Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.4.23.15 (renin)
 35,795 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The peptide vasoconstrictor angiotensin II (Ang II), originally described as deriving exclusively from the plasma renin angiotensin system, has now been demonstrated to be produced independently of such sources. Local tissue angiotensin-generating systems are well documented. There is increasing evidence that these locally produced vasoconstrictor peptides may contribute to blood vessel homeostasis, as well as the development of vascular pathologies. Results obtained from pharmaceutical intervention in these systems in humans and animals strongly support this hypothesis. In addition to its vasoconstrictor properties, Ang II acts as a potent biological effector. In vitro both vasoconstrictor peptides appear to modulate the activity of autocrine feedback loops in vascular smooth muscle cells. The activity of these feedback loops in vivo may represent a central mechanism for regulation and phenotypic differentiation of this cell type. The most well-established autocrine feedback loops of vascular smooth muscle cells are constituted by platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta, both of which are influenced by the action of angiotensin II. The effects of the peptide vasoconstrictors on the (auto) regulated feedback loops are of long-term structural importance since both vasoconstrictors (via autocrine growth modulators) may influence the composition of the extracellular matrix of vascular smooth muscle cells. This includes effects on the synthesis and secretion of thrombospondin, fibronectin, tenascin, etc.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Angiotensin II and its effects on vascular structure]. 161 92

The peptide vasoconstrictors angiotensin II (Ang II) and endothelin-1 (ET-1), originally thought to derive exclusively from the plasma renin-angiotensin system and vascular endothelium, respectively, have been demonstrated to be produced independently of such sources. Local tissue angiotensin-generating systems are well documented, and endothelin production has been demonstrated for a variety of nonendothelial cells, including vascular smooth-muscle cells (VSMC). There is increasing evidence from in vitro studies that local production of these vasoconstrictor peptides may contribute to blood vessel homeostasis and the development of vascular pathologies. Results obtained from pharmaceutical intervention in humans and animals of these systems strongly support this hypothesis. In addition to their vasoconstrictor properties, Ang II and ET-1 act as potent biological effectors. In vitro, both vasoconstrictor peptides appear to modulate the activity of autocrine feedback loops in VSMC. The activity of these feedback loops in vivo may represent a central mechanism for regulation and phenotypic differentiation of this cell type. The best-recognized autocrine feedback loops of VSMC are constituted by platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta, both of which are influenced by the action of Ang II and ET-1. Because both vasoconstrictors (via their induction of autocrine growth modulators) may influence the composition of the extracellular matrix of VSMC, the effects of the peptide vasoconstrictors on the (auto-) regulated feedback loops are of long-term structural importance. Ang II and ET-1 promote the synthesis and secretion of the glycoproteins thrombospondin, fibronectin, and tenascin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Peptide vasoconstrictors, vessel structure, and vascular smooth-muscle proliferation. 750 50

The peptide vasoconstrictors angiotensin II and endothelin-1, originally described as being derived exclusively from the plasma renin-angiotensin system and vascular endothelium, respectively, have been demonstrated to be produced independently of these sources. Local tissue angiotensin-generating systems are well documented and endothelin production has been demonstrated for a variety of nonendothelial cells, including vascular smooth muscle cells. There is increasing evidence that these locally produced vasoconstrictor peptides may contribute to blood vessel homeostasis, as well as the development of vascular pathologic conditions. Results obtained from pharmaceutical intervention in humans and animals of these systems strongly support this hypothesis. In addition to their vasoconstrictor properties, angiotensin II and endothelin-1 act as potent biologic effectors. In vitro, both vasoconstrictor peptides appear to modulate the activity of autocrine feedback loops in vascular smooth muscle cells. The activity of these feedback loops in vivo may represent a central mechanism for regulation and phenotypic differentiation of this cell type. The most well-established autocrine feedback loops of vascular smooth muscle cells are constituted by platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta, both of which are influenced by the action of angiotensin II and endothelin-1. The effects of the peptide vasoconstrictors on the (auto-) regulated feedback loops are of long-term structural importance, since both vasoconstrictors (via autocrine growth modulators) may influence the composition of the extracellular matrix of vascular smooth muscle cells. This includes effects on the synthesis and secretion of thrombospondin, fibronectin, tenascin, etc. The secretion of extracellular matrix glycoproteins themselves and incorporation into extracellular matrix in vitro appear to be linked to the activity of the autocrine feedback loops: e.g., stimulation of thrombospondin mRNA results in secretion of the glycoprotein only in the concomitant presence of exogenous platelet-derived growth factor, whereas the expression of fibronectin and tenascin may be directed by transforming growth factor-beta. The influence of angiotensin II and endothelin-1 on vascular smooth muscle cell surface receptor expression may represent a secondary mode of action of these vasoconstrictor peptides. Endothelin-1, for instance, can rapidly down-regulate platelet-derived growth factor-alpha receptor mRNA and both angiotensin II and endothelin-1, via induction of transforming growth factor-beta, may interrupt the platelet-derived growth factor based autocrine feedback loop. In vivo, the highly complex interactions between local and systemic vasoconstrictor production, autoregulated feedback loops, and extracellular matrix (which also serves as a reservoir for growth and differentiation modulators) are central to vessel homeostasis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Effects of peptide vasoconstrictors on vessel structure. 848 51

