Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
11
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-11-17
pubmed:abstractText
Alpha-1 microglobulin (alpha(1)m), a lipocalin, is an evolutionarily conserved immunomodulatory plasma protein. In all species studied, alpha(1)m is synthesized by hepatocytes and catabolized in the renal proximal tubular cells. alpha(1)m deficiency has not been reported in any species, suggesting that its absence is lethal and indicating an important physiological role for this protein To clarify its functional role, tissue distribution studies are crucial. Such studies in humans have been restricted largely to adult fresh/frozen tissue. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded multi-organ block tissue from aborted fetuses (gestational age range 7-22 weeks) was immunohistochemically examined for alpha(1)m reactivity. Moderate to strong reactivity was seen at all ages in hepatocytes, renal proximal tubule cells, and a subset of pancreatic islet cells. Muscle (cardiac, skeletal, or smooth), adrenal cortex, a scattered subset of intestinal mucosal cells, tips of small intestinal villi, and Leydig cells showed weaker and/or variable levels of reactivity. Connective tissue stained with variable location and intensity. The following cells/sites were consistently negative: thymus, spleen, hematopoietic cells, lung parenchyma, glomeruli, exocrine pancreas, epidermis, cartilage/bone, ovary, seminiferous tubules, epididymis, thyroid, and parathyroid. The results underscore the dominant role of liver and kidney in fetal alpha(1)m metabolism and provide a framework for understanding the functional role of this immunoregulatory protein.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
0022-1554
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
48
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1545-52
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2000
pubmed:articleTitle
Tissue distribution of the lipocalin alpha-1 microglobulin in the developing human fetus.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine & Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA. Logdberg@nybc.org
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't