Inhibition of renal accumulation of lysozyme (basic low molecular weight protein) by basic proteins and other basic substances

Effect of gentamicin on pharmacokinetics of lysozyme in rats: interaction between megalin substrates in the kidney

To investigate the pharmacokinetic interaction between substrates of megalin, a 600-kDa endocytic receptor abundantly expressed in the renal proximal tubules, we examined the effect of gentamicin infusion on the pharmacokinetics of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-lysozyme in rats. Infusion of gentamicin did not affect the plasma concentration-time profile of FITC-lysozyme. On the other hand, gentamicin significantly decreased the accumulation of FITC-lysozyme in the renal cortex and medulla, whereas the accumulation in the renal papilla, liver, brain and lung was not changed. Urinary excretion of FITC-lysozyme was increased by gentamicin, whereas there was no change in the biliary excretion of FITC-lysozyme or its degradation products. Gentamicin infusion had little influence on the ATP content in the renal cortex and urinary excretion of glucose, indicating that nephrotoxicity is not induced by short-term infusion of gentamicin. These findings suggest that lysozyme and gentamicin interact with each other in their reabsorption processes in the renal proximal tubules, probably by competing for their binding to megalin expressed in the apical membrane of the renal proximal tubules.

Potentials and limitations of the low-molecular-weight protein lysozyme as a carrier for renal drug targeting

Selective targeting of drugs to the kidney may enable an increased renal effectiveness combined with a reduction of extrarenal toxicity. Intrarenal delivery to the proximal tubular cell can be achieved using low-molecular-weight proteins, such as lysozyme. Administration of high dosages of lysozyme, required to study the effects of such conjugates in vivo, however, is restricted since a partial escape of the renal reabsorption and the occurrence of unwanted effects on systemic blood pressure and renal function may occur. The purpose of this study was to investigate the optimal parenteral administration schedule and the maximum dose of lysozyme, providing the most optimal tubular reabsorption and at the same time a minimal effect on blood pressure and renal hemodynamics, comparing continuous infusion of lysozyme with single dose injections. Urinary lysozyme excretion increased dose-dependently, both during continuous infusion and intravenous bolus injections. However, this loss of intact lysozyme into the urine was much higher after 3 injections of in total 250 mg x kg(-1) x 6 h(-1) (51.8+/-3.7% of the dose) compared to the same dose administered by continuous infusion (11.7+/-2.4%, P < 0.001). Continuous infusion of lysozyme up to 1000 mg x kg(-1) in 6 hours had no effect on systemic blood pressure, whereas a bolus injection of lysozyme (167 mg x kg(-1)) resulted in reversible blood pressure lowering of 52.2+/-2.2% (P<0.001). A dose-dependent decline of the glomerular filtration rate was observed at dosages of lysozyme higher than 100 mg x kg(-1) x 6 h(-1), with a maximal reduction of 53.0+/-3.7% after infusion of 1000 mg x kg(-1) x 6 h(-1). Effective renal plasma flow was less affected and only lowered statistically significant at dosages of 500 (-12.6+/-3.3%, P<0.05) to 1000 mg x kg(-1) x 6 h(-1) (-17.2+/-3.9%, P<0.01). We conclude that bolus injections of lysozyme should not be used for renal targeting purposes since it results in considerable tubular loss of lysozyme in the urine as well as cardiovascular side effects. In contrast, continuous infusion of lysozyme using dosages sufficient for renal drug targeting (maximally 15 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1)) only has minimal effects on blood pressure and renal hemodynamics, with a minimal urinary lysozyme loss as well.

