Identification of atypical (non‐AT₁, non‐AT₂) angiotensin binding sites with high affinity for angiotensin I on IEC‐18 rat intestinal epithelial cells

Specific high-affinity (Kd = 3.4 nM) binding sites for 125I-labelled angiotensin I ([125I]Ang I) were identified on an epithelial cell line (IEC-18) derived from the rat small intestine. The sites, which also have high affinity for Ang II, are insensitive to both AT1- and AT2-specific angiotensin receptor antagonists. The rank order of potency with which various angiotensin peptides inhibited [125I]Ang I binding to the cells (Ang I > or = Ang II > Ang(1-7) > [Sar1,Ile8]-Ang II > Ang(3-8) > Ang III) also distinguishes these sites from AT1 and AT2 angiotensin receptors.