title: Localisation of tissue kallikrein in the kidney of black African women with early onset pre-eclampsia: a pilot study.
abstract: Increased renal production of vasodilator mediators like kinins would counteract the vasospasm of pre-eclampsia. This study examines the cellular localisation of tissue kallikrein (TK), the potent kinin forming enzyme within the nephron of patients with early onset pre-eclampsia. Using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunoenzyme complex, TK was immunolocalised in the principal cells of the distal connecting tubule and the cortical collecting duct cells of the distal nephron of control tissue. Moderate reactivity was observed in the epithelial cells lining the Bowmans capsule. In early onset pre-eclampsia, TK was additionally localised in the proximal tubule cells, however, the intensity of reactivity was reduced when compared to that of the distal tubule cells. In patients with hypertension of pregnancy, the occurrence of TK in the proximal tubule suggests either gene induction or emiocytosis of TK.
authors.affiliation: Electron Microscope Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naicker
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Khedun
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moodley
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bhoola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007686:Kidney Tubules, Distal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009399:Nephrons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013019:South Africa; D020840:Tissue Kallikreins; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D007610:Kallikreins; D020840:Tissue Kallikreins