Specific binding sites for angiotensin II (Ang II) were identified in a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. Binding of [125I]-Sar1 Ang II to these cells showed a high-affinity site with a Kd of 2.4 +/- 0.2 nmol/l. This specific binding was not changed during the cell cycle and showed no alteration after 24 h of treatment with Sar1-Ang II (10(-8) mol/l). Exposure of HepG2 cells to the Ang II agonist Sar1-Ang II caused a dose-dependent decrease in angiotensinogen production. The maximal inhibitory effect was at a dose of 10(-6) mol/l Sar1-Ang II which elicited 67% inhibition of angiotensinogen production after 24 h (control: 2.015 +/- 0.5 micrograms angiotensinogen/mg DNA; Sar1-Ang II 10(-6) mol/l: 0.68 +/- 0.03 micrograms angiotensinogen/mg DNA). Fifty per cent inhibition was obtained at a dose of 10(-9) mol/l Sar1-Ang II. Angiotensin II had a less marked effect, showing maximal inhibition of 40%. This study shows that the HepG2 cells possess specific Ang II binding sites and that Ang II analogues induce a dose-dependent inhibition of angiotensinogen production in cell culture.