Association of Ang-(1-7) and des-ArgBK as new biomarkers of obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents.

Children with obesity have a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease and hypertension, which is associated with the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation and kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) inactivation. Although recent studies have identified several peptide-based biomarkers for obesity, circulating peptides from the RAS and KKS in adolescents with obesity have not been described. The aim of this study was to examine circulating levels of RAS and KKS peptides in adolescents with obesity to investigate the turnover of these peptides and their relationship to metabolic disorders resulting from weight gain.

Simultaneous Determination of Everolimus, Sirolimus, Tacrolimus, and Cyclosporine-A by Mass Spectrometry.

Measurement of immunosuppressive drug concentrations cyclosporine A (CyA), tacrolimus (TAC), sirolimus (SIR), and everolimus (EVE) in blood is an important application of therapeutic drug monitoring. These immunosuppressive agents are used in combined regimens and nowadays the liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry is the best option for simultaneous analysis of these drugs in one short run. We developed an liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry methodology in-house to measure the combination of immunosuppressants in a single blood sample from transplant patients in Brazil.

N-domain isoform of Angiotensin I converting enzyme as a marker of hypertension: populational study.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the presence of the urinary 90 kDa N-domain ACE in a cohort of the population from Vitoria, Brazil, to verify its association with essential hypertension since this isoform could be a possible genetic marker of hypertension. Anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory parameters of the individuals were evaluated (n = 1150) and the blood pressure (BP) was measured. The study population was divided according to ACE isoforms in urine as follows: ACE 65/90/190, presence of three ACE isoforms (n = 795), ACE 90(+) (65/90) (n = 186), and ACE 90(-) (65/190) (n = 169) based on the presence (+) or absence (-) of the 90 kDa ACE isoform.

The levels of renin-angiotensin related components are modified in the hippocampus of rats submitted to pilocarpine model of epilepsy.

We previously showed that patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) present an increased expression of angiotensin II (AngII) AT1 and AT2 receptors in the hippocampus, supporting the idea of an upregulation of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in this disease. This study aimed to verify the relationship between the RAS and TLE during epileptogenesis. Levels of the peptides angiotensin I (AngI), angiotensin II (AngII) and angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7), were detected by HPLC assay.

Spectroscopic and structural analysis of somatic and N-domain angiotensin I-converting enzyme isoforms from mesangial cells from Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a key role in the renin-angiotesin aldosterone cascade. We analysed the secondary structure and structural organization of a purified 65kDa N-domain ACE (nACE) from Wistar rat mesangial cells, a 90 kDa nACE from spontaneously hypertensive rats and a 130 kDa somatic ACE. The C-terminal alignment of the 65 kDa nACE with rat ACE revealed that the former was truncated at Ser(482), and the sequence of the 90 kDa nACE ended at Pro(629).

Stunting growth: association of the blood pressure levels and ACE activity in early childhood.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II and inactive bradykinin. Several studies carried out in our laboratory have consistently identified three isoforms of ACE, at 65, 90 and 190 kDa, with the 90-kDa isoform being a possible genetic marker of hypertension. Based on these observations and the fact that nutritional stunting can be associated with hypertension, we have investigated the expression and activity of ACE in stunted children and its association with blood pressure (BP) levels and nutritional state.