Aldosterone synthase gene regulation by angiotensin

Excessive aldosterone secretion in some hypertensive patients may result from abnormal aldosterone synthase (AS) gene regulation in response to changes in dietary sodium intake. We have utilized NCI-H295 cells, which exhibit stable angiotensin-induced aldosterone secretion, for transient transfections with murine AS/human growth hormone reporter constructs. An angiotensin response element increasing AS gene transcription during angiotensin stimulation appears to reside within the initial 425 nt of the murine AS promoter. We also noted the possible presence of a negatively-acting cis element between nt -425 and -1500. These studies provide an initial step toward characterizing molecular mechanisms by which angiotensin regulates AS gene transcription.