Expression of NGAL and NGALR in human embryonic, fetal and normal adult             tissues.
This study investigated the distribution of neutrophil gelatinase-associated             lipocalin (NGAL) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin receptor (NGALR)             in human embryonic, fetal and normal adult tissues. Tissue microarray technology             was used to perform immunohistochemical examination on human embryos, fetuses             at 4-22 weeks of gestation and adult tissue specimens. Results demonstrated that             during the development of the nervous system, NGALR was prevalent in the neural             tube and cerebrum, and NGAL was only detected in the stellate cells of the cerebrum             and the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. NGAL and NGALR were expressed in the             lung alveolar epithelium and in the gastrointestinal tract in embryos, but were             almost undetectable in later developmental stages. In the embryonic adrenal glands,             the two proteins demonstrated moderate positivity in the cortex and the medulla.             In adults, NGAL was particularly present in the cells of the inner and outer layers             of the cortex and was absent in the medulla, while NGALR exhibited strong positivity             in the cortex and the medulla. Evident expression of NGAL and NGALR was observed             throughout development in the neutrophil-rich sites, the renal tubule epithelium             and certain gland epithelia of the gastrointestinal tract, but was undetectable             in the heart, liver and thyroid gland. Taken together, these results demonstrated             that the expression of NGAL and NGALR was time-specific and highly tissue‑specific.             Correlations between their expression in embryogenesis and carcinogenesis should             be examined.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, PR China.
Pi-Xian
PX
Zhang
Fa-Ren
FR
Zhang
Jian-Jun
JJ
Xie
Li-Hua
LH
Tao
Zhuo
Z
Lü
Xiu-E
XE
Xu
Jian
J
Shen
Li-Yan
LY
Xu
En-Min
EM
Li
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D027701:Organic Cation Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D027701:Organic Cation Transport Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C518841:SLC22A17 protein, human