Novel expression of sodium/myo-inositol co-transporter in podocytes in puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis

Claudin-6 localized in tight junctions of rat podocytes

Tight junctions rarely exist in podocytes of the normal renal glomerulus, whereas they are the main intercellular junctions of podocytes in nephrosis and in the early stage of development. Claudins have been identified as tight junction-specific integral membrane proteins. Those of podocytes, however, remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the expression and localization of claudin-6 in the rat kidney, especially in podocytes. Western blot analysis and RT-PCR revealed that the neonatal kidney expressed much higher levels of claudin-6 than the adult kidney. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed intense claudin-6 staining in most of the tubules and glomeruli in neonates. The staining in tubules declined distinctly in adults, whereas staining in glomeruli was well preserved during development. Claudin-6 in glomeruli was distributed along the glomerular capillary wall and colocalized with zonula occludens-1. The staining became conspicuous after kidney perfusion with protamine sulfate (PS) to increase tight junctions in podocytes. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that immunogold particles for claudin-6 were accumulated at close cell-cell contact sites of podocytes in PS-perfused kidneys, whereas a very limited number of immunogold particles were detected, mainly on the basal cell membrane and occasionally at the slit diaphragm and close cell-cell contact sites in normal control kidneys. In puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis, immunogold particles were also found mainly at cell-contact sites of podocytes. These findings indicate that claudin-6 is a transmembrane protein of tight junctions in podocytes during development and under pathological conditions.

Urinary detection of podocyte injury

Glomerular epithelial cell (podocyte) biology has been focused on in the last few years. The emerging understanding in podocyte biology has improved the molecular mechanism knowledge in many glomerular diseases. Urinary podocyte count and measurement of urinary podocyte specific markers (nephrin and podocalyxin) have been developed to detect podocyte injury. We discuss the emerging clinical importance of the urinary podocyte count in experimental and human glomerular disease, as well as measurement of urinary podocyte specific marker.

Role of Fat1 in cell-cell contact formation of podocytes in puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis and neonatal kidney

BACKGROUND

Fat1 is a member of the cadherin superfamily characterized by its 34 cadherin repeats in the extracellular domain. Fat1 was originally found as a component of the slit diaphragm of podocytes, but its function in podocytes remains obscure. To gain insight into its role in podocytes, we expanded our study of Fat1 expression to puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephrosis, the neonatal kidney, and the primary podocyte culture, where slit diaphragms are absent or disappear.

METHODS

Expression of Fat1 was examined in isolated glomeruli of PAN nephrosis by the ribonuclease protection assay and Western blot analysis and in the neonatal kidney by in situ hybridization. Fat1 localization in glomeruli and in the primary culture was confirmed by immunofluorescence or immunoelectron microscopy.

RESULTS

In PAN nephrotic rats, glomerular expression of Fat1 increased rather than decreased at both transcript and protein levels in comparison with normal rats. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed distinct staining for Fat1 along the glomerular capillary wall, where nephrin staining was weakened or disappeared. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated significant accumulation of immunogold particles for Fat1 at intercellular junctions newly formed between podocytes in the nephrosis. In the primary culture of podocytes, Fat1 was mainly localized at cell-cell contact sites and in tips of cellular processes. In the neonatal kidney, immature podocytes expressed Fat1 more intensely than mature podocytes as shown by in situ hybridization. Double-labeled immunostaining using anti-pan cadherin antibody revealed that Fat1 in podocytes colocalized with cadherin in immature glomeruli, indicating that junctional complexes of developing podocytes contain Fat1.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that Fat1 may be a fundamental component of intercellular junctions of podocytes, and may be involved in the initial step of cell contacts of podocytes.