Characterization of renal angiotensin II receptors using subtype selective antagonists

Two angiotensin II (AII) receptor subtypes, AT1 and AT2, have recently been identified based on their relative affinities for selective peptide and nonpeptide antagonists. In the present study we used various AII peptide analogs, the AT1 subtype selective antagonists, DuP 753 and SK&F 108566, and the AT2 subtype selective antagonists, WL-19 and CGP 42112A, to determine whether AII receptor subtypes exist in the kidney. In agreement with previous studies, octapeptide (Sar1,Ile8-AII) and heptapeptide (AIII and Ile8-AIII) AII analogs displaced [125I]AII bound to rat glomerular membranes with similar affinities. However, in membranes derived from cortical tubules and the outer medulla, the heptapeptide analogs were 20-fold less potent in competing with [125I]AII binding than octapeptide analogs. The AT1 subtype selective nonpeptide AII antagonists, DuP 753 and SK&F 108566, totally displaced [125I]AII binding from all three membrane preparations in a monophasic manner with IC50 values in the 5 to 30 nM range. The AT2 selective peptide antagonist, CGP 42112A, had a low affinity in AII three membranes (IC50 = 450-1050 nM), whereas the nonpeptide AT2 selective antagonist, WL-19, had no activity at concentrations up to 10 microM. Dithiothreitol and the nonhydrolyzable GTP analog, 5'-guanylyl-imidodiphosphate, inhibited AII binding to all three membrane preparations. Based on these results, we conclude that the AII receptors located on glomeruli, tubules and in the outer medulla belong to the AT1 subtype, and that the physiologically important renal actions of AII are mediated through activation of AT1 receptors.