Membrane receptors for endocytosis in the renal proximal tubule

The renal proximal tubule exhibits a very extensive apical endocytic apparatus consisting of an elaborate network of coated pits and small coated and noncoated endosomes. In addition, the cells contain a large number of late endosomes/prelysosomes, lysosomes, and so-called dense apical tubules involved in receptor recycling from the endosomes to the apical plasma membrane. This endocytic apparatus is involved in the reabsorption of molecules filtered in the glomeruli. The process is very effective as demonstrated by the fact that although several grams of protein are filtered daily in the human glomeruli, human urine is virtually devoid of proteins under physiological conditions. Several key receptors appear to be involved in this function, which serves not only to conserve protein as such for the organism but also to reabsorb vital substances such as different vitamins in complex with their binding proteins. Recent research has established megalin, a 600-kDa protein belonging to the LDL receptor family, as probably the most important receptor in this process in the proximal tubule mediating endocytosis of a large variety of ligands and therefore classifying it as a scavenger receptor. More specific receptors like the folate receptor, IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor, and gp280/IFR, identical to the intrinsic factor receptor, are also functioning in the apical endocytic pathway of renal proximal tubules. A better understanding of these receptors will give us new insight into these very important processes for the organism.

Renal reabsorption of trichosanthin and the effect on GFR

Trichosanthin (TCS) is a ribosome-inactivating protein that has a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities. Due to its small molecular size, TCS is filtered by the glomerulus and can be recovered from urine. A previous experiment showed that the kidney is an important organ for its elimination. However, urine TCS recovery was unexpectedly small, suggesting renal reabsorption of this compound. To substantiate renal TCS reabsorption, different doses of TCS were injected intravenously into rats. Increasing the dose from 0.375 mg/kg to 12 mg/kg enhanced the percentage urine recovery from less than 0.29 +/- 0.06% to 39.07 +/- 2.46%. This demonstrated that TCS is reabsorbed by a saturable mechanism. Reabsorption of most small molecular weight filterable proteins shares a common endocytotic process. It is very likely that TCS utilizes the same process for reabsorption. When a filterable protein such as hemoglobin was infused with TCS, it competed with TCS for reabsorption and therefore increased the percentage urine TCS recovery to 35 +/- 2%. Infusion of another filterable protein, lysozyme, increased recovery to 3.2 +/- 0.8%. This supports the proposal that renal TCS uptake utilizes the common endocytotic mechanism. It was also found in this study that injection of TCS depressed the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), implying renal toxicity. This effect can be attributed to ribosome inactivation which takes place inside the cells. Should reabsorption of TCS be reduced, renal toxicity will disappear. For this purpose, dextran-trichosanthin (DXTCS) conjugate was synthesized to increase its effective molecular size.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Charge-dependent renal uptake of beta 2-microglobulin in conscious rats

The influence of molecular charge on the tubular reabsorption of proteins was studied in conscious rats injected intravenously with beta 2-microglobulins of different isoelectric points (pI). Native human beta 2-microglobulin (pI 5.8), two anionized (pI 4.85 and 5.55) and three cationized derivatives (pI 7.2, 8.35 and 8.7) were used. The six forms of beta 2-microglobulin had a molecular radius between 15.7 and 15.9 A. The renal uptake was estimated by measuring the amount excreted in urine with a sensitive immunoassay. The ability of rat kidney to reabsorb beta 2-microglobulin was clearly related to the net charge of the protein. Increasing the pI of the protein significantly reduced the urinary excretion, whereas lowering it had the opposite effect. Anionization was particularly effective in reducing the beta 2-microglobulin uptake, since a decrease of the pI of one unit enhanced the urinary output by two orders of magnitude. This charge-dependency persisted when the tubular reabsorption of proteins was partly inhibited by lysozyme. By contrast, it was practically abolished by lysine, probably because the inhibitory effect of this amino acid on protein tubular reabsorption is not competitive. The administration of ammonium chloride in rats produced an immediate and transient elevation of rat beta 2-microglobulinuria. This phenomenon, which was partly inhibited by the subsequent administration of sodium bicarbonate, presumably results from a competition between the NH4+ ion and beta 2-microglobulin for tubular binding sites. These data support the hypothesis that proteins bind to the luminal membrane of tubular cells mainly via positively charged amino groups.

