Role of cyclic AMP in renin secretion by human transfected juxtaglomerular cells.

A human juxtaglomerular (JG) cell tumour was used for immortalization of renin secreting cells with three SV40 mutants. These transformed cells retained the same light and electron microscopic morphology as the human renal JG cells throughout subculture. Immunocytochemical staining showed the presence of renin in the elongated cells containing myofilaments and secretory granules. The renin produced was not stored within the cells but was released rapidly into the medium as prorenin. This permanent source of renin-producing cells was used for the study of renin regulation in vitro. Agents known to induce renin release such as dibutyryl cyclic AMP (cAMP), forskolin, isoproterenol and histamine were tested in cell culture. Forskolin induced renin secretion in a dose-dependent manner, as did dibutyryl cAMP. The JG cells responded to beta-agonists and to histamine by an H2 receptor. These results offer direct support for the hypothesis that cAMP is the second messenger in stimulation of renin secretion from human juxtaglomerular cells.