Angiotensin receptors in pulmonary arterial and aortic endothelial cells

Angiotensin II (ANG II) is formed from angiotensin I by the action of angiotensin-converting enzyme located on the luminal surface of vascular endothelial cells. We determined whether binding sites specific for ANG II exist on pulmonary artery and aortic endothelial cells. The binding of 125I-ANG II to pulmonary artery and aortic endothelial cells was time dependent, saturable, and reversible. Scatchard analysis indicated a single class of high-affinity binding sites with equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd) of 0.85 and 0.81 nM and total binding capacities of 70 and 73 fmol/mg protein in pulmonary artery and aortic endothelial cells, respectively. Angiotensin analogues Sar1,Ile8ANG II and Sar1,Ala8ANG II, as well as angiotensin I and angiotensin III, competitively displaced 125I-ANG II in both pulmonary artery and aortic endothelial cells. The degree of inhibition of 125I-ANG II binding by these angiotensin analogues and antagonists was comparable except that Sar1,Ala8ANG II was 65% less potent than the other antagonists in both cell types. The binding of 125I-ANG II in pulmonary artery and aortic endothelial cells was not affected by vasopressin, substance P, or insulin, suggesting the presence of specific angiotensin receptors on these cells. These receptors appear to recognize the general configuration of angiotensin peptide rather than being specific to ANG II with no major differences between endothelial cells from pulmonary arterial or aortic vessels.