Kidney Membranes Research Articles

Tracking Cholesterol/Sphingomyelin-Rich Membrane Domains with the Ostreolysin A-mCherry Protein

Ostreolysin A (OlyA) is an ∼15-kDa protein that has been shown to bind selectively to membranes rich in cholesterol and sphingomyelin. In this study, we investigated whether OlyA fluorescently tagged at the C-terminal with mCherry (OlyA-mCherry) labels cholesterol/sphingomyelin domains in artificial membrane systems and in membranes of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells. OlyA-mCherry showed similar lipid binding characteristics to non-tagged OlyA. OlyA-mCherry also stained cholesterol/sphingomyelin domains in the plasma membranes of both fixed and living MDCK cells, and in the living cells, this staining was abolished by pretreatment with either methyl-β-cyclodextrin or sphingomyelinase. Double labelling of MDCK cells with OlyA-mCherry and the sphingomyelin-specific markers equinatoxin II–Alexa488 and GST-lysenin, the cholera toxin B subunit as a probe that binds to the ganglioside GM1, or the cholesterol-specific D4 domain of perfringolysin O fused with EGFP, showed different patterns of binding and distribution of OlyA-mCherry in comparison with these other proteins. Furthermore, we show that OlyA-mCherry is internalised in living MDCK cells, and within 90 min it reaches the juxtanuclear region via caveolin-1–positive structures. No binding to membranes could be seen when OlyA-mCherry was expressed in MDCK cells. Altogether, these data clearly indicate that OlyA-mCherry is a promising tool for labelling a distinct pool of cholesterol/sphingomyelin membrane domains in living and fixed cells, and for following these domains when they are apparently internalised by the cell.

Membrane distribution of the glycine receptor α3 studied by optical super-resolution microscopy

In this study, the effect of glycine receptor (GlyR) α3 alternative RNA splicing on the distribution of receptors in the membrane of human embryonic kidney 293 cells is investigated using optical super-resolution microscopy. Direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy is used to image both α3K and α3L splice variants individually and together using single- and dual-color imaging. Pair correlation analysis is used to extract quantitative measures from the resulting images. Autocorrelation analysis of the individually expressed variants reveals clustering of both variants, yet with differing properties. The cluster size is increased for α3L compared to α3K (mean radius 92 ± 4 and 56 ± 3 nm, respectively), yet an even bigger difference is found in the cluster density (9,870 ± 1,433 and 1,747 ± 200 μm(-2), respectively). Furthermore, cross-correlation analysis revealed that upon co-expression, clusters colocalize on the same spatial scales as for individually expressed receptors (mean co-cluster radius 94 ± 6 nm). These results demonstrate that RNA splicing determines GlyR α3 membrane distribution, which has consequences for neuronal GlyR physiology and function.

Rare Streptomyces sp. polyketides as modulators of K-Ras localisation.

Chemical investigations of a soil-derived Streptomyces sp. led to the isolation of five new polyketides, (+)-oxanthromicin, (±)-hemi-oxanthromicins A/B, (±)-spiro-oxanthromicin A and oxanthroquinone, and the known alkaloid staurosporine, and the detection of four new metastable analogues, (±)-spiro-oxanthromicins B1/B2/C1/C2. Among the compounds tested, SAR investigations established that the synthetic oxanthroquinone ethyl ester and 3-O-methyl-oxanthroquinone ethyl ester were optimal at mislocalising oncogenic mutant K-Ras from the plasma membrane of intact Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells (IC50 4.6 and 1.2 μM), while a sub-EC50 dose of (±)-spiro-oxanthromicin A was optimal at potentiating (750%) the K-Ras inhibitory activity of staurosporine (IC50 60 pM). These studies demonstrate that a rare class of Streptomyces polyketide modulates K-Ras plasma membrane localisation, with implications for the future treatment of K-Ras dependent cancers.

