Distribution of 5′-nucleotidase in the renal interstitium of the rat

Summary The hydrolysis of 5-AMP by 5-nucleotidase is the main source of adenosine. In various tissues adenosine is a local mediator adjusting the organ work to the available energy. In the kidney it regulates renal hemodynamics, glomerular filtration rate and renin release via specific receptors of the arteriolar walls. By immunocytochemistry we identified interstitial and tubular sites of 5-nucleotidase in the rat kidney. In the interstitium the enzyme was detected only in the cortical labyrinth, the compartment that comprises all arteriolar vessels besides other putative targets of adenosine. The 5-nucleotidase-positive cells of the interstitium were identified as fibroblasts. The fibroblasts are in close contact with the tubules as well as with the vessels. Thus, any 5-AMP released by the tubules into the interstitial space would be converted to adenosine in the direct vicinity of its assumed targets. Adenosine produced by tubular cells would hardly have access to its known targets, since 5-nucleotidase is restricted to the luminal cell surface. Pathological events affecting the fibroblasts might influence renal function by modifying the interstitial adenosine production.     

Nicotine: the link between cigarette smoking and the progression of renal injury?

Cigarette smoke (CS) is the most important source of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States. Recent clinical studies have suggested that, in addition to being a major cardiovascular risk factor, CS promotes the progression of kidney disease. The mechanisms by which CS promotes the progression of chronic kidney disease have not been elucidated. Here we demonstrate for the first time that human mesangial cells (MCs) are endowed with the nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) alpha4, alpha5, alpha7, beta2, beta3, and beta4. Studies performed in other cell types have shown that these nAChRs are ionotropic receptors that function as agonist-regulated Ca(2+) channels. Nicotine induced MC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. At 10 (-7) M, a concentration found in the plasma of active smokers, nicotine induced MC proliferation [control, 1,328 +/- 50 vs. nicotine, 2,761 +/- 90 counts/minute (cpm); P < 0.05] and increased the synthesis of fibronectin (50%), a critical matrix component involved in the progression of chronic kidney disease. We and others have shown that, in response to PKC activation, MC synthesize reactive oxygen species (ROS) via NADPH oxidase. In the current studies we demonstrate that PKC inhibition as well as diphenyleneiodonium and apocynin, two inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, prevented the effects of nicotine on MC proliferation and fibronectin production, hence establishing ROS as second messengers of the actions of nicotine. Furthermore, nicotine increased the production of ROS as assessed by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate fluorescence [control, 184.4 +/- 26 vs. nicotine, 281.5 +/- 26 arbitrary fluorescence units (AFU); n = 5 experiments, P < 0.05]. These studies unveil previously unrecognized mechanisms that indict nicotine, a component of CS, as an agent that may accelerate and promote the progression of kidney disease.     

Sodium-dependent modulation of the renal Na−K-ATPase: Influence of mineralocorticoids on the cortical collecting duct

Summary Mineralocorticoids play a major role in the regulation of sodium transport in a variety of tissues, including the cortical collecting duct (CCD) of the mammalian nephron. To assess, in part, the underlying mechanism(s) of this control, the present studies were designed to evaluate, first, the influence of mineralocorticoids on the Na–K-ATPase activity in the rabbit CCD and, secondly, a possible role of sodium entry into the cell at the luminal border on the regulation of the Na–K-ATPase. In the first series of studies, rabbits were maintained on a low sodium diet which raised serum aldosterone levels from 16 to 70 ng/dl after 3–4 days, with further elevations being expressed with treatment for two weeks or more. In CCDs isolated from these animals, the Na–K-ATPase increased from 13 to 40 pmol ADP min^–1 mm^–1 after 3–4 days on the low sodium regimen, but then declined, returning to control values after approximately 2 weeks. This decline in activity was preceded by a decrease in the Na⁺ concentration of the urine to low levels and hence, likely coincided with a decreased delivery of sodium to, and sodium entry into the cells of, the CCD. If dietary manipulations were used to maintain a high delivery of sodium to the CCD in the animal, elevation of plasma mineralocorticoid levels by treatment with deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) caused a similar elevation in the Na–K-ATPase activity after 3–4 days, which did not decline with continued treatment for up to 2 weeks. Furthermore, it was observed that mineralocorticoids only exerted their effect on the Na–K-ATPase after a latent period of 1 day, well after sodium excretion had fallen, indicating that sodium entry into the CCD cells was already stimulated. If animals were simultaneously treated with DOCA and the sodium channel blocker amiloride for 3–4 days, the effects on the Na–K-ATPase were markedly reduced, whereas amiloride treatment alone had no effect on the enzyme activity. Since others have shown that mineralocorticoids induce synthesis of the Na–K-ATPase subunits in toad bladder cells in an amiloride-insensitive manner, sodium must be exerting its effect on a process after translation. It is concluded that the initial effect of mineralocorticoids in the CCD is on sodium entry with a delayed induction of the Na–K-ATPase, which is regulated by Na-dependent modulation of a posttranslational process.     

