of intramolecular contacts with its ligands, thus allowing increased selectivity and affinity. Renin-specific Fab obtained through immunization with purified dog renal renin has been studied. Fab had no effect on blood pressure in the sodium replete conscious dog but induced systemic hypotensive responses in the sodium deplete animal or during acute renovascular hypertension. These responses were accompanied with complete suppression of plasma renin and angiotensin II levels. The vasodepressor responses of Fab were comparable to the converting enzyme inhibitor, teprotide. However, the latter induced a greater renal vasodilator effect. Since antibodies and their fragments derived from immune sera are limited in their application to physiologic study with respect to lack of homogeneity, reproducibility and limitation of quantity, we obtained monoclonal antibodies to purified human renal renin. Fusion HR3 yielded 14 renin-antibody secreting clones. Six clones have been isolated and characterized. Isotypes include IgG1 and IgM. Kd's range from 6 X 10(-9) to 7.5 X 10(-10)M renin concentration. Five clones produce antibodies with antienzymatic activity. IC50's of these antibodies range from 1 X 10(-6) to 6 X 10(-8)M. All antibodies are renin-specific and do not bind several nonrenin enzymes and proteins examined. They are also highly species specific, i.e., do not crossreact with mouse, dog, bovine or rat renins but recognize hog renin. These catalytic-site directed antibodies may be highly potent and specific tools for physiologic studies in subhuman primates and man.

Cell-Free Translation of Human Renin Mrna

The molecular weight of human renin precursor (preprorenin) was determined to be 43,000 by cell-free translation of its mRNA. Poly(A)+-containing RNA from human infarcted kidney was translated in a cell-free reticulocyte lysate system containing [35S] methionine. Immunoprecipitation with anti-renin antibody gave one major band with an apparent Mr = 43,000, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography. The specific band, which represents the prepro-form of human renal renin, was very similar to mouse submandibular gland preprorenin in its electrophoretic mobility.

Regulation of Brain Renin: Evidence for an Independent Brain Renin

1. We examined the effects of various physiological states on systemic and brain renin activities. Activation of the systemic renin-angiotensin system (RAS) by renal ischaemia, captopril or continuous renin infusions had no effect on whole brain or pituitary renin activities. Suppression of circulating renin by bilateral nephrectomy or antirenin antibody injection did not influence brain renin. 2. Brain or pituitary renin activities remained unchanged with various endocrine-metabolic disorders such as hypo- or hyper-thyroidism, diabetes and hypophysectomy. 3. Treatment with reserpine or propranolol resulted in significant decrease in brain and pituitary renin levels. 4. We conclude that brain renin activity appears to be generally independent of the systemic RAS. Inhibition of sympathetic activity, however, resulted in suppression of brain renin, suggesting a close interaction between the two systems.

Evidence for renin in rat brain: differentiation from other reninlike enzymes.

We observed that unfractionated rat brain extract incubated with substrate at pH 6.0 yielded 12 times the quantity of angiotensin I as incubations at pH 7.4, but the enzyme activity measured at pH 6 was not primarily due to renin. To examine the existence of renin in brain, we used three methods of affinity chromatography (pepstatin-, renin-specific antibody-, and alpha-casein-Sepharose) to fractionate the angiotensin I-generating enzymes in the brain. 1) Brain extract applied to renin-specific column eluted a peak of angiotensin-releasing activity (ARA) that had a pH optimum of 6.0. This ARA was inhibited by antirenin antibody. Another peak of ARA with a pH optimum of 4 appeared in the nonbound fraction. This peak was not affected by antirenin antibody and had acid protease activity. 2) Pepstatin affinity column elution with lithium bromide yielded an early ARA peak (pH optimum 6.5), inhibited by antirenin antibody and a later peak (pH optimum 4.0) not inhibited by antirenin antibody. The latter contained acid protease activity. 3) alpha-Casein-Sepharose column also separated neutral proteases and immunoreactive renin from acid protease capable of generating angiotensin. In summary, rat brain contains a host of angiotensin I-generating enzymes that can be detected and separated as neutral and acid proteases and immunoreactive renin depending on the pH of the assay and conditions of purification. These findings indicate the presence of an enzyme with immunoidentity to renin in rat brain but do not imply local biosynthesis.

Studies of the biosynthesis of renin with a cell-free translation system.

1. Poly(A)+ mRNA from mouse submaxillary gland encodes a polypeptide of molecular weight 48 000 (48K polypeptide) which is abundant in the male. 2. This polypeptide is selectively absent in the translation products of mRNA from a strain of genetically renin-deficient mice C57 BL/10J. 3. The 48K polypeptide binds and co-elutes in identical fashion with pure authentic renin on pepstatin affinity chromatography. 4. Immunoprecipitation of translation products of male glandular mRNA with renin-specific antibody yielded this 48K band upon analysis by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Pure renin of molecular weight 37 000 blocked the binding of this polypeptide to antirenin antibody. 5. Mouse submaxillary gland synthesizes a renin precursor. The renin mRNA is androgenically regulated.

Definitive Evidence for Renin in Rat Brain by Affinity Chromatographic Separation from Protease

1. Angiotensin I-generating activity of rat brain extract was separated into two components by affinity chromatography on a casein-Sepharose gel column. 2. The component without affinity to the gel was identified as true renin on the basis of its sensitivity to anti-renin antibody and the lack of protease activity. 3. The second renin-like component with affinity to the gel was a protease insensitive to the anti-renin antibody. Its renin-like activity examined with sheep substrate was pronounced compared with the rate of angiotensin I generation from the rat substrate. 4. It was concluded that rat brain contains true renin, which can be detected by the use of rat substrate but can be masked when examined with sheep substrate.