Involvement of mesangial cells expressing alpha-smooth muscle actin during restorative glomerular remodeling in Thy-1.1 nephritis

Abnormal glomerular basement membrane maturation impairs mesangial cell differentiation during murine postnatal nephrogenesis

Although mesangial cell-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) connections play a key role in maintaining the glomerular capillary loop structure, information remains limited about how these connections are formed during glomerulogenesis. We have previously shown that weakened podocyte-GBM interactions owing to tensin 2 (Tns2) deficiency lead to abnormal GBM maturation during postnatal glomerulogenesis. Here, we investigated whether abnormal GBM maturation affected mesangial cell-GBM connections and mesangial cell differentiation. Histological analysis of the outer cortical glomeruli in Tns2-deficient mice revealed that GBM materials overproduced by stressed immature podocytes accumulated in the mesangium and interrupted the formation of mesangial cell-GBM connections, resulting in fewer capillary loops compared with that of normal glomeruli. In addition, expression of α-smooth muscle actin, an immature mesangial cell marker, persisted in mesangial cells of Tns2-deficient outer cortical glomeruli even after glomerulogenesis was completed, resulting in mesangial expansion. Furthermore, analysis of mouse primary mesangial cells revealed that mesangial cell differentiation depended on the type of extracellular matrix components to which the cells adhered, suggesting the participation of mesangial cell-GBM connections in mesangial cell differentiation. These findings suggest that abnormal GBM maturation affects mesangial cell differentiation by impairing mesangial cell-GBM connections.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Mesangial cell-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) connections play an important role in maintaining the structural integrity of the glomerular tuft. However, information remains scarce about how GBM maturation affects the formation of these connections during glomerular development. Here, we show that abnormal GBM maturation due to tensin 2 deficiency affects mesangial cell differentiation by impairing mesangial cell-GBM connections during postnatal glomerulogenesis.

Chorioamnionitis Causes Kidney Inflammation, Podocyte Damage, and Pro-fibrotic Changes in Fetal Lambs

BACKGROUND

Perinatal complications, such as prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction, are associated with increased risk of chronic kidney disease. Although often associated with reduced nephron endowment, there is also evidence of increased susceptibility for sclerotic changes and podocyte alterations. Preterm birth is frequently associated with chorioamnionitis, though studies regarding the effect of chorioamnionitis on the kidney are scarce. In this study, we aim to unravel the consequences of premature birth and/or perinatal inflammation on kidney development using an ovine model.

METHODS

In a preterm sheep model, chorioamnionitis was induced by intra-amniotic injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at either 2, 8, or 15 days prior to delivery. Control animals received intra-amniotic injections of sterile saline. All lambs were surgically delivered at 125 days' gestation (full term is 150 days) and immediately euthanized for necropsy. Kidneys were harvested and processed for staining with myeloperoxidase (MPO), Wilms tumor-1 (WT1) and alpha-smooth muscle actine (aSMA). mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA), Interleukin 10 (IL10), desmin (DES), Platelet derived growth factor beta (PDGFB), Platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB), synaptopodin (SYNPO), and transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) was measured using quantitative PCR.

RESULTS

Animals with extended (but not acute) LPS exposure had an inflammatory response in the kidney. MPO staining was significantly increased after 8 and 15 days (p = 0.003 and p = 0.008, respectively). Expression of TNFA (p = 0.016) and IL10 (p = 0.026) transcripts was increased, peaking on day 8 after LPS exposure. Glomerular aSMA and expression of TGFB was increased on day 8, suggesting pro-fibrotic mesangial activation, however, this was not confirmed with PDFGB or PDGFRB. The number of WT1 positive nuclei in the glomerulus, as well as expression of synaptopodin, decreased, indicating podocyte injury.

CONCLUSION

We report that, in an ovine model of prematurity, LPS-induced chorioamnionitis leads to inflammation of the immature kidney. In addition, this process was associated with podocyte injury and there are markers to support pro-fibrotic changes to the glomerular mesangium. These data suggest a potential important role for antenatal inflammation in the development of preterm-associated kidney disease, which is frequent.

