0000000000177756
AUTHOR
Deshandra M. Raidoo
Cellular visualization of tissue prokallikrein in human neutrophils and myelocytes
The vasoactive peptides bradykinin and kallidin (lysyl-bradykinin) have been implicated in diapedesis, a cellular process by which neutrophils migrate through endothelial cell gap junctions. The kinin peptides are released from their precursor moiety, kininogen, by the specific action of endoproteinases, the kallikreins. Kininogens have been demonstrated on the surface of neutrophils, and the presence of a competent processing enzyme such as tissue prokallikrein in neutrophils has been postulated, but firm evidence for this is still lacking. We have raised antibodies to a synthetic peptide that is a sequence copy of the activation segment of human TK and demonstrated that the anti-peptide a…
Kinin receptors in human vascular tissue: their role in atheromatous disease
Using samples of many human blood vessels, obtained at autopsy and specific antibodies directed to peptide sequences of the kinin B1 and B2 receptors, we demonstrate the localisation of these receptors within the human vascular system using standard immunolabelling techniques. In large elastic arteries and veins, kinin receptors are present only in the endothelial cells whereas in all muscular arteries and arterioles, these receptors are present in both the endothelial and smooth muscle cells. The identification of kinin receptors in human blood vessels confirms that kinins may modulate both vascular permeability and contractility. The incidental finding at histology, of patchy atheromatous…