Local generation of angiotensin in the kidney and in tissue culture.

The renin-angiotensin system is an exception among the various peptide hormone producing mechanisms in that it is an extracellular system. It was not clear whether renin in tissues other than kidney participates in the extracellular system or an intracellular mechanism. We examined the possibility of intracellular formation of angiotensin II in these tissues by using cloned, renin containing cells in culture as models. Neuroblastoma cells, pheochromocytoma cells, adrenal cortical cells and juxtaglomerular cells were shown to contain renin, angiotensin I and angiotensin II. Presence of angiotensin I converting enzyme was also demonstrated in some cell lines examined. Even juxtaglomerular cells in the intact kidney were shown to contain angiotensin I and angiotensin II by immunohistochemical technique. These findings indicate an intracellular mechanism of angiotensin II formation in various tissues and suggest that angiotensin II may have local paracrine functions.