Mineralocorticoids modulate the expression of the β-3 subunit of the Na+, K+-ATPase in the renal collecting duct

Renal sodium reabsorption depends on the activity of the Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase α/β heterodimer. Four α (α_1–4) and 3 β (β_1–3) subunit isoforms have been described. It is accepted that renal tubule cells express α₁/β₁ dimers. Aldosterone stimulates Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity and may modulate α₁/β₁ expression. However, some studies suggest the presence of β₃ in the kidney. We hypothesized that the β₃ isoform of the Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase is expressed in tubular cells of the distal nephron, and modulated by mineralocorticoids. We found that β₃ is highly expressed in collecting duct of rodents, and that mineralocorticoids decreased the expression of β₃. Thus, we describe a novel molecular mechanism of sodium pump modulation that may contribute to the effects of mineralocorticoids on sodium reabsorption.     

Is the presence of abnormal prion protein in the renal glomeruli of feline species presenting with FSE authentic?

In a recent paper written by Hilbe et al (BMC vet res, 2009), the nature and specificity of the prion protein deposition in the kidney of feline species affected with feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE) were clearly considered doubtful. This article was brought to our attention because we published several years ago an immunodetection of abnormal prion protein in the kidney of a cheetah affected with FSE. At this time we were convinced of its specificity but without having all the possibilities to demonstrate it. As previously published by another group, the presence of abnormal prion protein in some renal glomeruli in domestic cats affected with FSE is indeed generally considered as doubtful mainly because of low intensity detected in this organ and because control kidneys from safe animals present also a weak prion immunolabelling. Here we come back on these studies and thought it would be helpful to relay our last data to the readers of BMC Vet res for future reference on this subject.     

Electron microscope observations on intracellular virus-like particles associated with the cells of the Lucké renal adenocarcinoma

The common renal adenocarcinoma of the leopard frog was studied in thin sections with the electron microscope. Approximately a third of the tumors examined were found to contain spheroidal bodies of uniform size and distinctive morphology that are believed to be virus particles. These consist of hollow spheres (90 to 100 mmicro) having a thick capsule and a dense inner body (35 to 40 mmicro) that is eccentrically placed within the central cavity (70 to 80 mmicro). Virus particles of this kind occur principally in the cytoplasm but occasionally they are also found in the nucleus and in the extracellular spaces of the tumor. The intranuclear inclusion bodies that are visible with the light microscope are largely comprised of hollow, spherical vesicles with thin limiting membranes. These are embedded in a finely granular matrix. A few of the thin walled vesicles contain a dense inner body like that of the cytoplasmic virus particles. This suggests that they may be immature virus particles. The inclusion bodies are believed to be formed in the course of virus multiplication but they usually contain very few mature virus particles. Bundles of dense filaments and peculiar vacuolar inclusions also occur in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. These seem to be related in some way to the presence of virus but their origin and significance remain obscure. These findings are discussed in relation to previous work suggesting that the Lucké adenocarcinoma is caused by an organ-specific filtrable agent. It is concluded that the "virus particles" found in electron micrographs of the tumor cells may be the postulated tumor agent. On the other hand, the possibility remains that the particles described here are not those that are causally related to the tumors.     

