Differential regulation of B/K protein expression in proximal and distal tubules of rat kidneys with ischemia-reperfusion injury

Increased urinary exosomal SYT17 levels in chronic active antibody-mediated rejection after kidney transplantation via the IL-6 amplifier

Chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (CAAMR) is a particular problem in kidney transplantation (KTx), and ~25% of grafts are lost by CAAMR. Further, the pathogenesis remains unclear, and there is no effective cure or marker. We previously found that a hyper NFκB-activating mechanism in non-immune cells, called the IL-6 amplifier, is induced by the co-activation of NFκB and STAT3, and that this activation can develop various chronic inflammatory diseases. Here, we show that synaptotagmin-17 (SYT17) is increased in an exosomal fraction of the urine from CAAMR patients, and that this increase is associated with activation of the IL-6 amplifier. Immunohistochemistry showed that SYT17 protein expression was increased in renal tubule cells of the CAAMR group. While SYT17 protein was not detectable in whole-urine samples by western blotting, urinary exosomal SYT17 levels were significantly elevated in the CAAMR group compared to three other histology groups (normal, interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, and calcineurin inhibitors toxicity) after KTx. On the other hand, current clinical laboratory data could not differentiate the CAAMR group from these groups. These data suggest that urinary exosomal SYT17 is a potential diagnostic marker for CAAMR.

Synaptotagmin 17 controls neurite outgrowth and synaptic physiology via distinct cellular pathways

The synaptotagmin (syt) proteins have been widely studied for their role in regulating fusion of intracellular vesicles with the plasma membrane. Here we report that syt-17, an unusual isoform of unknown function, plays no role in exocytosis, and instead plays multiple roles in intracellular membrane trafficking. Syt-17 is localized to the Golgi complex in hippocampal neurons, where it coordinates import of vesicles from the endoplasmic reticulum to support neurite outgrowth and facilitate axon regrowth after injury. Further, we discovered a second pool of syt-17 on early endosomes in neurites. Loss of syt-17 disrupts endocytic trafficking, resulting in the accumulation of excess postsynaptic AMPA receptors and defective synaptic plasticity. Two distinct pools of syt-17 thus control two crucial, independent membrane trafficking pathways in neurons. Function of syt-17 appears to be one mechanism by which neurons have specialized their secretory and endosomal systems to support the demands of synaptic communication over sprawling neurite arbors.

The functional role of synaptotagmin-17 (syt-17) has remained unanswered. In this study, authors demonstrate that syt-17 exists in two distinct pools in hippocampal neurons (Golgi complex and early endosomes), where it served two completely independent functions: controlling neurite outgrowth and synaptic physiology

Polymyxin B Induces Apoptosis in Kidney Proximal Tubular Cells

The nephrotoxicity of polymyxins is a major dose-limiting factor for treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. The mechanism(s) of polymyxin-induced nephrotoxicity is not clear. This study aimed to investigate polymyxin B-induced apoptosis in kidney proximal tubular cells. Polymyxin B-induced apoptosis in NRK-52E cells was examined by caspase activation, DNA breakage, and translocation of membrane phosphatidylserine using Red-VAD-FMK [Val-Ala-Asp(O-Me) fluoromethyl ketone] staining, a terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and double staining with annexin V-propidium iodide (PI). The concentration dependence (50% effective concentration [EC₅₀]) and time course for polymyxin B-induced apoptosis were measured in NRK-52E and HK-2 cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) with annexin V and PI. Polymyxin B-induced apoptosis in NRK-52E cells was confirmed by positive labeling from Red-VAD-FMK staining, TUNEL assay, and annexin V-PI double staining. The EC₅₀ (95% confidence interval [CI]) of polymyxin B for the NRK-52E cells was 1.05 (0.91 to 1.22) mM and was 0.35 (0.29 to 0.42) mM for HK-2 cells. At lower concentrations of polymyxin B, minimal apoptosis was observed, followed by a sharp rise in the apoptotic index at higher concentrations in both cell lines. After treatment of NRK-52E cells with 2.0 mM polymyxin B, the percentage of apoptotic cells (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) was 10.9% ± 4.69% at 6 h and reached plateau (>80%) at 24 h, whereas treatment with 0.5 mM polymyxin B for 24 h led to 93.6% ± 5.57% of HK-2 cells in apoptosis. Understanding the mechanism of polymyxin B-induced apoptosis will provide important information for discovering less nephrotoxic polymyxin-like lipopeptides.

A manual collection of Syt, Esyt, Rph3a, Rph3al, Doc2, and Dblc2 genes from 46 metazoan genomes--an open access resource for neuroscience and evolutionary biology

BACKGROUND

Synaptotagmin proteins were first identified in nervous tissue, residing in synaptic vesicles. Synaptotagmins were subsequently found to form a large family, some members of which play important roles in calcium triggered exocytic events. These members have been investigated intensively, but other family members are not well understood, making it difficult to grasp the meaning of family membership in functional terms. Further difficulty arises as families are defined quite legitimately in different ways: by common descent or by common possession of distinguishing features. One definition does not necessarily imply the other. The evolutionary range of genome sequences now available, can shed more light on synaptotagmin gene phylogeny and clarify family relationships. The aim of compiling this open access collection of synaptotagmin and synaptotagmin-like sequences, is that its use may lead to greater understanding of the biological function of these proteins in an evolutionary context.

RESULTS

46 metazoan genomes were examined and their complement of Syt, Esyt, Rph3a, Rph3al, Doc2 and Dblc2 genes identified. All of the sequences were compared, named, then examined in detail. Esyt genes were formerly named Fam62. The species in this collection are Trichoplax, Nematostella, Capitella, Helobdella, Lottia, Ciona, Strongylocentrotus, Branchiostoma, Ixodes, Daphnia, Acyrthosiphon, Tribolium, Nasonia, Apis, Anopheles, Drosophila, Caenorhabditis, Takifugu, Tetraodon, Gasterosteus, Oryzias, Danio, Xenopus, Anolis, Gallus, Taeniopygia,Ornithorhynchus, Monodelphis, Mus and Homo. All of the data described in this paper is available as additional files.

CONCLUSIONS

Only a subset of synaptotagmin proteins appear able to function as calcium triggers. Syt1, Syt7 and Syt9 are ancient conserved synaptotagmins of this type. Some animals carry extensive repertoires of synaptotagmin genes. Other animals of no less complexity, carry only a small repertoire. Current understanding does not explain why this is so. The biological roles of many synaptotagmins remain to be understood. This collection of genes offers prospects for fruitful speculation about the functional roles of the synaptotagmin repertoires of different animals and includes a great range of biological complexity. With reference to this gene collection, functional relationships among Syt, Esyt, Rph3a, Rph3al, Doc2 and Dblc2 genes, which encode similar proteins, can better be assessed in future.