Evidence for a local renin angiotensin system in primary cultured human preadipocytes

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether human preadipocytes possess a complete functional renin angiotensin system. MEASUREMENTS: Gene expression of angiotensinogen, renin, renin binding protein, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin II (ang II) receptor type 1 in human preadipocytes; ACE protein and ang II production of human adipose tissue stromal cells differentiated or not in primary culture. RESULTS: All genes mentioned above were found to be expressed in human preadipocytes. ACE was translated into protein as detected by western blot. Ang II was secreted both by undifferentiated preadipocytes and immature adipocytes, and its production was significantly elevated in differentiated cells. CONCLUSIONS: Preadipocytes from human adipose tissue express a functional renin angiotensin system (RAS).