Impaired myogenic constriction of the renal afferent arteriole in a mouse model of reduced βENaC expression

Previous studies demonstrate a role for β epithelial Na(+) channel (βENaC) protein as a mediator of myogenic constriction in renal interlobar arteries. However, the importance of βENaC as a mediator of myogenic constriction in renal afferent arterioles, the primary site of development of renal vascular resistance, has not been determined. We colocalized βENaC with smooth muscle α-actin in vascular smooth muscle cells in renal arterioles using immunofluorescence. To determine the importance of βENaC in myogenic constriction in renal afferent arterioles, we used a mouse model of reduced βENaC (βENaC m/m) and examined pressure-induced constrictor responses in the isolated afferent arteriole-attached glomerulus preparation. We found that, in response to a step increase in perfusion pressure from 60 to 120 mmHg, the myogenic tone increased from 4.5 ± 3.7 to 27.3 ± 5.2% in +/+ mice. In contrast, myogenic tone failed to increase with the pressure step in m/m mice (3.9 ± 0.8 to 6.9 ± 1.4%). To determine the importance of βENaC in myogenic renal blood flow (RBF) regulation, we examined the rate of change in renal vascular resistance following a step increase in perfusion pressure in volume-expanded animals. We found that, following a step increase in pressure, the rate of myogenic correction of RBF is inhibited by 75% in βENaC m/m mice. These findings demonstrate that myogenic constriction in afferent arterioles is dependent on normal expression of βENaC.     

The CD39-adenosinergic axis in the pathogenesis of renal ischemia–reperfusion injury

Hypoxic injury occurs when the blood supply to an organ is interrupted; subsequent reperfusion halts ongoing ischemic damage but paradoxically leads to further inflammation. Together this is termed ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI). IRI is inherent to organ transplantation and impacts both the short- and long-term outcomes of the transplanted organ. Activation of the purinergic signalling pathway is intrinsic to the pathogenesis of, and endogenous response to IRI. Therapies targeting the purinergic pathway in IRI are an attractive avenue for the improvement of transplant outcomes and the basis of ongoing research. This review aims to examine the role of adenosine receptor signalling and the ecto-nucleotidases, CD39 and CD73, in IRI, with a particular focus on renal IRI.     

Does magnesium dysbalance participate in the development of insulin resistance in early stages of renal disease?

We investigated the potential role of magnesium (Mg) dysbalance in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR) in patients with mildly-to-moderately decreased renal function (creatinine: 142.8+/-11.0 mmol/l). The data were compared to those of 8 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (CTRL). The standard oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) was performed in 61 patients. Twenty-two patients were classified as IR according to their values on fasting and after-load immunoreactive insulin concentrations. Serum and total erythrocyte Mg (tErMg) (atomic absorption spectro-photometry) and free erythrocyte Mg (fErMg) concentrations ((31) P NMR spectroscopy) were determined prior to and two hours after the glucose load. Ten out of 39 insulin-sensitive (IS) patients, but only one out of 22 insulin-resistant (IR) patients, had a low basal fErMg concentration (<162.2 micromol/l, chi2, p<0.01). IR patients had higher serum Mg, total erythrocyte Mg and bound erythrocyte Mg (bErMg) concentrations (both before and after glucose load) when compared with the IS group. Both groups responded to the glucose load with a significant decrease in serum Mg concentration (within the normal range), while the IR group also exhibited a decline in tErMg and bErMg. The mean sum of insulin needed to metabolize the same glucose load correlated positively with tErMg (r=0.545, p<0.01) and bErMg (r=0.560, p<0.01) in the IR patients. It is concluded that, at an early stage of renal dysfunction, IR is not associated with the decline in free erythrocyte Mg concentration, but the magnesium handling in red blood cells is altered.     

