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Sadeghinezhad J, Lazzarini G, Bojarzadeh H, Gatta A, Rezai S, Pirone A, Miragliotta V. Three-dimensional morphometry of kidney in New Zealand rabbit using unbiased design-based stereology. Microsc Res Tech 2024; 87:2053-2062. [PMID: 38655680 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The rabbit is widely used as a laboratory animal in experimental models of kidney diseases. This species is also important from a veterinary perspective as a companion animal. Stereology has been accepted as an accurate approach to kidney morphometry. The objective of the present project was to provide normal quantitative stereological parameters for adult rabbit kidneys. The left kidneys of five adult male New Zealand rabbits were used. Isotropic sections were obtained using the orientation method. Total kidney volume was calculated by the Cavalieri principle. The volume fraction of the renal structures was estimated using the point counting system. The lengths of the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) and distal convoluted tubule (DCT) were calculated using counting frames. The total glomerular number was accounted for using the physical/fractionator technique. The mean glomerular volume was obtained by dividing the total volume of glomeruli by their total number. The total volume of rabbit kidneys calculated was 10.39 ± 1.98 cm3. The fractional volume of the kidney cortex and medulla accounted for 57.79 ± 0.65% and 42.2 ± 0.65%, respectively. The total glomerular volume was 2.18 ± 0.32% of the whole kidney. The total number of glomeruli in the rabbit kidney was estimated as 204.68 ± 12 × 103. The mean glomerular volume measured 1.07 ± 0.12 × 106 μm3. The total length of PCT and DCT was 2.96 ± 0.29 km and 1.38 ± 0.24 km, respectively. These findings can be used as a reference in experimental nephrology research and may help to expand the knowledge of nephrology in mammals by comparing with available data on humans and other species. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Three-dimensional morphometry of adult rabbit kidney structures was analyzed using quantitative stereology. Total volume of kidney, fractional volume of cortex and medulla, length of renal tubules and number of nephrons were estimated. These three-dimensional morphometrical data can be used as a reference in experimental nephrology research and may help to expand the knowledge of nephrology in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Sadeghinezhad
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Giulia Lazzarini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Hadis Bojarzadeh
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alessandra Gatta
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sobhan Rezai
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Andrea Pirone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Rahmani S, Jafree DJ, Lee PD, Tafforeau P, Brunet J, Nandanwar S, Jacob J, Bellier A, Ackermann M, Jonigk DD, Shipley RJ, Long DA, Walsh CL. Mapping the blood vasculature in an intact human kidney using hierarchical phase-contrast tomography. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.03.28.534566. [PMID: 37034801 PMCID: PMC10081185 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.28.534566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The architecture of the kidney vasculature is essential for its function. Although structural profiling of the intact rodent kidney vasculature has been performed, it is challenging to map vascular architecture of larger human organs. We hypothesised that hierarchical phase-contrast tomography (HiP-CT) would enable quantitative analysis of the entire human kidney vasculature. Combining label-free HiP-CT imaging of an intact kidney from a 63-year-old male with topology network analysis, we quantitated vasculature architecture in the human kidney down to the scale of arterioles. Although human and rat kidney vascular topologies are comparable, vascular radius decreases at a significantly faster rate in humans as vessels branch from artery towards the cortex. At branching points of large vessels, radii are theoretically optimised to minimise flow resistance, an observation not found for smaller arterioles. Structural differences in the vasculature were found in different spatial zones of the kidney reflecting their unique functional roles. Overall, this represents the first time the entire arterial vasculature of a human kidney has been mapped providing essential inputs for computational models of kidney vascular flow and synthetic vascular architectures, with implications for understanding how the structure of individual blood vessels collectively scales to facilitate organ function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahrokh Rahmani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
- National Heart & Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniyal J Jafree
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Research & Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK, WC1N 1EH
- UCL MB/PhD Programme, Faculty of Medical Science, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
- UCL Centre of Kidney and Bladder Health, UCL London UK
| | - Peter D Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
| | - Paul Tafforeau
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France, 38043
| | - Joseph Brunet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France, 38043
| | - Sonal Nandanwar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
| | - Joseph Jacob
- Satsuma Lab, Centre for Medical Image Computing, UCL, London, UK
- Lungs for Living Research Centre, UCL, London, UK
| | - Alexandre Bellier
- Department of Anatomy (LADAF), Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France, 38058
| | - Maximilian Ackermann
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Pathology and Department of Molecular Pathology, Helios University Clinic Wuppertal, University of Witten-Herdecke, Wuppertal, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen Medical University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Danny D Jonigk