Glutathionylation of the β1 Subunit Prevents the E1Na3 to E2P Forward Reaction in the Na+, K+ ATPase

Exposure of voltage clamped cardiomyocytes to receptor-coupled oxidant signalling has been associated with a decrease in electrogenic Na+, K+ pump current activity vattributed to glutathionylation of the pump's β1 subunit. The mechanism by which glutathionylation, a reversible oxidative modification, affects turnover is not understood. We investigated the effect of β1 subunit glutathionylation on the E1Na3 → E2P forward reaction using the fluorescent probe anthryl-ouabain (AO) that binds to E2P species.We induced glutathionylation in Na+, K+ ATPase enriched pig kidney membrane fragments by exposure to the chemical oxidant peroxynitrite. The Na+, K+ ATPase was stabilised in the E1Na3 poise by incubation in 100 mM NaCl and 20 mM Histidine. Glutathionylation of the β1 subunit was confirmed by immunoblotting techniques. MgATP was added to initiate the E1Na3 → E2P conversion and the E2P species was detected by the binding of AO. Addition of MgATP induced an increase in AO fluorescence indicative of a shift to E2P. The increase in fluorescence was blocked by the exposure to peroxynitrite. When glutathionylation was reversed by exposure to glutaredoxin 1, confirmed by the immublotting technique, the shift to E2P was restored as indicated by AO fluorescence.In an independent series of experiments we utilised baseline glutathionylation of a fraction of the Na+, K+ ATPase that is detectable without exposure to oxidants. We followed the E1Na3 → E2P conversion with RH421 fluorescence. As expected, addition of MgATP markedly increased fluorescence. We added 2.5 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) to rapidly reverse glutathionylation. This further increased RH421 fluorescence indictating that DTT made additional Na+, K+ ATPase available to undergo the E1Na3 → E2P conversion.We conclude that glutathionylation of the β1 subunit blocks the forward E1Na3 → E2P reaction.

Protein expression of kidney and liver bilitranslocase in rats exposed to mercuric chloride—A potential tissular biomarker of toxicity

Bilitranslocase (BTL) is a plasma membrane carrier that transports organic anions of physiological and pharmacological interest. It is expressed in basolateral plasma membrane of kidney and liver. BTL has been recently described as a marker of transition from normal tissue to its neoplastic transformation in human kidney. Inorganic mercury is a major environmental contaminant that produces many toxic effects. Previous reports have described an interaction between BTL and mercuric ions. This study was designed to evaluate the renal and hepatic expression of BTL in rats exposed to a nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic dose of HgCl2. Male rats were treated with a single injection of HgCl2 at a dose of 4mg/kg body wt, i.p. (HgCl2 group). Control rats received the vehicle alone (Control group). Studies were carried out 18h after injection. Afterwards, the kidneys and livers were excised and processed for histopathological studies or immunoblot (homogenates and crude membranes) techniques. In rats treated with HgCl2, immunoblotting showed a significant decrease in the abundance of BTL in homogenates and plasma membranes from kidney and liver. BTL decrease of expression might reflect the grade of damage in renal tubule cells and in hepatocytes. Thus, BTL might be postulated as a new biomarker of tissue toxicity induced by mercury.

Label-free functional assays of chemical receptors using a bioengineered cell-based biosensor with localized extracellular acidification measurement

New methods for functional assays of chemical receptors are highly essential for the research of chemical signal transduction mechanisms and for the development of chemical biosensors. This study described a novel bioengineered cell-based biosensor for label-free functional assays of chemical receptors by localized extracellular acidification measurement with a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS). A human taste receptor, hT2R4, and an olfactory receptor of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), ODR-10, were selected as models of chemical receptors, which were expressed on the plasma membrane of human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells. The specific ligand binding function of expressed chemical receptors was monitored by localized extracellular acidification measurement using LAPS chip with a movable focused laser illuminating on the desired single cell. The function of expressed olfactory receptors was further validated using MDL12330A, which can specifically inhibit the activity of adenylyl cyclase. The obtained results indicate that both of chemical receptors were successfully expressed in HEK-293 cells and can be functionally assayed by this bioengineered cell-based biosensor that shows dose-dependent responses to the target ligands of chemical receptors. This bioengineered cell-based biosensor exhibits the sensitivity of 1.0mV/s for hT2R4 assays, and 9.8mV/s for ODR-10 assays. The negative control cells without any chemical receptor expression show no response to all the chemical stimuli tested. All the results demonstrate this bioengineered cell-based biosensor can be used to detect the interactions between chemical receptors and their ligands. This provides a valuable and promising approach for label-free functional assays of chemical receptors as well as for the research of other GPCRs.

