Purpose of review: Recent experimental data shed light on the regulation of renalase, a secreted amine oxidase, which circulates in an inactive form (prorenalase). Abnormalities in the renalase pathway are evident not only in animal models of chronic kidney disease, but also during the development of hypertension, at a time when kidney function appears normal.
Recent findings: Prorenalase is rapidly (30-60 s) activated by increased plasma catecholamines and systolic blood pressure. Catecholamine administration promotes the secretion of preformed renalase within 5 min. Plasma renalase is markedly reduced in patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, and in animal models of chronic kidney disease and salt-dependent hypertension. Rats subjected to subtotal nephrectomy develop hypertension and chronic kidney disease, and exhibit low plasma and cardiac renalase, and abnormal renalase activation.
Summary: The renalase pathway is a previously unrecognized mechanism for regulating circulating catecholamines, cardiac function and blood pressure. In this pathway, prorenalase is rapidly activated by increased catecholamines and converted to renalase, which in turn degrades catecholamines. Abnormalities in the renalase pathway are evident in animal models of chronic kidney disease and hypertension. Collectively, these data suggest that renalase plays a key role in the regulation of sympathetic tone, blood pressure and cardiac function.