Aliskiren inhibits renin-mediated complement  activation

Certain kidney diseases are associated with complement activation although a renal triggering factor has not been identified. Here we demonstrated that renin, a kidney-specific enzyme, cleaves C3 into C3b and C3a, in a manner identical to the C3 convertase. Cleavage was specifically blocked by the renin inhibitor aliskiren. Renin-mediated C3 cleavage and its inhibition by aliskiren also occurred in serum. Generation of C3 cleavage products was demonstrated by immunoblotting, detecting the cleavage product C3b, by N-terminal sequencing of the cleavage product, and by ELISA for C3a release.
Source: Kidney International - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Basic Research Source Type: research