Assignment of the kinin receptor B1 and B2 genes (Bdkrb1 and Bdkrb2) to rat chromosome 6q3.2 by FISH and radiation hybrid mapping.

Kinins are a family of peptide hormones involved in physiological and pathophysiological processes such as smooth muscle contraction, nociception and inflammation (Bhoola et al., 1992). Based on their pharmacological properties two mammalian kinin receptor subtypes, B1 and B2, have been identified and the genes for both subtypes have been cloned from human, rat and mice (for review see Pesquero and Bader, 1998). While the B2 receptor is constitutively expressed in a variety of tissues, the B1 receptor is exceptional in being upregulated following tissue injury and inflammation by the action of cytokines (Marceau et al., 1998). Mice lacking B2 receptors show hypertension, salt sensitivity, and altered nociceptive responses (Borkowski et al., 1995; for review see Pesquero and Bader, 1998). B1-receptor deficient animals exhibit hypoalgesia and altered inflammatory responses (Bader et al., manuscript submitted). The B1 and B2-receptor genes have been assigned to human chromosome 14q32 (Ma et al., 1994; Chai et al., 1996). The B2-receptor gene has been mapped to the homologous region on mouse chromosome 12 (Taketo et al., 1995). Materials and methods