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen Medical University, Aachen, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Rebecca J Shipley
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
| | - David A Long
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Research & Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK, WC1N 1EH
- UCL Centre of Kidney and Bladder Health, UCL London UK
| | - Claire L Walsh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
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3
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Selby NM, Francis ST. Assessment of Acute Kidney Injury using MRI. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024. [PMID: 38334370 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
There has been growing interest in using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to describe and understand the pathophysiology of acute kidney injury (AKI). The ability to assess kidney blood flow, perfusion, oxygenation, and changes in tissue microstructure at repeated timepoints is hugely appealing, as this offers new possibilities to describe nature and severity of AKI, track the time-course to recovery or progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD), and may ultimately provide a method to noninvasively assess response to new therapies. This could have significant clinical implications considering that AKI is common (affecting more than 13 million people globally every year), harmful (associated with short and long-term morbidity and mortality), and currently lacks specific treatments. However, this is also a challenging area to study. After the kidney has been affected by an initial insult that leads to AKI, complex coexisting processes ensue, which may recover or can progress to CKD. There are various preclinical models of AKI (from which most of our current understanding derives), and these differ from each other but more importantly from clinical AKI. These aspects are fundamental to interpreting the results of the different AKI studies in which renal MRI has been used, which encompass different settings of AKI and a variety of MRI measures acquired at different timepoints. This review aims to provide a comprehensive description and interpretation of current studies (both preclinical and clinical) in which MRI has been used to assess AKI, and discuss future directions in the field. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Selby
- Centre for Kidney Research and Innovation, Academic Unit for Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Department of Renal Medicine, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK
| | - Susan T Francis
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Staub E. Current and potential methods to assess kidney structure and morphology in term and preterm neonates. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023. [PMID: 36883787 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
After birth, the kidney structure in neonates adapt to the functional demands of extrauterine life. Nephrogenesis is complete in the third trimester, but glomeruli, tubuli, and vasculature mature with the rapidly increasing renal blood flow and glomerular filtration. In preterm infants, nephrogenesis remains incomplete and maturation is slower and may be aberrant. This structural and functional deficit has life-long consequences: preterm born individuals are at higher risk for chronic kidney disease and arterial hypertension later in life. This review assembles the literature on existing and potential methods to visualize neonatal kidney structure and morphology and explore their potential to longitudinally document the developmental deviation after preterm birth. X-rays with and without contrast, fluoroscopy and computed tomography (CT) involve relevant ionizing radiation exposure and, apart from CT, do not provide sufficient structural details. Ultrasound has evolved into a safe and noninvasive high-resolution imaging method which is excellent for longitudinal observations. Doppler ultrasound modes can characterize and quantify blood flow to and through the kidneys. Microvascular flow imaging has opened new possibilities of visualizing previously unseen vascular structures. Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging display renal structure and function in unprecedented detail, but are offset by the logistical challenges of the imaging procedure and limited experience with the new techniques in neonates. Kidney biopsies visualize structure histologically, but are too invasive and remain anecdotal in newborns. All the explored methods have predominantly been examined in term newborns and require further research on longitudinal structural observation in the kidneys of preterm infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveline Staub
- Department of Neonatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
- University of Sydney Northern Clinical School, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
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5
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Habib RS, Alhaaik AG. Age-related glomerular histogenesis in inbred indigenous rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): A morphological, morphometrical, and immunohistochemical study with emphasis on Lgr5-positive cells. Acta Histochem 2023; 125:151994. [PMID: 36610219 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2022.151994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Although the regeneration of renal glomeruli and nephrons after injuries especially in adult mammals is not possible, understanding normal glomerular histogenesis is important. Here, we sought to study the morphometrical and histological development of the normal renal glomeruli of rabbits from birth until postnatal day 40. Moreover, we immunohistochemically evaluated the extent and rate of the Lgr5 expression in the immature renal stem/progenitor cells. The untreated, clinically healthy inbred indigenous rabbits (from Duhok city of Iraqi