Genetic variability and in vitro transcriptional permissibility of primary ovine beta-retrovirus promoter isolates

To assess genomic sequence conservation and variation in the proviral promoter of enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV) and Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) in tissue samples from 3 sheep with nasal adenocarcinoma associated with ENTV and 3 sheep with pulmonary adenocarcinoma associated with JSRV and to identify a cell culture system that supports transcriptional activity of the ENTV and JSRV viral promoters. 6 adult sheep. Standard PCR procedures for detection of the ENTV and JSRV long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter region were performed on samples from the 3 nasal adenocarcinomas and 3 pulmonary adenocarcinomas, respectively. The LTRs were cloned into shuttle vectors, amplified, sequenced, and analyzed. The cloned LTR regions were transferred into reporter plasmids and multiple human and ruminant cell lines, and primary cells were transfected with the promoter-reporter plasmids. The viral promoter activity was evaluated by use of an in vitro β-galactosidase reporter assay. Each isolate had a unique nucleotide sequence. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were the most common LTR mutation and rarely occurred at transcription factor binding sites. Relative to ENTV, the JSRV promoter isolates had a conserved 66-bp U3 insertion, including the lung-specific transcription factor HNF-3β binding site. Among the cell lines used, human embryonic kidney (293T) and goat synovial membrane cells supported promoter transcription. The LTRs of ENTV and JSRV have extensive blocks of sequence conservation. Human 293T and goat synovial membrane cell lines may be suitable in vitro cell culture systems for further research of viral promoter functions.

Biological monitoring and health effects of low-level exposure to N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone: a cross-sectional study

To examine the value of urinary 5-hydroxy-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (5-HNMP) and 2-hydroxy-N-methylsuccinimide (2-HMSI) in a population of workers exposed to N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and to look for health effects of exposure to this organic solvent. Airborne NMP was determined according to the NIOSH method. Urinary 5-HNMP and 2-HMSI (after and before next shift) were determined by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Outcomes were effects on lung, kidney, skin and mucous membranes, nervous system, haematopoiesis and liver determined by clinical examination and laboratory measurements. Univariate statistical methods and multiple regressions were used to analyse results. Skin resorption, smoking and other potential confounders were taken into account. Three hundred twenty-seven workers were eligible out of which 207 workers (63%) participated. Ninety-one of these worked with NMP. Occupational exposure to NMP did often not occur daily and ranged from non-detectable to 25.8 mg/m3 (median = 0.18). Urinary 2-HMSI (mg/l; before next shift) was the best biomarker of exposure to NMP, explaining about 70% of the variance, but most likelihood ratios did not allow for ruling exposure in or out, at these low levels of exposure. Creatinine adjustment did not improve the results clearly. No clear and consistent health effects could be associated with NMP exposure. No indication for a bias due to non-participation was found. Biological monitoring, primarily urinary 2-HMSI (mg/l; before next shift), is of value to estimate exposure to NMP even when exposure is irregular and low. Likelihood ratios of urinary 5-HMNP or 2-HMSI are, however, not quite satisfactory at these low levels. No irritant or other health effects were found.

Effect of Diaminopropionic Acid (Dap) on the Biophysical Properties of a Modified Synthetic Channel-Forming Peptide

Channel replacement therapy, based on synthetic channel-forming peptides (CFPs) with the ability to supersede defective endogenous ion channels, is a novel treatment modality that may augment existing interventions against multiple diseases. Previously, we derived CFPs from the second transmembrane segment of the α-subunit of the glycine receptor, M2GlyR, which forms chloride-selective channels in its native form. The best candidate, NK4-M2GlyR T19R, S22W (p22-T19R, S22W), was water-soluble, incorporated into cell membranes and was nonimmunogenic, but lacked the structural properties for high conductance and anion selectivity when assembled into a pore. Further studies suggested that the threonine residues at positions 13, 17, and 20 line the pore of assembled p22-T19R, S22W, and here we used 2,3-diaminopropionic acid (Dap) substitutions to introduce positive charges to the pore-lining interface of the predicted p22-T19R, S22W channel. Dap-substituted p22-T19R, S22W peptides retained the α-helical secondary structure characteristic of their parent peptide, and induced short-circuit transepithelial currents when exposed to the apical membrane of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells; the sequences containing multiple Dap-substituted residues induced larger currents than the peptides with single or no Dap substitutions. To gain further insights into the effects of Dap residues on the properties of the putative pore, we performed two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology on Xenopus oocytes exposed to p22-T19R, S22W or its Dap-modified analogues. We observed that Dap-substituted peptides also induced significantly larger voltage-dependent currents than the parent compound, but there was no apparent change in reversal potential upon replacement of external Na+, Cl- or K+, indicating that these currents remained nonselective. These results suggest that the introduction of positively charged side chains in predicted pore-lining residues does not improve anion-to-cation selectivity, but results in higher conductance, perhaps due to higher oligomerization numbers.

