Rat Kidney Thromboxane Synthase: cDNA Cloning and Gene Expression Regulation in Hydronephrotic Kidney*

Abstract

We isolated a rat homolog of thromboxane (TX) synthase cDNA (∼ 1.8 kb) from the kidney with a fragment of human TX synthase cDNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction with placenta cDNA as a template. Northern blot analysis has shown that rat TX synthase gene is expressed abundantly in lung, liver, and uterus; moderately in kidney. TX synthase mRNA expression was up-regulated in hydronephrotic kidney made by ureter ligation. In conclusion, we have revealed the structure of rat kidney TX synthase. Up-regulation of renal TX synthase, which may cause stimulation of TX synthesis, is possibly implicated in the tissue injury in hydronephrotic kidney.