Prorenin anno 2008

For many years, prorenin has been considered to be nothing more than the inactive precursor of renin. Yet, its elevated levels in diabetic subjects with microvascular complications and its extrarenal production at various sites in the body suggest otherwise. This review discusses the origin, regulation, and enzymatic activity of prorenin, its role during renin inhibition, and the angiotensin-dependent and angiotensin-independent consequences of its binding to the recently discovered (pro)renin receptor. The review ends with the concept that prorenin rather than renin determines tissue angiotensin generation

In situ cell death detection in the retina.

<p>A, Apoptotic cells were detected in-diabetic (NDM) Ren2 rats (a & b), diabetic (DM) Ren2 rats treated with vehicle (c & d), and aliskiren (e & f). ONL: outer nuclear layer; INL: inner nuclear layer; RGC: retinal ganglion cell layer. B, Quantitative measurement of apoptotic cells detected by TUNEL assay. #p<0.01 (vs. wildtype (WT) Sprague–Dawley rats); $p<0.01 (vs. NDM Ren2 and WT); *p<0.01 (vs. NDM Ren2 and DM Ren2+ vehicle).</p

Immunofluorescence detection of GFAP expression in the retinas of wildtype (WT) Sprague–Dawley rats, non-diabetic (NDM) Ren2, diabetic (DM) Ren2 rats treated with vehicle, aliskiren or aliskiren+HRP.

<p>ONL: outer nuclear layer; OPL: outer plexiform layer; INL: inner nuclear layer; IPL: inner plexiform layer; RGC: retinal ganglion cell layer.</p

Real-time RT-PCR analysis of retinal expression of inflammatory cytokines: VEGF, MCP1, ICAM1 and TNFα.

<p>Values on y-axis represent fold change in mRNA levels compared to WT (normalized as 1). *P<0.01 (vs. DM Ren2+vehicle group). WT, wildtype, DM/NDM, diabetic/nondiabetic. N = 5.</p