Aquaporin-3 and Aquaporin-4 Are Sorted Differently and Separately in the Trans-Golgi Network

Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) are homologous proteins expressed in the basolateral plasma membrane of kidney collecting duct principal cells, where they mediate the exit pathway for apically reabsorbed water. Although both proteins are localized to the same plasma membrane domain, it is unknown if they are sorted together in the Golgi, or arrive in the same or different vesicles at the plasma membrane. We addressed these questions using high resolution deconvolution imaging, spinning disk and laser scanning confocal microscopy of cells expressing AQP3 and AQP4. AQP3 and AQP4 were observed mostly in separate post-Golgi carriers, and spinning disk microscopy showed that most of AQP3 and AQP4 were delivered to the plasma membrane in separate vesicles. In contrast, VSV-G and LDL-R, two well-charcterized basolateral proteins, co-localized to a high degree in the same post-Golgi carriers, indicating that the differential sorting of AQP3 and AQP4 is specific and regulated. Significantly, a chimeric AQP3 containing the AQP4 cytoplasmic tails co-localized with AQP4 in post-Golgi vesicles. These results indicate that AQP3 and AQP4 are separated into different post-Golgi carriers based on different cytoplasmic domain sorting signals, and are then delivered separately to the plasma membrane.

A novel long-acting glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide analogue: enhanced efficacy in normal and diabetic rodents

AimGlucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) is an incretin hormone that is released from intestinal K cells in response to nutrient ingestion. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of the novel N- and C-terminally modified GIP analogue AC163794.MethodsAC163794 was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Design involved the substitution of the C-terminus tail region of the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV)-resistant GIP analogue [d-Ala2]GIP(1–42) with the unique nine amino acid tail region of exenatide. The functional activity and binding of AC163794 to the GIP receptor were evaluated in RIN-m5F β-cells. In vitro metabolic stability was tested in human plasma and kidney membrane preparations. Acute insulinotropic effects were investigated in isolated mouse islets and during an intravenous glucose tolerance test in normal and diabetic Zucker fatty diabetic (ZDF) rats. The biological actions of AC163794 were comprehensively assessed in normal, ob/ob and high-fat-fed streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Acute glucoregulatory effects of AC163794 were tested in diet-induced obese mice treated subchronically with AC3174, the exendatide analogue [Leu14] exenatide. Human GIP or [d-Ala2]GIP(1–42) were used for comparison.ResultsAC163794 exhibited nanomolar functional GIP receptor potency in vitro similar to GIP and [d-Ala2]GIP(1–42). AC163794 was metabolically more stable in vitro and displayed longer duration of insulinotropic action in vivo versus GIP and [d-Ala2]GIP(1–42). In diabetic mice, AC163794 improved HbA1c through enhanced insulinotropic action, partial restoration of pancreatic insulin content and improved insulin sensitivity with no adverse effects on fat storage and metabolism. AC163794 provided additional baseline glucose-lowering when injected to mice treated with AC3174.ConclusionsThese studies support the potential use of a novel GIP analogue AC163794 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

