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Widespread cellular distribution of aldehyde
oxidase in human tissues found by immunohistochemistry staining
Y. Moriwaki, T. Yamamoto, S. Takahashi, Z. Tsutsumi and T.
Hada
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine,
Nishinomiya, Japan
Offprint requests to: Yuji
Moriwaki, Third Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College
of Medicine, Mukogawa-cho 1-1, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan.
Summary. Aldehyde oxidase (EC 1.2.3.1) is a xenobiotic
metabolizing enzyme that catalyzes a variety of organic aldehydes
and N-heterocyclic compounds. However, its precise pathophysiological
function in humans, other than its xenobiotic metabolism, remains
unknown. In order to gain a better understanding of the role of
this enzyme, it is important to know its exact localization in
human tissues. In this study, we investigated the distribution
of aldehyde oxidase at the cellular level in a variety of human
tissues by immunohistochemistry. The enzyme was found to be widespread
in respiratory, digestive, urogenital, and endocrine tissues,
though we also observed a cell-specific localization in the various
tissues studied. In the respiratory system, it was particularly
abundant in epithelial cells from the trachea and bronchium, as
well as alveolar cells. In the digestive system, aldehyde oxidase
was observed in surface epithelia of the small and large intestines,
in addition to hepatic cells. Furthermore, the proximal, distal,
and collecting tubules of the kidney were immunostained with various
intensities, while glomerulus tissues were not. In epididymus
and prostate tissues, staining was observed in the ductuli epididymidis
and glandular epithelia. Moreover, the adrenal gland, cortex,
and notably the zona reticularis, showed strong immunostaining.
This prevalent tissue distribution of aldehyde oxidase in humans
suggests some additional pathophysiological functions besides
xenobiotic metabolism. Accordingly, some possible roles are discussed.
Histol. Histopathol. 16, 745-753 (2001)
Key Words: Aldehyde oxidase, Human, Immunohisto-chemistry,
Tissue distribution
DOI: 10.14670/HH-16.745
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