Evidence exists for the presence of a discrete tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in mouse and rat pancreas that is thought largely to be associated with the vasculature. To investigate this in the human pancreas, and to establish whether the cellular sites of RAS components include the islets of Langerhans, we used immunocytochemistry to localise the expression of angiotensin II (AT1) receptors and (pro)renin, and non-isotopic in situ hybridisation to localise transcription of the (pro)renin gene. Identification of cell types in the islets of Langerhans was achieved using antibodies to glucagon and insulin. The results show the presence of the AT1 receptor and (pro)renin both in the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans, and in endothelial cells of the pancreatic vasculature. Transcription of (pro)renin mRNA, however, was confined to connective tissue surrounding the blood vessels and in reticular fibres within the islets. These findings are similar to those obtained in other tissues, and suggest that renin may be released from its sites of synthesis and taken up by possible cellular sites of action. The results presented here suggest that a tissue RAS may be present in human pancreas and that it may directly affect beta cell function as well as pancreatic blood flow.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Habibi, A. Whaley-Connell, M. R. Hayden, V. G. DeMarco, R. Schneider, S. D. Sowers, P. Karuparthi, C. M. Ferrario, and J. R. Sowers Renin Inhibition Attenuates Insulin Resistance, Oxidative Stress, and Pancreatic Remodeling in the Transgenic Ren2 Rat Endocrinology, November 1, 2008; 149(11): 5643 - 5653. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Uemura, H. Ishiguro, Y. Ishiguro, K. Hoshino, S. Takahashi, and Y. Kubota Angiotensin II Induces Oxidative Stress in Prostate Cancer Mol. Cancer Res., February 1, 2008; 6(2): 250 - 258. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Chipitsyna, Q. Gong, C. F. Gray, Y. Haroon, E. Kamer, and H. A. Arafat Induction of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Expression by Angiotensin II in the Pancreatic Islets and {beta}-Cells Endocrinology, May 1, 2007; 148(5): 2198 - 2208. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. S. Leung The physiology of a local renin-angiotensin system in the pancreas J. Physiol., April 1, 2007; 580(1): 31 - 37. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Paul, A. Poyan Mehr, and R. Kreutz Physiology of local Renin-Angiotensin systems. Physiol Rev, July 1, 2006; 86(3): 747 - 803. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Lau, P.-O. Carlsson, P.S. Leung, C. Wolfrum, E. Asilmaz, E. Luca, J.M. Friedman, M. Stoffel, J.C. Verhave, H.L. Hillege, et al. Why Less Diabetes with Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System?: Evidence for a Local Angiotensin-Generating System and Dose-Dependent Inhibition of Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Release by Angiotensin II in Isolated Pancreatic Islets. Diabetologia 47: 240-248, 2004 J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., March 1, 2005; 16(3): 567 - 573. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Tikellis, P. J. Wookey, R. Candido, S. Andrikopoulos, M. C. Thomas, and M. E. Cooper Improved Islet Morphology after Blockade of the Renin- Angiotensin System in the ZDF Rat Diabetes, April 1, 2004; 53(4): 989 - 997. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Yamada, A. Kuno, K. Masuda, K. Ogawa, M. Sogawa, S. Nakamura, T. Ando, H. Sano, T. Nakazawa, H. Ohara, et al. Candesartan, an Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonist, Suppresses Pancreatic Inflammation and Fibrosis in Rats J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., October 1, 2003; 307(1): 17 - 23. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. F. Santos, M. A. V. Caprio, E. B. Oliveira, M. C. O. Salgado, D. N. Schippers, D. H. Munzenmaier, and A. S. Greene Functional role, cellular source, and tissue distribution of rat elastase-2, an angiotensin II-forming enzyme Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, July 11, 2003; 285(2): H775 - H783. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Mountian, F. Baba-Aissa, J.-C. Jonas, Humbert De Smedt, F. Wuytack, and J. B. Parys Expression of Ca2+ Transport Genes in Platelets and Endothelial Cells in Hypertension Hypertension, January 1, 2001; 37(1): 135 - 141. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]