English

Introduction Glomerulonephritis is seen as a serious immunologic disease of the glomeruli. However, permanent renal damage has never been produced experimentally by immunisation without the concomitant use of Freund’s adjuvant or other tubulotoxic chemicals. Also contradictory is that renal failure is strongly associated with the degree of tubulointerstitial damage, both in experimental and human glomerulonephritis, whereas weak or no association at all has been found with the degree of glomerular damage. There is solid clinical and experimental evidence that the exposure to tubulotoxic chemicals alone is able to produce glomerulonephritis and renal failure, and there is increasing evidence that such exposure is a major cause of renal failure in other kidney diseases. The aim of this review was to discuss the role of tubulotoxic chemicals in renal failure. Conclusion As several studies have observed improvement of renal function after cessation of hydrocarbon exposure, it is reasonable to expect that avoiding other types of toxic exposure may be beneficial as well. It should therefore be mandatory to ask all the patients with renal failure about possible exposure to tubulotoxic chemicals, preferably by experienced occupational hygienists, and to support attempts to avoid such exposure. Introduction Glomerulonephritis (GN) is an innocent disease as long as renal function is normal. To prevent or to treat serious GN it is therefore necessary to know what causes renal failure. For many years, the interest has been focused on various immunological reactions, either between foreign antigens that arrive into the glomeruli after having reacted with circulating antibodies and complement; or between autologous anti-kidney antibodies and various kidney cells or membranes. In addition severe proteinuria has been considered noxious for the tubular cells. However, there are a host of contradictory observations. This review discusses the crucial role of tubulotoxic chemicals in renal failure. Discussion The author has referenced some of his own studies in this review. These referenced studies have been conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (1964) and the protocols of these studies have been approved by the relevant ethics committees related to the institution in which they were performed. All human subjects, in these referenced studies, gave informed consent to participate in the studies. The role of the immunological processes If the immunological reactions in the glomeruli are the cause of renal failure, directly or indirectly, there should exist an association between the number of glomerular immune complexes (ICs) or the degree of glomerular damage, and renal function, but it is not so. Greater amount of glomerular ICs are often seen in sheep, steers, guinea pigs, horses, mice and rabbits with normal renal function and normal urine1. Patients with malignancies, alcoholic liver disease and essential hypertension may have such deposits as well, although their renal function and their urine are normal1. A single injection of a foreign antigen into experimental animals results in the production of circulating and glomerular ICs, but unless the animals are injected with Freund’s adjuvant (FA) as well, or unless the foreign antigen is injected repeatedly, no renal damage is seen apart from mild and transient proteinuria1,2. In accordance, most cases of human GN following an acute infection may heal without permanent damage of the kidneys, but renal failure may be seen in patients with chronic infections, or if the patients are exposed to tubulotoxic chemicals. Experimental GN can also be produced in rats by autologous antibrush border or anti-podocyte antibodies, either by immunisation with rat kidney cells (active Heymann nephritis), or by injecting rabbit antirat brush border antibodies into rats (passive Heymann nephritis). These models are used as an argument for the idea that serious GN is caused by immunologic mechanisms. However, without FA autologous anti-kidney antibodies do not produce more than mild and transient proteinuria. In passive Heymann nephritis injected heterologous rabbit antibodies bind to the glomerulus immediately, but no harm is produced until a few days later, when the autologous anti-rabbit Ig antibodies lead to complex formation in situ1,2. However, this model cannot be used as an argument for an immunologic mechanism, as the presence of heterologous antibodies is most unlikely in human GN. * Corresponding author Email: ravnskov@tele2.se Magle Stora Kyrkogata 9, S 22350 Lund, Sweden

Effect of blood glucose fluctuation and the sustained high blood glucose on renal pathological change and collagen IV expression in diabetic rats

To observe the effect of blood glucose fluctuation and the sustained high blood glucose on renal pathological change and collagen IV (Col IV) expression in diabetic rats. The 60 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into a normal control group (NC) and a model group (DM). The rats in the normal control group were fed with normal diet, while the rats in the model group were fed with high-sucrose-high-fat diet for 6 weeks. After that,streptozocin (STZ, 30 mg/kg) was injected to induce diabetic model. The model group was then randomly divided into 2 subgroups: a sustained high blood glucose group and a fluctuation blood glucose group (animals in the latter group were subcutaneously injected with insulin twice daily). Rats were sacrificed after 3 months and kidney tissues were dissected for HE and PAS staining, Col IV immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Compared with the normal control group, the renal glomeruli and capillary basal membrane in the diabetic rats was getting larger and thicker, respectively; the capsular space and ground substance was extended and increased, respectively; the volume of renal tubule, kidney hypertrophy index, glomeruler sclerosis index and Col IV content were all increased in the diabetic rats (P<0.01). Compared with the sustained high blood glucose group, the above mentioned pathological changes were more serious in the blood glucose fluctuation group. The capillary basal membrane of kidney in diabetic rats is thicker and the ground substance is increased. The degree of glomeruler sclerosis is more serious in the blood glucose fluctuation group compared with the sustained high blood glucose group, which is confirmed by the increased level of Col IV.