Increasing the plasma half-life of trichosanthin by coupling to dextran

Trichosanthin (TCS) is a plant protein which has a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. It was demonstrated recently that this compound suppressed the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) in vitro. The mechanism of action is believed to be inhibition of protein synthesis. Trichosanthin is a low molecular weight protein which is expected to be easily filtered and eliminated through the kidney. To minimize renal loss, the molecular size of trichosanthin can be increased by coupling to dextran. The larger complex will not undergo glomerular filtration and therefore renal loss can be prevented. This study investigates the kidney's role in trichosanthin elimination and the beneficial effect afforded by coupling to dextran in prolonging plasma half-life. For this purpose, a radioimmunoassay has been developed to determine the concentration of TCS in plasma and urine. The sensitivity of this assay is in the nanogram range. Trichosanthin was coupled to dextran T40 by a dialdehyde method and successful coupling was confirmed by gel filtration chromatography. The complex retained specific binding to trichosanthin antibodies with decreased affinity which can be partially reversed after incubation with dextranase; an enzyme that digested dextran. The pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered trichosanthin (0.75 mg/kg) was compared between two groups of rats with normal and impaired renal function (bilateral renal arterial ligation). Rats with ligation showed a decrease in plasma clearance from 4780 +/- 570 to 220 +/- 20 microL/min and an increase in the mean residence time from 9 +/- 1 to 145 +/- 16 min. Despite the several-fold difference in these parameters, recovery of trichosanthin from normal rat urine was only 0.38 +/- 0.05%. This value can be increased by using higher injection doses. The data indicate that the kidney is an important organ for the elimination of trichosanthin. When the dextran-trichosanthin complex was injected into normal rats trichosanthin activity was not detected in the urine. All the pharmacokinetic parameters suggest that the dextran-trichosanthin complex stayed longer in the body and maintained a much higher plasma concentration than trichosanthin.

Proteinuria: changes and mechanisms in toxic nephropathies

During the last few decades, considerable progress has been made in the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of proteinuria. A great variety of hemodynamic or biochemical mechanisms acting at different sites of the nephron have been shown to alter the renal handling and the urinary excretion of proteins. The finding which perhaps has had most practical implications is that the pattern of protein excretion quantitatively and qualitatively varies with the site and severity of renal damage. This has led to the development of a large array of methods for the identification and quantitation of specific urinary proteins. These methods have been most extensively used by toxicologists in experimental, epidemiological, or clinical studies on potentially nephrotoxic chemicals (e.g., drugs, heavy metals, solvents, etc.). The present review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the mechanisms of proteinuria and the use of urinary proteins as indicators of nephrotoxicity.

Endocytosis and lysosomal hydrolysis of proteins in proximal tubules

The techniques and basic protocols described above can be readily reproduced by investigators with experience in perfusion of isolated nephron segments. They can be modified and adapted by the investigator to address specific issues. In particular, isolated perfused nephron segments have also been successfully used for elucidation of biochemical and morphological aspects of endocytosis and lysosomal hydrolysis of macromolecules, proteins, and polypeptides. The reader is directed to the references cited under Methodological Approaches in this chapter for a description of these techniques. Although studies on the endocytic uptake and metabolism of proteins and polypeptides using isolated perfused nephron segments have made significant inroads in our understanding of these fascinating and important biological processes, much remains to be learned. Hopefully, future uses of the technique will further advance our knowledge in this field.

Renal handling of 125I-labelled homologous pancreatic lipase and amylase in the rat

