Whereas adipose tissue possesses a local renin-angiotensin system, the synthesis and regulated release of renin has not been addressed. To that end, we utilized differentiating 3T3-L1 cells and analyzed renin expression and secretion. Renin mRNA expression and protein enzymatic activity were not detectable in preadipocytes. However, upon differentiation, renin mRNA and both intracellular and extracellular renin activity were upregulated. In differentiated adipocytes, forskolin treatment resulted in a 28-fold increase in renin mRNA, whereas TNFalpha treatment decreased renin mRNA fourfold. IL-6, insulin, and angiotensin (Ang) II were without effect. In contrast, forskolin and TNFalpha each increased renin protein secretion 12- and sevenfold, respectively. Although both forskolin and TNFalpha induce lipolysis in adipocytes, fatty acids, prostaglandin E(2), and lipopolysaccharide had no effect on renin mRNA or secretion. To evaluate the mechanism(s) by which forskolin and/or TNFalpha are able to regulate renin secretion, a general lipase inhibitor (E600) and PKA inhibitor (H89) were used. Both inhibitors attenuated forskolin-induced renin release, whereas they had no effect on TNFalpha-regulated secretion. In contrast, E600 potentiated forskolin-stimulated renin mRNA levels, whereas H89 had no effect. Neither inhibitor had any influence on TNFalpha regulation of renin mRNA. Relative to lean controls, renin expression was reduced 78% in the epididymal adipose tissue of obese male C57Bl/6J mice, consistent with TNFalpha-mediated downregulation of renin mRNA in the culture system. In conclusion, the expression and secretion of renin are regulated under a complex series of hormonal and metabolic determinants in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been implicated in a variety of adipose tissue functions, including tissue growth, differentiation, metabolism, and inflammation. Although expression of all components necessary for a locally derived adipose tissue RAS has been demonstrated within adipose tissue, independence of local adipose RAS component concentrations from corresponding plasma RAS fluctuations has not been addressed. To analyze this, we varied in vivo rat plasma concentrations of two RAS components, renin and angiotensinogen (AGT), to determine the influence of their plasma concentrations on adipose and cardiac tissue levels in both perfused (plasma removed) and nonperfused samples. Variation of plasma RAS components was accomplished by four treatment groups: normal, DOCA salt, bilateral nephrectomy, and losartan. Adipose and cardiac tissue AGT concentrations correlated positively with plasma values. Perfusion of adipose tissue decreased AGT concentrations by 11.1%, indicating that adipose tissue AGT was in equilibrium with plasma. Cardiac tissue renin levels positively correlated with plasma renin concentration for all treatments. In contrast, adipose tissue renin levels did not correlate with plasma renin, with the exception of extremely high plasma renin concentrations achieved in the losartan-treated group. These results suggest that adipose tissue may control its own local renin concentration independently of plasma renin as a potential mechanism for maintaining a functional local adipose RAS.