Nanovesicle‐Based Bioelectronic Nose for the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer from Human Blood

A human nose-mimetic diagnosis system that can distinguish the odor of a lung cancer biomarker, heptanal, from human blood is presented. Selective recognition of the biomarker is mimicked in the human olfactory system. A specific olfactory receptor recognizing the chemical biomarker is first selected through screening a library of human olfactory receptors (hORs). The selected hOR is expressed on the membrane of human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells. Nanovesicles containing the hOR on the membrane are produced from these cells, and are then used for the functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes. This strategy allows the development of a sensitive and selective nanovesicle-based bioelectronic nose (NvBN). The NvBN is able to selectively detect heptanal at a concentration as low as 1 × 10(-14) m, a sufficient level to distinguish the blood of a lung cancer patient from the blood of a healthy person. In actual experiments, NvBN could detect an extremely small increase in the amount of heptanal from human blood plasma without any pretreatment processes. This result offers a rapid and easy method to analyze chemical biomarkers from human blood in real-time and to diagnose lung cancer.

Characterization of membrane receptor binding activity for cortisol in the liver and kidney of the euryhaline teleost, Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Glucocorticoids (GCs) regulate an array of physiological responses in vertebrates. Genomic GC actions mediated by nuclear steroid receptors require a lag time on the order of hours to days to generate an appreciable physiological response. Experimental evidence has accumulated that GCs, can also act rapidly through a nongenomic mechanism to modulate cellular physiology in vertebrates. Causal evidence in the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) suggests that the GC cortisol exerts rapid, nongenomic actions in the gills, liver, and pituitary of this euryhaline teleost, but the membrane receptor mediating these actions has not been characterized. Radioreceptor binding assays were conducted to identify a putative GC membrane receptor site in O. mossambicus. The tissue distribution, binding kinetics, and pharmacological signature of the GC membrane-binding activity were characterized. High affinity (Kd=9.527±0.001nM), low-capacity (Bmax=1.008±0.116fmol/mg protein) [3H] cortisol binding was identified on plasma membranes prepared from the livers and a lower affinity (Kd=30.08±2.373nM), low capacity (Bmax=4.690±2.373fmol/mg protein) binding was found in kidney membrane preparations. Competitors with high binding affinity for nuclear GC receptors, mifepristone (RU486), dexamethasone, and 11-deoxycorticosterone, displayed no affinity for the membrane GC receptor. The association and dissociation kinetics of [3H] cortisol binding to membranes were orders of magnitude faster (t1/2=1.7–2.6min) than those for the intracellular (nuclear) GC receptor (t1/2=10.2h). Specific [3H] cortisol membrane binding was also detected in the gill and pituitary but not in brain tissue. This study represents the first characterization of a membrane GC receptor in fishes and one of only a few characterized in vertebrates.

Ontogeny of mRNA expression of somatostatin and its receptors in chicken embryos in association with methylation status of their promoters

The present study was designed to investigate the ontogeny and tissue distribution of somatostatin and its five receptor subtypes (SSTR1-5) mRNA expression in embryonic chicken (Gallus gallus). Brain, gonads (male), intestine, kidney, liver, muscle, stomach and yolk sac membrane (YSM) of chicken embryos on the embryonic (E) ages of 10, 16 and 21days (right before hatch) were investigated. Bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) was performed to determine the methylation status of the promoter region of all the six genes in the liver. Somatostatin (SST) was predominately expressed in intestine, brain and gonads (male) with different ontogenic patterns. The highest expression in intestine was detected at E10. There was ontogenic shift from intestine to brain as development progressed. Expression pattern of SSTRs in brain, intestine and kidney was similar to human embryonic expression. In liver, the ontogenic expression pattern of SST and its receptors was associated to methylation status of the respective promoters. Methylation of site Sp1 determines expression level of SST, SSTR1, SSTR2 and SSTR3 while site a is important in governing the expression of SSTR4 and SSTR5. The results show that ontogenic expression profile of chicken SST and SSTRs is time and tissue specific.