Experiments were carried out in vivo on rats and in vitro on tubular brush border vesicles in order to study the renal mechanisms of the elimination of pancreatic lipase and amylase from the circulation. Highly purified 125I-labelled homologous lipase, amylase or 125I-labelled di-iodo-tyrosine was injected intravenously in a single dose. The sieving coefficients of lipase and amylase were found to be 0.126 and 0.118 respectively. Less than 1% of the lipase activity but more than 10% of the radioactivity were found in the urine in the course of a 120 min experiment. In experiments with amylase, 16% of the enzyme activity and 19% of the radioactivity were present in the urine. Elimination of both enzymes showed first order kinetics and was of the same magnitude (17-24 min). The elimination curves of the radioactivity consisted of at least two components: a fast component immediately after the injection, which was identical with the decrease of the resp. enzyme activity; and a slow component (half-life 106 min), which in both cases proved to be identical with the half-life of di-iodo-tyrosine. In experiments with amylase, the excretion of protein-free 125I-activity started later than with lipase. The radioactivity of 125I-labelled lipase was taken up faster by brush-border-vesicles than that of 125I-amylase. Liberation of protein-free 125I-activity from both enzymes occurred at the same rate. At the end of the experiments the kidneys had no lipase or amylase activity, but they contained 5.4% (lipase), 3.8% (amylase) of the injected radioactivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The renal uptake of proteins: a nonselective process in conscious rats

The selectivity of the renal reabsorption of proteins has been investigated by competition experiments in conscious rats. The animals were intravenously injected with increasing doses of proteins over a wide range of net charge and size, including lysozyme, cytochrome C, metallothionein, beta 2-microglobulin, retinol-binding protein, albumin and IgG. The urinary excretion of exogenous proteins injected concomitantly (human beta 2-microglobulin, retinol-binding protein, albumin and/or egg white lysozyme depending on the experiment) and of rat beta 2-microglobulin, albumin and IgG was determined with specific immunoassays. The results show that low molecular weight cationic proteins and low or high molecular weight anionic proteins can increase each other's urinary excretion. Several observations strongly suggest that these effects result from a competitive inhibition of renal uptake. The phenomenon is dose-related in most cases and, as evidenced by cytochrome C injection, transient, reproducible and saturable. In addition, the injected proteins induce a tubular type proteinuria irrespective of their net charge and size. In the case of cationic proteins, this finding excludes the possibility of an enhanced glomerular permeability due to a partial neutralization of the glomerular polyanion which, as demonstrated with protamine sulfate, entails a glomerular type proteinuria. These quantitative data on the mutual inhibition of renal uptake of a wide spectrum of specific proteins lead us to challenge the concept of charge- and size-selective tubular reabsorption of proteins, and to postulate that proteins filtered through the glomeruli are taken up by common tubular endocytotic sites irrespectively of their physicochemical features. As demonstrated by the ability of beta 2-microglobulin and IgG to inhibit the uptake of lysozyme, the affinity of a protein for reabsorption sites is not simply related to its size and net positive charge. Evidence is also presented that proteins, when administered intravenously at high doses, induce a lysosomal enzymuria most likely reflecting a stimulated exocytosis.

Reabsorption of fluorescein-isothiocyanate-labelled-ovalbumin in the kidney of normal and castrated male and female rats

The reabsorption of ovalbumin double labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) in the kidneys of normal and castrated male and female rats was investigated using fluorometry and fluorescence microscopy. The animals received an intravenous injection of either 2 or 7 mg fluorescein-thiocarbamyl (FTC)-ovalbumin per kilogram bodyweight (bw) and were killed 4 or 8 min post-injection. Animals injected with unlabelled ovalbumin (7.0 mg/kg bw) served as controls. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that FTC-ovalbumin was reabsorbed exclusively in the renal proximal tubule, the highest level of reabsorption being observed in its first part. Four and eight minutes after the injection, FTC-ovalbumin was only observed in apical reabsorption vacuoles, with lysosomes exhibiting no specific fluorescence. Fluorometric determinations for the renal homogenate supernatant showed that the renal reabsorption of FTC-ovalbumin was up to 24% higher in normal females than in normal males. Castration resulted in a significant increase in renal reabsorption in male rats (up to 38%; significant), whereas a minor decrease was observed in castrated females. The renal uptake differences in normal and castrated animals are discussed in the light of the sex-hormone-dependent catabolism of lysosomal proteins in the renal proximal tubule of rats.

