90-kDa N-domain angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE): possible marker for hypertension in a renal transplant model

Abstract Introduction: Hypertension is nearly universal in kidney transplant and several factors are associated with post transplant hypertension, including immunosuppressive medications and genetic predisposition. Objective: The aims were to evaluate the effects of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) kidney transplantation in Wistar rats and the possible transference of 80/90-kDa N-domain ACE. Methods: To do so, the data from Wistar recipients of kidney from SHR were compared to data from transplanted Wistar submitted to CsA treatment and, to Wistar Sham. Results and Discussion: Despite the unaltered blood pressure observed at early stages, 80/90-kDa ACE was found expressed in the urine of rats 7 and 15 days after transplantation, which was intense when rats became hypertensive 30 days post-surgery. Conclusion: Our data show that this enzyme is associated with the development of hypertension, and this marker appears in the urine before any substantial blood pressure alteration.

引言：高血压在肾移植患者中几乎普遍存在，多种因素与移植后高血压相关，包括免疫抑制药物及遗传易感性。
研究目的：本研究旨在评估将自发性高血压大鼠（spontaneously hypertensive rats, SHR）肾脏移植至Wistar大鼠（Wistar rat）后的效应，以及80/90-kDa N结构域血管紧张素转换酶（Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme, ACE）的潜在传递情况。
研究方法：为此，本研究将接受SHR肾脏移植的Wistar大鼠受体数据，与接受环孢素A（Cyclosporine A, CsA）治疗的移植Wistar大鼠数据及Wistar假手术组数据进行了对比分析。
结果与讨论：尽管移植早期阶段大鼠血压未出现明显改变，但在术后7天及15天的大鼠尿液中可检测到80/90-kDa ACE的表达；当大鼠于术后30天出现高血压时，该酶的表达水平显著增强。
结论：本研究数据表明，该酶与高血压的发生发展密切相关，且该标志物可在血压出现显著变化前于尿液中被检出。