Abstract: Objective To investigate the type 2 diabetes-induced expression changes of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components in heart and kidney. Methods The db/db mice were applied to be the type 2 diabetes animal model. Gene and protein expression of RAS components in heart and kidney were measured by RT-PCR and immunoblotting, respectively. Results The mRNA expression of AGT (P < 0.01) and the protein expression of Renin (P < 0.01) and Ang II (P < 0.01) were significantly increased in heart of db/db mice, moreover, the mRNA (P < 0.001) and protein (P < 0.01) expression of Renin and the protein expression of Ang II (P < 0.05) were significantly up-regulated in kidney of db/db mice. Conclusion Type 2 diabetes induced the abnormal expression of RAS components in heart and kidney, consequently, leading to the increase of production of RAS active peptide Ang II.

Key words: renin-angiotensin system, heart, kidney, type 2 diabetes