Expression and cellular localization of tissue kallikrein-kinin system in human adrenal gland. Wang, Dan-Zhao, Qing Song, Li-Mei Chen, Lee Chao, and Julie Chao. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA
APStracts 3:0107F, 1996.
The tissue kallikrein-kinin system has been implicated in regulating blood pressure and electrolyte homeostasis. In order to understand the function of this system, we identified the expression and cellular localization of its components including tissue kallikrein, kallistatin, kininogen, bradykinin B1 and B2 receptors in human adrenal gland. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction followed by Southern blot analysis showed that these five components of this system were all expressed in human adrenal gland. In situ hybridization histochemistry with respective digoxigenin-labeled antisense riboprobes revealed localization of kallikrein transcript throughout the adrenal cortex and medulla except the zona glomerulosa while kallistatin mRNA was only localized in the zona fasciculata. Low molecular weight kininogen and B2 receptor mRNAs were co -localized in the zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata, and also in the zona reticularis and chromaffin cells but to a lesser degree. The B1 receptor mRNA was stained in the zona fasciculata and medulla. These results show the expression and differential co-localization of the components of the tissue kallikrein-kinin system and reveal the potential action sites of this system in the adrenal gland.

Received 21 February 1996; accepted in final form 6 June 1996.
APS Manuscript Number F58-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Renal Fluid Electrolyte
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 28 June 96