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(Pro)renin receptors: are they biologically relevant?
1Division of Pharmacology, Vascular and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.danser@erasmusmc.nl
The (pro)renin receptor activates prorenin, leading to angiotensin-independent signaling and potential hypertension. However, its precise biological role remains unclear due to conflicting data on antagonists.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Renal Pathophysiology
- Molecular Endocrinology
Background:
- The introduction of renin inhibitor aliskiren has renewed interest in renin and prorenin.
- A novel receptor for renin and prorenin activates prorenin and mediates angiotensin-independent signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biological relevance of the (pro)renin receptor.
- To evaluate the role of the (pro)renin receptor in physiological and pathological processes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on the (pro)renin receptor, its agonists, and antagonists.
- Analysis of data from transgenic rat models expressing the human (pro)renin receptor.
Main Results:
- Prorenin is the primary agonist for the (pro)renin receptor, enhancing its enzymatic activity.
- Receptor activation triggers MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling, leading to glomerulosclerosis and hypertension in transgenic rats, independent of angiotensin.
- Aliskiren inhibits angiotensin I generation but not receptor-mediated signaling; antagonist data are conflicting.
Conclusions:
- The (pro)renin receptor's role in tissue angiotensin generation is not definitively established.
- Discrepant results with antagonists and lack of clinical studies limit firm conclusions on the receptor's biological relevance.
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