ACE inhibitors improve endothelial dysfunction, possibly by blocking endothelial angiotensin production. Prorenin, through its binding and activation by endothelial mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) receptors, may contribute to this production. Here, we investigated this possibility as well as prorenin activation kinetics, the nature of the prorenin-activating enzyme, and M6P receptor-independent prorenin binding. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with wild-type prorenin, K/A-2 prorenin (in which Lys42 is mutated to Ala, thereby preventing cleavage by known proteases), M6P-free prorenin, and nonglycosylated prorenin, with or without M6P, protease inhibitors, or angiotensinogen. HUVECs bound only M6P-containing prorenin (K(d) 0.9+/-0.1 nmol/L, maximum number of binding sites [B(max)] 1010+/-50 receptors/cell). At 37 degrees C, because of M6P receptor recycling, the amount of prorenin internalized via M6P receptors was >25 times B(max). Inside the cells, wild-type and K/A-2 prorenin were proteolytically activated to renin. Renin was subsequently degraded. Protease inhibitors interfered with the latter but not with prorenin activation, thereby indicating that the activating enzyme is different from any of the known prorenin-activating enzymes. Incubation with angiotensinogen did not lead to endothelial angiotensin generation, inasmuch as HUVECs were unable to internalize angiotensinogen. Most likely, therefore, in the absence of angiotensinogen synthesis or endocytosis, M6P receptor-mediated prorenin internalization by endothelial cells represents prorenin clearance.
Abstract-Cardiomyocytes bind, internalize, and activate prorenin, the inactive precursor of renin, via a mannose 6-phosphate receptor (M6PR)-dependent mechanism. M6PRs couple directly to G-proteins.
SummaryTissue factor (TF), the high affinity receptor and cofactor of factor VII, is considered as the main procoagulant in stimulated monocytes and macrophages. We studied the effect of longterm culture (differentiation) on “spontaneous” and induced (LPS) expression of TF (mRNA, antigen, cell surface associated Vlla-cofactor activity) in isolated human monocytes.TF was expressed transiently in monocytes cultured on Teflon membranes (suspension monocytes, Mo-S) and on plastic dishes (adherent monocytes, Mo-A), reaching maximal levels between days 3 and 5. Increased expression of TF was accompanied by increased stable expression of macrophage specific markers (CD71, the mannose receptor, the scavenger receptor).Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced (additional) TF mRNA, antigen, and activity in both Mo-S and Mo-A. In Mo-S and Mo-A of days 3 to 5, the period in which there was “spontaneous” expression of TF, TF response to LPS was considerably lower.It is concluded that during monocyte-macrophage transition, TF is “spontaneously” and transiently expressed and that with respect to TF induction the responsiveness of the cells to LPS is maintained.
Circulating (pro)renin, angiotensinogen, ANG I and ANG II enter the interstitium via diffusion, and interstitial ANG II generation is mediated, at least in part, by basolaterally located endothelial ACE.
Abstract-Macrophages/foam cells localized in cholesterol-and triglyceride-rich regions of atherosclerotic plaques express high levels of tissue factor (TF), the essential cofactor and receptor of factor VIIa. It is not clear whether modified lipoproteins, for which several agonistic effects on macrophages have been described, are independent stimuli of TF expression in these cells. Therefore, we studied the effect of short-term (1 day) and long-term (4 to 7 days) incubation of human monocyte-derived macrophages cultured in suspension with modified and native LDLs or VLDLs on the expression of TF mRNA, antigen, and activity. We used native LDL or VLDL, moderately oxidized LDL or VLDL, severely oxidized LDL or VLDL, acetylated LDL, and -VLDL at a protein concentration of 100 g/mL. Cholesterol loading occurred within 9 hours after the addition of acetylated LDL and continued during long-term incubation. Incubation of severely oxidized LDL for 7 days resulted in a slight increase in cholesterol content.
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