Kurdistan) were sacrificed at postnatal days 1, 10, 15, 30, and 40. After being processed and embedded in paraffin, rabbit anti-human Lgr5 as a primary antibody and rabbit ImmunoCruz LSAB as a staining kit were used for the immunohistochemical detection of Lgr5+ve cells. For normal histology, hematoxylin and eosin were used. The peak generation and regression of renal corpuscles were at postnatal days 10, and 40, respectively, with 50% decrease. The glomeruli diameter significantly increased (1.3-fold, p = 0.001), whereas the Bowman's space diameter decreased (50%, p < 0.0001) from postnatal day 1-40. The immature nephrons were seen only in one-day postnatal rabbits. While the superficial glomeruli were compact and small, the juxtamedullary glomeruli were larger and segmented. The formation and development of the juxtaglomerular apparatus were documented at postnatal days 30 and 40 only. Our data revealed highly expressed Lgr5 protein at postnatal day one, and the expression level decreased gradually with advancing age. It was moderately expressed on day 10 and mildly expressed on day 15, whereas no expression was recorded on days 30 and 40 postnatally. Our study provides evidence that the Lgr5 gene, within multipotent stem cells and their lineage progeny, was activated within newly formed glomeruli throughout the early postnatal stages of nephrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronak Saber Habib
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
| | - Ammar Ghanim Alhaaik
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul City, Iraq.
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6
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Baldelomar EJ, Charlton JR, Bennett KM. Mapping single-nephron filtration in the isolated, perfused rat kidney using magnetic resonance imaging. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2022; 323:F602-F611. [PMID: 36049066 PMCID: PMC9602809 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00103.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The kidney has an extraordinary ability to maintain glomerular filtration despite natural fluctuations in blood pressure and nephron loss. This is partly due to local coordination between single-nephron filtration and vascular perfusion. An improved understanding of the three-dimensional (3-D) functional coordination between nephrons and the vasculature may provide a new perspective of the heterogeneity of kidney function and could inform targeted therapies and timed interventions to slow or prevent the progression of kidney disease. Here, we developed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tools to visualize single-nephron function in 3-D throughout the isolated perfused rat kidney. We used an intravenous slow perfusion of a glomerulus-targeted imaging tracer [cationized ferritin (CF)] to map macromolecular dynamics and to identify glomeruli in 3-D, followed by a bolus of a freely filtered tracer (gadolinium diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid) to map filtration kinetics. There was a wide intrakidney distribution of CF binding rates and estimated single-nephron glomerular filtration rate (eSNGFR) between nephrons. eSNGFR and CF uptake rates did not vary significantly by distance from the kidney surface. eSNGFR varied from ∼10 to ∼100 nL/min throughout the kidney. Whole single-kidney GFR was similar across all kidneys, despite differences in the distributions eSNGFR of and glomerular number, indicating a robust adaptive regulation of individual nephrons to maintain constant single-kidney GFR in the presence of a natural variation in nephron number. This work provides a framework for future studies of single-nephron function in the whole isolated perfused kidney and experiments of single-nephron function in vivo using MRI.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We report MRI tools to measure and map single-nephron function in the isolated, perfused rat kidney. We used imaging tracers to identify nephrons throughout the kidney and to measure the delivery and filtration of the tracers at the location of the glomeruli. With this technique, we directly measured physiological parameters including estimated single-nephron glomerular filtration rate throughout the kidney. This work provides a foundation for new studies to simultaneously map the function of large numbers of nephrons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin J Baldelomar
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jennifer R Charlton
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Kevin M Bennett
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
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7
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Charlton JR, Xu Y, Parvin N, Wu T, Gao F, Baldelomar EJ, Morozov D, Beeman SC, Derakhshan J, Bennett KM. Image analysis techniques to map pyramids, pyramid structure, glomerular distribution, and pathology in the intact human kidney from 3-D MRI. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2021; 321:F293-F304. [PMID: 34282957 PMCID: PMC8530750 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00130.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Kidney pathologies are often highly heterogeneous. To comprehensively understand kidney structure and pathology, it is critical to develop tools to map tissue microstructure in the context of the whole, intact organ. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide a unique, three-dimensional view of the kidney and allows for measurements of multiple pathological features. Here, we developed a platform to systematically render and map gross and microstructural features of the human kidney based on three-dimensional MRI. These features include pyramid number and morphology as well as the associated medulla and cortex. In a subset of these kidneys, we also mapped individual glomeruli and glomerular volumes using cationic ferritin-enhanced MRI to report intrarenal heterogeneity in glomerular density and size. Finally, we rendered and measured regions of nephron loss due to pathology and individual glomerular volumes in each pyramidal unit. This work provides new tools to comprehensively evaluate the kidney across scales, with potential applications in anatomic and physiological research, transplant allograft evaluation, biomarker development, biopsy guidance, and therapeutic monitoring. These image rendering and analysis tools could eventually impact the field of transplantation medicine to improve longevity matching of donor allografts and recipients and reduce discard rates through the direct assessment of donor kidneys.