The renin-angiotensin system and immune function

• Author / Creator

  Groeschel, Michael

• The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been implicated in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Angiotensin II via the ATR1 can activate monocytes to produce inflammatory factors and increase adhesion. ATR1 expression is partly regulated by alternate splicing of the ATR1 gene. The RAS may also regulate immune function as part of the stress response: a model is proposed.

  ATR1 expression in two monocyte cell lines (U937 and THP-1) compared to a human microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC1) was investigated. Western blot showed ATR1 protein expression in all cell types. PCR protocols targeted to the terminal protein-coding exon common to all transcript variants confirmed mRNA expression of the ATR1 gene in EC and monocytes. The 5 known splice variants were not identified in monocytes. 5’-RLM RACE was used to identify the 5’ untranslated ATR1 exons in monocytes. These data suggest a novel monocyte-specific splice variant, which may function in the cardiovascular disease process.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Immune
  • Monocyte
  • Stress
  • Renin
  • Angiotensin

• Graduation date

  Fall 2009

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R34K5V

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.