Response to Pomozi et al’s Research Commentary

To the Editor In the course of studying the effects of ABCC6 deficiency in mice, we observed an enrichment of mitochondrial gene expression signatures. In subsequent studies, we found that ABCC6 null mice exhibited abnormal mitochondrial morphology and functional mitochondrial deficiencies.1 We then carried out subcellular fractionation studies, indicating that ABCC6 colocalized with markers of the mitochondria-associated membranes in mouse liver and kidney.1 Our results differed from Le Saux et al2 from the Varadi group, who had concluded in a recent publication that ABCC6 resided in the plasma membrane. To test whether ABCC6 was localized in plasma membrane, we performed cell surface protein biotin labeling experiments, which were negative for ABCC6.1 See Research Commentary, p e148 Pomozi et al3 of the Varadi group have now challenged our conclusions based, …

Binding of glycated ovocystatin to rat renal brush border membranes

Glycated proteins are considered as one of the factors involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, including nephropathy. These proteins are formed endogenously under conditions of hyperglycemia, as well as being provided with food containing sugars, which was subjected to high temperature. Examples are egg products. One of the proteins found in eggs in a relatively high concentration is chicken cystatin (ovocystatin). It is now believed that some proteins can passage the intestinal epithelium by transcytosis directly into the bloodstream. Thus, glycated protein present in food can be an additional source of glycotoxins. The aim of this study was to compare the affinity of native and glycated cystatin to the brush border membranes of rat kidney. Kinetic analysis was performed with surface plasmon resonance technique using sensor chip L1. Dissociation constants for native and glycated cystatin (Kd ) were 2.76 μmol/L and 3.82 μmol/L, respectively. The results of our study indicate that glycation only slightly affects binding of cystatin to brush border membranes. This suggests that glycated cystatin and other glycated proteins may also be efficiently taken up in the kidney proximal tubule. The observation may be important for understanding the mechanisms involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Functional Rescue of a Kidney Anion Exchanger 1 Trafficking Mutant in Renal Epithelial Cells

Mutations in the SLC4A1 gene encoding the anion exchanger 1 (AE1) can cause distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA), a disease often due to mis-trafficking of the mutant protein. In this study, we investigated whether trafficking of a Golgi-retained dRTA mutant, G701D kAE1, or two dRTA mutants retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, C479W and R589H kAE1, could be functionally rescued to the plasma membrane of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells. Treatments with DMSO, glycerol, the corrector VX-809, or low temperature incubations restored the basolateral trafficking of G701D kAE1 mutant. These treatments had no significant rescuing effect on trafficking of the mis-folded C479W or R589H kAE1 mutants. DMSO was the only treatment that partially restored G701D kAE1 function in the plasma membrane of MDCK cells. Our experiments show that trafficking of intracellularly retained dRTA kAE1 mutants can be partially restored, and that one chemical treatment rescued both trafficking and function of a dRTA mutant. These studies provide an opportunity to develop alternative therapeutic solutions for dRTA patients.

PH-gradient PAMPA-based in vitro model assay for drug-induced phospholipidosis in early stage of drug discovery

In the present study we validated a widely used, high-throughput in vitro permeability model (PAMPA) to be used at the early stage of drug discovery for the phospholipidosis (PLD) prediction of drug-like compounds. Regarding the mechanism of action of PLD, our pH-gradient PAMPA system is the first noncell based model to mimic one-way transport of cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) from cytosol to the lysosome. Moreover, due to the fact that PLD can mainly occur in lung, liver, brain, kidney and heart, we have used similar commercially available original tissue-derived lipid fractions (heart, liver, brain), and in the case mimicking membrane of kidney and lung tissue we prepared tissue-mimetic artificial lipid mixtures in house. Metabolism of a drug can change the degree of PLD depending on the physicochemical properties of metabolites and the rate of metabolism. Our data from 57 drugs and 4 metabolites of earlier and 2 metabolites of newly recognized outliers (phenacetin and bupropion) using our pH-gradient PAMPA system show a good correlation with in vivo PLD data. Moreover, predictive ability of our best system, the lung specific pH-gradient PAMPA model was significantly better than widely used in silico models and it was also slightly better than that of the known noncell based models on our selection of compounds. Our pH-gradient PAMPA systems therefore offer mechanistically alternative, accurate and cost-effective screening tools for the early prediction of PLD potential of drug-like compounds.