Sex different cytochrome-c uptake in the proximal tubule of the rat kidney

The present study deals with the dose- and time-dependent uptake of cytochrome c (CYT c) in the proximal tubule of the rat kidney, and shows that there are segment and sex differences in the reabsorption of CYT c. Rats of both sexes were intravenously injected with different doses of CYT c (0.75-9.0 mg per 100 g body weight), and the kidneys were investigated by light and electron microscopy at different times (3 min, 10 min, and 2 h) after the injection. After 3 and 10 min, CYT c was demonstrated in apical vacuoles of different sizes and in some lysosomes of the S1 and S2 segments, whereas after 2 h, CYT c was found only in lysosomes of all three segments of the proximal tubule. At these times, the S1 segment contained more CYT c than the S2 and S3 segments. However, 2 h after the injection of 6 or 9 mg CYT c, the differences between the S1 and S2 segments disappeared almost completely, due to a strong lysosomal accumulation of CYT c in the S2 segment. At all studied times and CYT-c doses, the S3 segment contained less CYT c than the S1 and S2 segments. On the whole, different levels of CYT-c reabsorption were found in the different segments of the proximal tubule, which was saturable with increasing CYT-c doses, i.e. firstly in the proximal and then in the distal parts of the proximal tubule. Two hours after the injection of CYT c, a difference between males and females was observed, with the lysosomes of the S1 and S2 segments of females containing more CYT c than those of males. Thus, more CYT c was reabsorbed in the proximal tubule of females than in that of males.

Renal processing of low molecular weight proteins

Previous renal clearance studies provided quantitative data concerning renal reabsorption of proteins while the simultaneous processes of renal accumulation and degradation remain, to a great extent, insufficiently investigated. Thus, it was the aim of this study to measure renal reabsorption of egg-white lysozyme at various lysozyme concentrations and to relate the corresponding accumulation and degradation of lysozyme to the lysozyme transport rates in intact rats and isolated perfused rat kidneys. Lysozyme (with 125I-lysozyme in certain experiments), was continuously infused i.v. or added to the perfusate to achieve plasma (or perfusate) concentrations of lysozyme (PLY) of approximately 50, 500 or 1000 mg X 1(-1) for periods of time varying between 3 and 120 or 150 min. Clearances of inulin and lysozyme or the total content of radioactivity and the trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble radioactivity in the kidney tissue were determined at the end of clearance or accumulation periods. Additionally the perfusate concentration of the metabolite tyrosine was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The reabsorption rates of lysozyme (TLY) were concentration-dependent in both intact rats and isolated perfused rat kidney. After 25 min of lysozyme infusion, the lysozyme reabsorption rates amounted to 37, 245 and 331 micrograms X min-1 X g-1 kidney at the above lysozyme concentrations. After the same infusion time, the accumulation rates of lysozyme were 8, 59 and 118 micrograms X min-1 X g-1 kidney. The difference between the transport rate and accumulation rate should represent the renal degradation rate of lysozyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Renal tubular absorption of beta 2 microglobulin

125Iodinated human beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2m, 5 to 30 mg) was administered to anesthetized rats. Clearance studies showed a low threshold of excretion of injected beta 2m and a high Tm of 400 to 600 micrograms X min-1 X kg-1. A glomerular sieving coefficient of 0.97 was calculated as the slope of the curve: beta 2m excretion rate = F (plasma beta 2m X glomerular filtration rate) for values above saturation. Electrophoresis analysis of proteinuria in agarose gel and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel showed that injection of saturating doses of beta 2m induced the excretion of proteins of similar size but different charge and that of other proteins of different size. Among the latter, some were excreted transiently in association with beta 2m, whereas others had a delayed excretion suggesting existence of a complex mechanism of reabsorption whose steps remain to be elucidated.

