Renin-activation by kallikrein: evidence for alkaline-activation of plasma renin

Abstract

Porcine pancreatic kallikrein leads to a significant activation of human plasma renin when incubated at pH 8.2. Endogenous activation of plasma renin can be seen by incubation of plasmas at the same pH. Both endogenous alkaline- and kallikrein-activation of plasma renin can be inhibited by aprotinin. Both kallikrein- and endogenous alkaline-activation of plasma renin are significantly correlated to cryo- and acid-activation. Kallikrein- and endogenous alkaline-activation come close to the in vivo activation process.