The major limitation to the clinical use of cyclosporine (CsA) is renal toxicity. In the past, the lack of an animal model of chronic CsA nephropathy has hampered the study of its pathogenesis. Rats given CsA and placed on a low sodium diet (LSD) develop a histology similar to human lesions of chronic CsA nephropathy, a phenomenon not observed in animals on a normal sodium diet (NSD). We have previously shown that transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is involved in the CsA-induced renal fibrosis in rats on a LSD. We hypothesized that sodium depletion is critical to the increase in TGF-beta1 expression, which, in turn, results in excessive matrix accumulation. Pair-fed rats were placed on a NSD or LSD, treated with CsA or vehicle, and killed at 7 or 28 days (N = 4 to 6 in each group). All rats achieved similar blood pressure control, and all CsA-treated rats achieved similar CsA blood levels. However, while CsA did not affect creatinine clearance in rats on a NSD, it lowered creatinine clearance in rats on a LSD (P < 0.01). Cyclosporine-induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis and arteriolopathy was observed at 28 days only in the rats on a LSD (P < 0.05). In addition, peripheral renin activity was increased only in the rats on a LSD (P < 0.01), while it remained normal in the rats on a NSD. In addition, CsA-treated rats on a LSD developed a progressive increase in the mRNA expression of TGF-beta1 and the matrix proteins biglycan and type I collagen at 7 and 28 days. Most of the changes were seen at 28 days (P < 0.001 for TGF-beta1, P < 0.01 for biglycan and type I collagen). On the other hand, CsA treatment in rats on a NSD did not affect the mRNA expression of TGF-beta1 and matrix proteins. Most of the changes in the immunofluorescence deposition of the glycoproteins tenascin and fibronectin EDA+ were in the tubulointerstitium and vessels of the kidneys of rats on a LSD and were mostly significant at 28 days, in accordance with the characteristic histology of chronic CsA nephropathy. The mRNA expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, a protease inhibitor involved in matrix degradation and stimulated by TGF-beta1, was observed only in kidneys of rats on a LSD (P < 0.01). Since sodium depletion elevates peripheral renin activity, our experiments suggest a role for the renin-angiotensin system in the expression of TGF-beta1 and matrix proteins in CsA-induced renal fibrosis of rats on a LSD.
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PMID:Sodium depletion enhances fibrosis and the expression of TGF-beta1 and matrix proteins in experimental chronic cyclosporine nephropathy. 921 4

The clinical use of tacrolimus (FK506) is limited by nephrotoxicity. The pathogenesis of fibrosis in chronic FK506 nephrotoxicity remains unknown. Because transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta plays a key role in the fibrogenesis of many diseases, including cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, we studied a salt-depleted rat model of chronic FK506 nephropathy in which clinically relevant FK506 blood levels are obtained and which shows similarities to the lesions described in patients receiving FK506. Pair-fed rats were treated with either FK506 (1 mg/kg/day s.c.) or an equivalent dose of vehicle and were killed at 7 or 28 days. Characteristic histologic changes of tubular injury, interstitial fibrosis, and arteriolopathy developed in FK506-treated rats at 28 days and were accompanied by worsening kidney function, decreased concentrating ability, and enzymuria. FK506-treated kidneys had a progressive increase in the expression of TGF-beta1 and matrix proteins (biglycan, tenascin, fibronectin, and type I collagen). This effect seems to be specific because the expression of type IV collagen, a basement membrane collagen, was not affected. Matrix deposition was present mostly in the tubulointerstitium and vessels in accordance with the FK506 chronic lesion. The expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, a protease inhibitor influenced by TGF-beta, followed TGF-beta1 and matrix proteins, suggesting that the fibrosis of chronic FK506 nephropathy likely involves the dual action of TGF-beta1 on matrix deposition and degradation. Since both peripheral and tissue renin expression were elevated with FK506, the renin-angiotensin system may play a role in the pathogenesis of this condition.
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PMID:Mechanism of fibrosis in experimental tacrolimus nephrotoxicity. 942 27