Effect of low-molecular-weight proteins on protein (lysozyme) binding to isolated brush-border membranes of rat kidney

Filtered proteins including the low-molecular-weight protein lysozyme are reabsorbed by the proximal tubule via adsorptive endocytosis. This process starts with binding of the protein to the brush-border membrane. The binding of 125I-labelled egg-white lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17) to isolated brush-border membranes of rat kidney and the effect of several low-molecular weight proteins on that binding was determined. The Scatchard plot revealed a one-component binding type with a dissociation constant of 5.3 microM and 53.0 nmol/mg membrane protein for the number of binding sites. The binding of the cationic lysozyme was inhibited competitively by the addition of cationic cytochrome c to the incubation medium, while the neutral myoglobin had no effect. The anionic beta-lactoglobulin A inhibited the lysozyme binding in a noncompetitive manner. These data suggest that the binding takes place between positively charged groups of the protein molecule and negative sites on the brush-border membrane, and, the competition between the cationic cytochrome c and the cationic lysozyme for the binding sites may be responsible for the inhibitory effect of cytochrome c on renal lysozyme reabsorption. The binding step at the brush-border membrane appears to be cation-selective.

Albumin absorption and catabolism by isolated perfused proximal convoluted tubules of the rabbit

Overall characteristics and kinetics of tubular absorption of albumin (Alb) were studied in isolated perfused proximal convoluted tubules of the rabbit. The fate of absorbed Alb was determined in tubules perfused with low [Alb]. Alb was labeled with tritium by reductive methylation ( [3H3C]Alb). At [Alb] = 0.03 mg/ml, approximately 80% of the absorbed [3H3C]Alb was released to the peritubular bathing solution as catabolic products. Transcellular transport of intact [3H3C]Alb was negligible. Iodoacetate (IAA, 4 mM) inhibited albumin absorption (JAlb) by greater than 95% and fluid reabsorption (JV) by 55%. At [Alb] = 0.1 mg/ml the absorption rate of a derivatized cationic Alb (pI = 8.4) was fivefold greater (P less than 0.01) than that of anionic Alb. Higher cationic [Alb] had deleterious effects on tubular functions. Overall Alb absorption was of high capacity and low affinity (JmaxAlb = 3.7 ng/min per mm tubule length, apparent Michaelis constant (Km) = 1.2 mg/ml). A low capacity system that saturates at near physiological loads was also detected (JmaxAlb = 0.064 ng/min per mm, apparent Km = 0.031 mg/ml). High [Alb] did not alter the rate of endocytic vesicle formation as determined by the tubular uptake of [14C]inulin. Results show that Alb absorption is a saturable process that is inhibited by high IAA concentrations and is affected by the charge of the protein. Absorbed Alb is hydrolyzed by tubular cells and catabolic products are readily released to the peritubular side. The dual kinetics of Alb absorption may be due to a combination of adsorptive endocytosis (low capacity system) and fluid endocytosis of albumin aggregates (high capacity system). Results indicate that albuminuria occurs much before albumin absorption is saturated. The kinetic characteristics of the process of tubular absorption of albumin helps to explain the concomitance of albuminuria, increased renal catabolic rates of albumin, and renal cell deposition of protein absorption droplets in severe glomerular proteinurias.

Binding of lysozyme to brush border membranes of rat kidney

The binding of 125I-labelled egg-white lysozyme to isolated brush border membranes of rat kidney cortex was investigated. The lysozyme binding was reversible and saturable. The Scatchard plot revealed a one-component binding type with a dissociation constant of 7.8 microM and 15.6 nmol/mg membrane protein for the number of binding sites. The binding of the basic lysozyme could be reduced by basic amino acids such as L-lysine, L-ornithine or L-arginine, while neutral amino acids such as L-citrulline or L-alanine had no effect. The inhibitory effect of lysine was competitive.

