Expression of kisspeptins and kisspeptin receptor in the kidney of chronic renal failure rats.

Kisspeptins are biologically active cleavage peptides of the KiSS-1 gene products with important roles in the suppression of tumor metastasis and in the reproduction. The aim of the present study is to clarify changes of the expression of kisspeptins and kisspeptin receptor in the kidney with and without chronic renal impairment. 5/6 nephrectomized rats were used as the rat model of chronic renal failure.

Expression of (pro)renin receptor in human kidneys with end-stage kidney disease due to diabetic nephropathy.

(Pro)renin receptor ((P)RR), a specific receptor for renin and prorenin, is a 350 amino-acid protein with a single transmembrane domain and may play important pathophysiological roles in diabetic nephropathy. The aim of the present study is to clarify the expression of (P)RR in the kidney with end-stage renal disease due to diabetic nephropathy. The kidney tissues were obtained at autopsy from patients with and without Type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=5 without diabetes mellitus; and n=8 with diabetes mellitus).

Presence of kisspeptin-like immunoreactivity in human adrenal glands and adrenal tumors.

Kisspeptins are neuropeptides which activate the hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal axis and are considered to play important physiological roles in the reproduction. Kisspeptins have also been reported to stimulate the aldosterone secretion from the adrenal cortex. However, the expression of kisspeptins in human adrenal glands and adrenal tumors has not been clarified yet.