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We report the application of cutting-edge image analysis approaches to characterize the pyramidal geometry, glomerular microstructure, and heterogeneity of the whole human kidney imaged using MRI. This work establishes a framework to improve the detection of microstructural pathology to potentially facilitate disease monitoring or transplant evaluation in the individual kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Charlton
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Children's Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Yanzhe Xu
- School of Computing, Informatics, Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Mayo Center for Innovative Imaging, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Neda Parvin
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Teresa Wu
- School of Computing, Informatics, Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Mayo Center for Innovative Imaging, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Fei Gao
- School of Computing, Informatics, Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Mayo Center for Innovative Imaging, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Edwin J Baldelomar
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Darya Morozov
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Scott C Beeman
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Jamal Derakhshan
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kevin M Bennett
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
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8
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Katagiri D, Wang F, Gore JC, Harris RC, Takahashi T. Clinical and experimental approaches for imaging of acute kidney injury. Clin Exp Nephrol 2021; 25:685-699. [PMID: 33835326 PMCID: PMC8154759 DOI: 10.1007/s10157-021-02055-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Complex molecular cell dynamics in acute kidney injury and its heterogeneous etiologies in patient populations in clinical settings have revealed the potential advantages and disadvantages of emerging novel damage biomarkers. Imaging techniques have been developed over the past decade to further our understanding about diseased organs, including the kidneys. Understanding the compositional, structural, and functional changes in damaged kidneys via several imaging modalities would enable a more comprehensive analysis of acute kidney injury, including its risks, diagnosis, and prognosis. This review summarizes recent imaging studies for acute kidney injury and discusses their potential utility in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Katagiri
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, S-3223 MCN, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Department of Nephrology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan.
| | - Feng Wang
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt In Vivo Mouse Kidney Imaging Core, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - John C Gore
- Vanderbilt In Vivo Mouse Kidney Imaging Core, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Raymond C Harris
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, S-3223 MCN, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Takamune Takahashi
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, S-3223 MCN, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Vanderbilt In Vivo Mouse Kidney Imaging Core, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
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9
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Baldelomar EJ, Reichert DE, Shoghi KI, Beeman SC, Charlton JR, Strong L, Fettig N, Klaas A, Bennett KM. Mapping nephron mass in vivo using positron emission tomography. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2021; 320:F183-F192. [PMID: 33283644 PMCID: PMC8091936 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00418.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Nephron number varies widely in humans. A low nephron endowment at birth or a loss of functioning nephrons is strongly linked to increased susceptibility to chronic kidney disease. In this work, we developed a contrast agent, radiolabeled cationic ferritin (RadioCF), to map functioning glomeruli in vivo in the kidney using positron emission tomography (PET). PET radiotracers can be detected in trace doses (<30 nmol), making them useful for rapid clinical translation. RadioCF is formed from cationic ferritin (CF) and with a radioisotope, Cu-64, incorporated into the ferritin core. We showed that RadioCF binds specifically to kidney glomeruli after intravenous injection in mice, whereas radiolabeled noncationic ferritin (RadioNF) and free Cu-64 do not. We then showed that RadioCF-PET can distinguish kidneys in healthy wild-type (WT) mice from kidneys in mice with oligosyndactylism (Os/+), a model of congenital hypoplasia and low nephron mass. The average standardized uptake value (SUV) measured by PET 90 min after injection was 21% higher in WT mice than in Os/+ mice, consistent with the higher glomerular density in WT mice. The difference in peak SUV from SUV at 90 min correlated with glomerular density in male mice from both WT and Os/+ cohorts (R2 = 0.98). Finally, we used RadioCF-PET to map functioning glomeruli in a donated human kidney. SUV within the kidney correlated with glomerular number (R2= 0.78) measured by CF-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the same locations. This work suggests that RadioCF-PET appears to accurately detect nephron mass and has the potential for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin J Baldelomar
