We have demonstrated that angiotensinogen is synthesized by 3T3-F442A cells and is hydrolyzed to angiotensins I and II (ANG I and II) by this model adipocyte system. This study was designed to determine whether ANG I is generated by renin or some other enzyme and where the formation of ANG I and/or II occurs in 3T3-F442A cells. Renin mRNA was not detected by Northern blot analysis of poly(A)(+)-selected RNA from cultures of fully differentiated adipocytes nor by the more sensitive polymerase chain reaction, implying that renin is not synthesized in this model adipocyte system. Hydrolysis of angiotensinogen to ANG I and II was demonstrated to be associated with the cell but not the media. Inhibitors, including EDTA, aimed at inactivating enzymes belonging to the serine, acid, or aspartyl proteases, and metalloproteases were ineffective in preventing the formation of either ANG I or II. Therefore the model adipocyte 3T3-F442A cell system forms ANG I and II in the absence of renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme. The unidentified enzymes responsible for peptide formation are associated with the cell itself.
