Urinary ACE Activity, Protein, and mRNA Urinary ACE activity was detected in 65% of transplant patients [median for all 100 patients: 1.17 (IQR, 0.00-3.43) ng-eq/mg Cr610 2 ]. By western analysis, ACE was detected in 94% of urine samples of transplant patients as a protein band of approximately 190 kDa, consistent with previous studies [18] (Figure 3 ). Urinary ACE activity and protein levels were significantly increased in diabetic transplant subjects, compared to non-diabetic patients ( Figure 3A After adjusting for potential confounding variables, increased urinary albumin/Cr was associated with urinary ACE protein by western analysis in transplant patients (p,0.001, Table 2 ). However, diabetes did not associate with increased urinary ACE activity or ACE protein. Female gender and urinary albumin/Cr were significantly associated with increased urinary ACE mRNA levels in transplant patients ( Table 2 ).