Expression and localization of N-domain ANG I-converting enzymes in mesangial cells in culture from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) profile in urine of hypertensive patients and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR; 90- and 65-kDa N-domain ACEs) is different from that of healthy subjects and Wistar rats (190 and 65 kDa). In addition, four ACE isoforms were purified from mesangial cells (MC) of Wistar rats in the intracellular compartment (130 and 68 kDa) and as secreted forms (130 and 60 kDa). We decided to characterize ACE forms from SHR MC in culture.