Effects of aminoglycosides on glomerular permeability, tubular reabsorption, and intracellular catabolism of the cationic low-molecular-weight protein lysozyme

Gentamicin and other aminoglycoside antibiotics in high doses may produce proteinuria and other signs of nephrotoxicity. Proteinuria may result from general renal damage or may reflect alterations in specific steps in the renal handling of proteins. To distinguish between these two possibilities, experiments were designed to quantify the effects of nephrotoxic doses of several aminoglycosides on the renal handling of proteins in the isolated perfused rat kidney with the cationic low-molecular-weight protein lysozyme as a representative protein. Each aminoglycoside was administered ip to male Wistar rats (30 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. Lysozyme and 125I-lysozyme were added to the perfusate to achieve a lysozyme perfusate concentration of about 100 mg/liter. Clearances of inulin and lysozyme, release of tyrosine and trichloroacetic acid-soluble radioactive metabolites into the perfusate, and the glomerular sieving coefficient of lysozyme were determined. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy indicated that gentamicin and tobramycin decreased the number and diameter of the endothelial fenestrae of the glomerular capillaries. Concurrently, gentamicin and tobramycin decreased the glomerular sieving coefficient of lysozyme from 0.8 to 0.6 and 0.5, respectively. Netilmicin did not affect the percentage reabsorption of lysozyme whereas gentamicin and tobramycin decreased lysozyme reabsorption from 71.7 to 35.4 and 34.4% of the filtered load, respectively. Lysozyme degradation, estimated by the release of tyrosine into the perfusate during a 150-min perfusion period, was decreased from a control value of 12 mumol/liter to 4.43 and 4.65 mumol/liter in kidneys from rats treated with gentamicin and tobramycin, respectively. This study demonstrates that polycationic aminoglycosides may affect several processes involved in renal handling of lysozyme including glomerular permeability, tubular reabsorption, and intracellular proteolytic degradation.

Surface properties of kidney brushborder membranes affecting the transport of glutamic acid

The uptake of 14C-glu by rat renal brushborder membrane vesicles was assayed in the presence of transmembrane ionic gradients for the purpose of characterizing surface properties which influence the transport process. Preincubation of membranes with the cationic protein lysozyme led to a significant decrease in transport activity. Similar results were obtained with polylysine and lysine. Polycations such as lysozyme and polylysine were capable of aggregating membrane vesicles whereas lysine was ineffective. Neither aggregation nor membrane injury provided an explanation for the depression of 14C-glu transport. The cationic drug harmaline at a concentration of 2.5 mM significantly reduced sodium dependent 14C-glu uptake provided drug and membranes were pre-equilibrated prior to the transport assay. Using an indirect spectrophotometric method to estimate harmaline concentrations, no evidence was obtained for strong harmaline binding to the membrane. The effect of harmaline could be eliminated by washing membranes in drug-free buffer or diluting membranes in larger volumes of sodium chloride. Membranes pretreated with the lectin Concanavalin A or the enzyme neuraminidase transported glu at control rates, but the proteolytic enzyme papain markedly impaired the transport function without altering mean vesicle volume. The optimal temperature for the assay was 30 degrees C. No temperature discontinuities in the Arrhenius plot of glu transport rates were found between 5 and 30 degrees C. These results with glutamic acid differ from data reported by other investigators on the transport characteristics of glucose and neutral amino acids by brushborder membrane vesicles. The results enhance the possibility that dicarboxylic acid binding proteins may be present on the luminal surface of proximal tubular epithelium.

The renal excretion and retention of macromolecules: The chemical structure effect

Five derivatives of polyaspartamide were used as macromolecular models to study the effect of chemical structure of macromolecules on their renal excretion and retention. The parent polymer was formed solely by N(2-hydroxyethyl)aspartamide units (I) and in its derivatives about 20% of 2-hydroxyethyl groups were randomly replaced by either n-butyl- (II), 2(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl- (III, N- dimethylamino propyl- (IV) or the aspartamide unit was modified to free aspartic acid carboxyl (V). The rate of clearance from the serum, the deposition in the kidney tissue in comparison with the deposition in reticuloendothelial system organs-liver and spleen, as well as tissue and cellular localisation of deposits were studied on rabbits and mice taking advantage of fluorescence labelling. The clearance of macromolecular models from the serum compartment by the glomerular filtration is mainly molecular weight controlled, while the retention of macromolecules possessing the same molecular weight by the kidney tubular epithelium is strongly affected chemical modification. About thirty and hundred times higher retentions due to reabsorption in proximal tubule were found with macromolecular models II and III respectively.