The renin-angiotensin system and the exocrine pancreas

An accumulating body of evidence strongly indicates a local tissue renin-angiotensin system in the pancreas of a various species. In contrast to the majority of tissues that primarily express the angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor, the pancreas is one of the few tissues that contain a significant proportion of the AT2 subtype. Moreover, our findings indicate a greater distribution angiotensin II binding sites in the exocrine pancreas. Although the physiological aspects of a local pancreatic renin-angiotensin system remain largely unexplored, recent studies in our laboratory utilizing an acinar cell model demonstrate both functional AT1 and AT2 receptors. Indeed, we show that the AR42J cell line expresses all components of an angiotensin system including the mRNA for renin, angiotensinogen, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), AT1a, AT1b and AT2 receptors. Thus, these cells may be of particular value to study the interplay of the AT1 and AT2 receptors to regulate cell growth and potentially exocrine function.