To improve understanding of human profilaggrin processing to filaggrin, we produced seven monoclonal antibodies against epidermal filaggrin (AHF1-7). They were characterized on human epidermis by indirect immunofluorescence, immunogold labeling, and immunoblotting and found to be directed against seven different epitopes of (pro)filaggrin. AHF1-5 labeled the keratohyalin granules and the fibrous matrix of the lower corneocytes, and recognized filaggrin and profilaggrin. AHF6 also labeled the keratohyalin granules and the corneocyte matrix, but only recognized filaggrin. In addition to this reactivity within the upper epidermis, AHF4-6 stained the cytoplasm of the basal cells, and cross-reactivity of AHF5 and AHF6 with cytokeratin K14 was revealed on immunoblots. It is interesting that AHF7 recognized filaggrin, but not profilaggrin, and labeled only the corneocyte matrix and not the keratohyalin granules. This indicates that filaggrin and cytokeratins share several antigenic determinants and that filaggrin bears at least one epitope absent from its precursor. The original series of monoclonal antibodies described here appears to be a powerful tool for studying human profilaggrin processing in normal conditions and in the keratinization disorders in which processing is altered.

The effect of bradykinin (BK) on the contraction of rat mesangial cells (MC) was compared with that of various vasoactive agents. BK induced a dose-dependent contraction [one-half maximal effective dose (ED50) = 50 nM] inhibited by the B2 antagonist, HOE-140 (ED50 = 10 nM). BK-induced MC contraction was independent of extracellular calcium and was reduced by inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC). Neomycin completely prevented the increase in intracellular calcium and the formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate induced by BK but only reduced cell contraction. Inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) formation and administration of the endoperoxide antagonist SQ-27427 also partly decreased the effect of BK. Interestingly, only the addition of both neomycin and mepacrine resulted in a complete inhibition of cell contraction. These results suggest that BK, via a B2-kinin receptor, induces contraction of MC through two distinct mechanisms, one associated to the phospholipase C pathway and subsequent activation of PKC and the second one dependent on PG formation. These in vitro effects may be relevant in explaining the effects of BK and converting enzyme inhibitors on glomerular hemodynamics.

No abstract