(Pro)renin and (pro)renin receptor expression during kidney development in neonates

Although a recent study demonstrated that the (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) was highly expressed in the developing kidney during the mouse embryonic development, the mechanism by which (P)RR supports renal development in humans is not fully understood. In this study, we examined the plasma levels of (pro)renin and soluble (P)RR (s(P)RR) in cord blood and neonates as well as (P)RR expression in human kidney tissues. Samples were collected from 57 preterm and 67 full-term human neonates. (Pro)renin and s(P)RR levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Additionally, we performed an immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of kidney tissues from neonates and minor glomerular abnormalities in order to assess (P)RR expression in the kidney. Plasma (pro)renin and s(P)RR levels in cord blood were significantly higher in preterm neonates than in full-term neonates. Four weeks after birth, these differences were no longer evident for either plasma (pro)renin or s(P)RR levels between the two groups. Importantly, plasma (pro)renin and s(P)RR levels in cord blood were inversely correlated with gestational age. Furthermore, IHC indicated that renal expression levels of (P)RR in neonates was stronger than that in minor glomerular abnormalities.
Conclusion: (P)RR may play a pivotal role in prenatal renal development in humans.

内容要旨・審査要旨・論文本文の公開：
内容要旨・審査要旨：LID201704131003.pdf
論文本文： k3013_fulltext.pdf
本論文は, 著者Tomomasa Teradaの学位論文として提出され, 学位審査・授与の対象となっている。
The final publication is available at link.springer.com.