IMR Press / FBL / Volume 13 / Issue 10 / DOI: 10.2741/2981

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Article
Renin and prorenin disappearance in humans post-nephrectomy: evidence for binding?
Show Less
1 Division of Vascular Pharmacology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

 

Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2008, 13(10), 3931–3939; https://doi.org/10.2741/2981
Published: 1 May 2008
Abstract

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 post-nephrectomy, stable plasma concentrations at 5-10% (renin and angiotensins) and 25-30% (prorenin) of pre-nephrectomy levels were reached. The total amount of kidney-derived renin and prorenin in the body was ≈10 times as much as the amount in blood. Prorenin also originated at extrarenal sites. The renin levels in anephrics corresponded with the percentage of prorenin that in vitro has a so-called 'open conformation' (i.e., displays enzymatic activity), suggesting that renin in anephrics is in fact 'open' prorenin. Haemodialysis nor captopril significantly affected the level of any RAS component in anephrics. In conclusion, renal renin/prorenin enter tissue sites in humans, and renal renin is the main determinant of plasma angiotensins. Whether prorenin contributes to tissue angiotensin generation in humans remains to be determined.

Share
Back to top