Renal Adrenoceptor Antibody Explorer Kit

The kidneys play a pivotal role in human physiology as they regulate heart and fluid homeostasis. They do so by regulating blood salt and mineral concentrations. This instrumental property of the kidneys is mediated by a small, yet very sophisticated functional unit, namely the nephron that filters unnecessary blood solutes into the urine while all necessary ions are carefully retained into the blood circulation. This "in and out" transition of ions across the vasculature is mediated by a battery of transmembrane protein-channels that facilitates the passage of solutes into and out of the blood circulation.

Adrenergic receptors are G-protein coupled receptors that mediate adrenaline and noradrenaline actions. To date, this family contains nine different gene products that are generally classified into alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors (αAR and βAR)¹. Members of the αAR are further divided into α₁AR and α₂AR that regulate vascular tone, sodium absorption and renal filtration rate. Members of the βAR, like β₁AR and β₂AR use cAMP as a second messenger to stimulate renin and therefore regulate blood hemodynamics².