Lam King Yin, Leung Po Sing
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia.
Eur J Endocrinol. 2002 Apr;146(4):567-72. doi: 10.1530/eje.0.1460567.
Evidence exists for the presence of a renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the pancreas. The aims of this study were to prove the presence of an intrinsic RAS in the human pancreas and to analyse the role of such an RAS in pancreatic endocrine tumours (PETs).
Gene expression of key RAS components (angiotensinogen and angiotensin II receptors, namely AT1 and AT2) was investigated in human pancreas and in PETs by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.
Expression of mRNAs of RAS components was found in human pancreas and in PETs. Data from semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated an increase in the mRNA expression of angiotensinogen and AT2 receptor in PETs when compared with that in normal pancreas. By immunohistochemistry, angiotensinogen protein was predominantly localized in the pancreatic islets while AT1 receptor protein was in the pancreatic ducts.
The data support the notion of the existence of an intrinsic RAS in the human pancreas. It also indicates, for the first time, that such a local pancreatic RAS is subject to regulation by PETs and its significant change may have pathophysiological relevance in patients with PETs.
有证据表明胰腺中存在肾素-血管紧张素系统（RAS）。本研究的目的是证实人胰腺中存在内源性RAS，并分析这种RAS在胰腺内分泌肿瘤（PETs）中的作用。
采用半定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和免疫组织化学方法，研究人胰腺和PETs中关键RAS成分（血管紧张素原和血管紧张素II受体，即AT1和AT2）的基因表达。
在人胰腺和PETs中发现了RAS成分的mRNA表达。半定量RT-PCR分析数据显示，与正常胰腺相比，PETs中血管紧张素原和AT2受体的mRNA表达增加。通过免疫组织化学，血管紧张素原蛋白主要定位于胰岛，而AT1受体蛋白位于胰腺导管。
这些数据支持人胰腺中存在内源性RAS的观点。这也首次表明，这种局部胰腺RAS受PETs调节，其显著变化可能与PETs患者的病理生理相关。
