PLASMA KALLIKREIN AND PRORENIN IN PATIENTS WITH HEREDITARY ANGIOEDEMA

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 105  (6) , 694-699
Abstract
Plasma kallikrein is activated during acute attacks of hereditary angioedema. Plasma kallikrein is known to convert inactive renin, or prorenin, into an active proteolytic enzyme in plasma exposed to acid or low temperatures, as well as in purified systems. To establish whether plasma kallikrein could activate prorenin under physiologic or pathologic conditions, prorenin to renin conversion was assessed at neutral pH in plasma deficient in C.hivin.1 inhibitor (hereditary angioedema). In these plasma samples lacking the 2 major inhibitors of kallikrein and possessing < 10% of the inhibitory activity of normal plasma, prorenin was not converted to an active enzyme despite conditions under which prekallikrein was completely activated to plasma kallikrein, and despite normal prorenin concentrations and activability.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: