Adipose angiotensinogen is involved in adipose tissue growth and blood pressure regulation

White adipose tissue and liver are important angiotensinogen (AGT) producti on sites. Until now, plasma AGT was considered to be a reflection of hepati c production. Because plasma AGT concentration has been reported to correla te with blood pressure, and to be associated with body mass index, we inves tigated whether adipose AGT is released locally and into the blood stream. For this purpose, we have generated transgenic mice either in which adipose AGT is overexpressed or in which AGT expression is restricted to adipose t issue. This was achieved by the use of the aP2 adipocyte-specific promoter driving the expression of rat agt cDNA in both wild-type and hypotensive AG T-deficient mice. Our results show that in both genotypes, targeted express ion of AGT in adipose tissue increases fat mass. Mice whose AGT expression is restricted to adipose tissue have AGT circulating in the blood stream, a re normotensive, and exhibit restored renal function compared with AGT-defi cient mice. Moreover, mice that overexpress adipose AGT have increased leve ls of circulating AGT, compared with wild-type mice, and are hypertensive. These animal models demonstrate that AGT produced by adipose tissue plays a role in both local adipose tissue development and in the endocrine system, which supports a role of adipose AGT in hypertensive obese patients.