Renal expression of serum-type mannan-binding protein in rat

Mannan-binding proteins (MBPs) occur as liver and serum forms, which are encoded by separate genes and synthesized by the liver. Serum MBP plays a role in the first defense against a variety of pathogens. We found in this study, by reverse-transcriptional PCR, that rat serum MBP mRNA but not liver MBP is also expressed in the kidney. The level of the serum mRNA expression in the kidney as estimated by competitive PCR was about one-eighth that of the liver. Transcripts of serum MBP were detected in the renal corpuscles and distal convolutions by in situ hybridization. Affinity chromatography of the extract of rat kidney on a column of Sepharose-4B-mannan isolated a 29-kDa protein. These results indicate that serum MBP is synthesized in the kidney as well as in the liver. The kidney protein may be associated with local host defense around the kidney.