Open AccessThe bradykinin-degrading aminopeptidase P is increased in women taking the oral contraceptive pill
Author(s) -
Amy L Cilia La Corte,
Angela M. Carter,
Anthony J. Turner,
Peter J. Grant,
Nigel M. Hooper
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
jraas. journal of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system/journal of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.457
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1752-8976
pISSN - 1470-3203
DOI - 10.1177/1470320308096405
Subject(s) - bradykinin , endocrinology , medicine , oral contraceptive pill , aminopeptidase , renin–angiotensin system , angiotensin converting enzyme , pill , hormone , vasodilation , enzyme , chemistry , blood pressure , pharmacology , population , amino acid , family planning , leucine , biochemistry , receptor , research methodology , environmental health
. The renin-angiotensin and kininogen-kinin hormonal systems are critically involved in regulating blood pressure and are candidates in contributing to oral contraceptive pill (OCP)-induced hypertension.Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and aminopeptidase P (AP-P) are key enzymes in these systems and are both involved in the degradation of the vasodilator bradykinin. Methods. Circulating ACE and AP-P levels were measured by activity assay using selective fluorogenic peptide substrates in plasma samples from the Leeds Family Study. In addition, the effect of progesterone on the expression of AP-P and ACE was examined in cells. Results. Women on the OCP had higher age-adjusted plasma AP-P (mean [95% confidence interval]) (0.27 [0.23-0.32] nmol/min/ml (n = 53)) compared with women not on the OCP (0.17 [0.16-0.19] nmol/min/ml (n = 133), p < 0.001) or males (0.19 [0.17-0.20] nmol/min/ml (n = 209), p<0.001).There were no differences in the age-adjusted plasma ACE levels among the three groups. In HepG2 cells, progesterone treatment increased the AP-P protein and mRNA expression, whereas no effect of progesterone treatment was observed for ACE. Conclusion. Increased AP-P may result in increased breakdown of bradykinin.These data suggest that progesterone-induced increases in AP-P may contribute to the development of OCP-induced hypertension in susceptible Women.