Examination of angiotensin II type 1 and type 2 receptor expression in human kidneys by immunohistochemistry

Recent studies have suggested that both the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors may be involved in the control of renal function in rodents. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of these re ceptors in normal and diseased human kidneys. Kidney samples were obtained from 21 patients with and without glomerular lesions (3 control kidney samp les from patients undergoing nephrectomy, 4 patients with minimal change di sease, 6 patients with IgA nephropathy, and 8 patients with membranous glom erulonephritis). AT1 receptor immunohistochemical staining was examined and found to be most prominent in blood vessels, but staining of the tubules a nd glomeruli was also seen. In the case of the AT2 receptor, mild-moderate immunohistochemical staining was seen in the blood vessels, with weaker sta ining in the glomeruli. A similar distribution was seen in the patients wit h glomerulopathy. These results suggest that both AT 1 and AT2 receptors ar e expressed in the normal human kidney, as well as in patients with glomeru lar disease. The histological distribution of these receptors supports the notion that both receptors may have a physiological role in normal and dise ased kidneys in humans.