Specific tissue distribution of megsin, a novel serpin, in the glomerulus and its up-regulation in IgA nephropathy.
Mesangial cells play critical roles in maintaining a structure and function of the glomerulus. We previously cloned a novel mesangium-predominant gene, megsin, a new serine protease inhibitor. To clarify localization and roles of megsin protein, we raised polyclonal antibodies to megsin. By immunohistochemistry, megsin protein was specifically identified in the mesangial area. The amount of megsin protein was increased in glomeruli of patients with IgA nephropathy than in those of normal individuals and of patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome or membranous nephropathy, suggesting a pathophysiological role of megsin as a functional modulator of mesangial functions in situ.
Inagi
R
R
Molecular and Cellular Nephrology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Miyata
T
T
Suzuki
D
D
Toyoda
M
M
Wada
T
T
Ueda
Y
Y
Izuhara
Y
Y
Sakai
H
H
Nangaku
M
M
Kurokawa
K
K
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000378:metabolism; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000737:chemistry*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015843:Serpins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000906:Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D010455:Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C114170:SERPINB7 protein, human; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; C491937:Serpinb7 protein, rat; D015843:Serpins