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - David E Reichert
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kooresh I Shoghi
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Scott C Beeman
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | | | - Lori Strong
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Nikki Fettig
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Amanda Klaas
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kevin M Bennett
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
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10
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Charlton JR, Xu Y, Wu T, deRonde KA, Hughes JL, Dutta S, Oxley GT, Cwiek A, Cathro HP, Charlton NP, Conaway MR, Baldelomar EJ, Parvin N, Bennett KM. Magnetic resonance imaging accurately tracks kidney pathology and heterogeneity in the transition from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease. Kidney Int 2020; 99:173-185. [PMID: 32916180 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2020.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI) increases the risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there are few tools to detect microstructural changes after AKI. Here, cationic ferritin-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CFE-MRI) was applied to examine the heterogeneity of kidney pathology in the transition from AKI to CKD. Adult male mice received folic acid followed by cationic ferritin and were euthanized at four days (AKI), four weeks (CKD-4) or 12 weeks (CKD-12). Kidneys were examined by histologic methods and CFE-MRI. In the CKD-4 and CKD-12 groups, glomerular number was reduced and atubular cortical lesions were observed. Apparent glomerular volume was larger in the AKI, CKD-4 and CKD-12 groups compared to controls. Glomerular hypertrophy occurred with ageing. Interglomerular distance and glomerular density were combined with other MRI metrics to distinguish the AKI and CKD groups from controls. Despite significant heterogeneity, the noninvasive (MRI-based) metrics were as accurate as invasive (histological) metrics at distinguishing AKI and CKD from controls. To assess the toxicity of cationic ferritin in a CKD model, CKD-4 mice received cationic ferritin and were examined one week later. The CKD-4 groups with and without cationic ferritin were similar, except the iron content of the kidney, liver, and spleen was greater in the CKD-4 plus cationic ferritin group. Thus, our study demonstrates the accuracy and safety of CFE-MRI to detect whole kidney pathology allowing for the development of novel biomarkers of kidney disease and providing a foundation for future in vivo longitudinal studies in mouse models of AKI and CKD to track nephron fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Charlton
- Department of Pediatrics, Division Nephrology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
| | - Yanzhe Xu
- ASU-Mayo Center for Innovative Imaging, School of Computing, Informatics, Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Teresa Wu
- ASU-Mayo Center for Innovative Imaging, School of Computing, Informatics, Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Kim A deRonde
- Department of Pediatrics, Division Nephrology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Shourik Dutta
- School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Gavin T Oxley
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Helen P Cathro
- Department of Pathology University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Nathan P Charlton
- Department of Toxicology, University of Virginia, Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Mark R Conaway
- Division of Translational Research and Applied Statistics Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Edwin J Baldelomar
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Neda Parvin
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kevin M Bennett
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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11
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Black MJ. Filtering the good from the bad: A focus on kidney development and disease to celebrate John Bertram's long‐standing career in anatomy and renal research. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.24484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Jane Black
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash University Clayton Victoria Australia
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Sutherland MR. Introduction to a special issue on kidney development and disease. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 303:2507-2510. [PMID: 32613692 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Enriching our understanding of the anatomy of the kidneys, in development, health, and disease, has been the primary focus of Professor John Bertram's distinguished research career to date. Among other notable achievements, his landmark analyses of nephron number in over 400 human kidneys (the Monash Series), and his refinement of stereological techniques for renal structural analyses, have proven him an international leader in renal anatomy research. In this Special Issue, we (some of John's collaborators, colleagues, and former students) celebrate John's career with a series of 20 review and original research articles relevant to his expertise: (a) renal anatomy, physiology, and pathology, (b) kidney development, podocyte biology, and applications of renal stem cells, (c) renal developmental programming, and (d) contemporary methodologies in renal research; his accomplishments as a Head (Chair) of an Anatomy Department are also illustrated. We hope that this collection will serve as both an important resource, and a source of inspiration, to renal anatomy researchers and educators alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan R Sutherland
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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