Comprehensive analysis of the mouse renal cortex using two-dimensional HPLC – tandem mass spectrometry

Background  

Proteomic methodologies increasingly have been applied to the kidney to map the renal cortical proteome and to identify global changes in renal proteins induced by diseases such as diabetes. While progress has been made in establishing a renal cortical proteome using 1-D or 2-DE and mass spectrometry, the number of proteins definitively identified by mass spectrometry has remained surprisingly small. Low coverage of the renal cortical proteome as well as our interest in diabetes-induced changes in proteins found in the renal cortex prompted us to perform an in-depth proteomic analysis of mouse renal cortical tissue.     

Which method of estimating renal function is the best predictor of mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting?

Objectives

Definitions of renal function in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) vary in the literature. We sought to investigate which method of estimating renal function is the best predictor of mortality after CABG.

Methods

We analysed the preoperative and postoperative renal function data from all patients undergoing isolated CABG from January 1998 through December 2007. Preoperative and postoperative renal function was estimated using serum creatinine (SeCr) levels, creatinine clearance (CrCl) determined by the Cockcroft-Gault formula and the glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) estimated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the ROC curves were calculated.

Results

In 9987 patients, CrCl had the best discriminatory power to predict early as well as late mortality, followed by e-GFR and finally SeCr. The odds ratios for preoperative parameters for early mortality were closer to 1 than those of the postoperative parameters.

Conclusions

Renal function determined by the Cockcroft-Gault formula is the best predictor of early and late mortality after CABG. The relationship between renal function and mortality is non-linear. Renal function as a variable in risk scoring systems such as the EuroSCORE needs to be reconsidered.     

Effects of r—HuEPO on the biophysical characteristics of erythrocyte membrane in patients with anemia of chronic renal failure

Using electron spin resonance (ESR) spin labeling technique,we have studied the conformation of sulfhydryl groups(-SH) binding sites in membrane proteins and mem brane fluidity of red blood cells(RBCs) from two groups of patients with anemia of chronic renal failure(ACRF).One of the groups is composed of patients who were untreated with recombinant human erythropoietin(r-HuEPO),and the other is composed of patients who were treated with r-HuEPO.The results indicated:1)the conformation of SH group binding site in RBC membrane proteins from former group was different from those of healty people.2)the fluidity in the region near the surface of RBC membrane from former group was lower than those of healthy people.3)However,the above biophysical properties of RBC membrane from later group were normal.We concluded that RBC membrane in patients with ACRF was abnormal,and the treatment of r-HuEPO may promote the production of normal RBCs,thus ameliorate the biophysical properties of RBCs from the patients with ACRF.     

Is there a role for renal alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the pathogenesis of hypertension?

Current information suggests that alpha 2-adrenoceptors do not directly influence vascular resistance or Na reabsorption in the rat kidney. To reexamine the effects of alpha 2-agonists we used isolated rat kidneys perfused at 37.5 degrees C with precise measurement of renal artery pressure and flow. The recirculating perfusate contained pyruvate as the sole metabolic substrate which enabled us to use gluconeogenesis as an index of proximal tubular alpha 1-responses. Clonidine and guanfacine in 100 nM concentrations decreased phosphate excretion without altering Na, Cl, or K reabsorption or gluconeogenesis; 500 nM concentrations increased vascular resistance and decreased glomerular filtration rate and Na, Cl, and K excretion with no significant effect on gluconeogenesis. Prior thyroparathyroidectomy prevented the antiphosphaturic but not the antinatriuretic or vascular responses. Clonidine, an alpha 2-agonist with some alpha 1-activity, was a more potent vasoconstrictor than methoxamine or guanfacine. In the presence of prazosin (1 microM), norepinephrine (60 nM) stimulated phosphate reabsorption; norepinephrine alone did not stimulate phosphate reabsorption which indicates alpha 1-antagonism of this alpha 2-response to NE. These results and a literature review suggest that increased renal alpha 2-adrenoceptors could raise renal vascular resistance, reduce renin secretion, and antagonize parathyroid hormone effects on Pi, Ca, HCO3, and Na reabsorption to produce a low renin type of hypertension with increased proximal Na reabsorption and abnormal Ca and Pi excretion.