Three-Dimensional Architecture of Glomerular Endothelial Cells Revealed by FIB-SEM Tomography

Focused-ion beam-scanning electron microscopic (FIB-SEM) tomography enables easier acquisition of a series of ultrastructural, sectional images directly from resin-embedded biological samples. In this study, to clarify the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) in adult rats, we manually extracted GEnCs from serial FIB-SEM images and reconstructed them on an Amira reconstruction software. The luminal and basal surface structures were clearly visualized in the reconstructed GEnCs, although only the luminal surface structures could be observed by conventional SEM. The luminal surface visualized via the reconstructed GEnCs was quite similar to that observed through conventional SEM, indicating that 3D reconstruction could be performed with high accuracy. Thus, we successfully described the 3D architecture of normal GEnCs in adult rats more clearly and precisely than ever before. The GEnCs were found to consist of three major subcellular compartments, namely, the cell body, cytoplasmic ridges, and sieve plates, in addition to two associated subcellular compartments, namely, the globular protrusions and reticular porous structures. Furthermore, most individual GEnCs made up a “seamless” tubular shape, and some of them formed an autocellular junction to make up a tubular shape. FIB-SEM tomography with reconstruction is a powerful approach to better understand the 3D architecture of GEnCs. Moreover, the morphological information revealed in this study will be valuable for the 3D pathologic evaluation of GEnCs in animal and human glomerular diseases and the structural analysis of developmental processes in the glomerular capillary system.

Diffuse leiomyomatosis with circumferential thickening of the gastrointestinal wall, resembling human diffuse leiomyomatosis, in a young miniature dachshund

Leiomyoma is the most common mesenchymal tumor in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Leiomyomas usually have a single or multinodular mass of various sizes, and affected animals can develop alimentary symptoms depending on the location and size. A 3-year old female miniature dachshund died after a history of refractory rectal prolapse, esophagectasis and aspiration pneumonia. At necropsy, the GI wall at the gastroesophageal and anorectal junctions was circumferentially thickened. Histologically, both GI lesions were composed of bundles of well-differentiated smooth muscles without mass formation or invasive growth. The neoplastic cells had little cellular atypia and low proliferative activity, and were positive for α-smooth muscle actin. The lesions were diagnosed as diffuse leiomyomatosis with circumferential thickening of the GI wall and has not been described in the veterinary literature.

Endoglin Mediates Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A-Induced Endothelial Cell Activation by Regulating Akt Signaling

In diabetic nephropathy, differential expression of growth factors leads to vascular changes, including endothelial cell activation, monocyte infiltration, and inflammation. Endoglin plays an important role in endothelial function and is also associated with inflammation. In the kidney, vascular endoglin expression is increased in animal models of renal injury, where it contributes to disease severity, possibly by promoting endothelial cell activation and inflammation. Herein, we investigated whether endoglin expression is associated with diabetic nephropathy. In addition, we examined whether reducing endothelial endoglin expression in vitro affects endothelial cell activation and monocyte adhesion and, if so, which intracellular pathways are involved. Finally, we analyzed whether glomerular endoglin expression is correlated with endothelial cell activation in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Endoglin levels were significantly increased in mice with type 1 diabetes compared with control mice. Reducing endoglin expression in cultured endothelial cells significantly impaired the vascular endothelial growth factor-A-induced up-regulation of activation markers and monocyte adhesion. This was mediated by increased phosphorylation of Akt, thereby inhibiting activating transcription factor 2 phosphorylation, which regulates vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM1) gene transcription in these cells. Last, endoglin colocalized with VCAM-1 in the glomeruli of diabetic patients, glomerular VCAM-1 expression was significantly increased in these patients, and this increase in VCAM-1 expression was correlated with increased glomerular endoglin expression. Thus, targeting endoglin function may have therapeutic value in patients at risk for diabetic nephropathy.

Drebrin in Renal Glomeruli

The central function of renal glomeruli is plasma ultrafiltration for primary urine production. The glomerular filtration barrier consists of a fenestrated endothelium, the glomerular basement membrane and podocytes, mesenchymal-like cells with actin filament-rich protrusions, the "foot processes." Their architecture and function are maintained and regulated by actin and several actin-binding proteins, mutations of which can be causative of glomerular diseases. Since initial immunostaining experiments had demonstrated intense drebrin reactions in renal glomeruli, the distribution of this protein was studied in detail in the kidneys of diverse mammalian species. Double-label confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed drebrin enrichment in mesangial cells of human, bovine, murine, and rat kidneys. In Thy-1.1 nephritic rat glomeruli, the protein was concentrated in mesangial cell processes and upregulated during their formation and remodeling. In adult human and bovine kidneys, drebrin was additionally accumulated in the foot processes of podocytes, a finding confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. By contrast, podocytes of rodent glomeruli contained significant amounts of drebrin only during early developmental stages. In cultured murine podocytes induced to form cell processes, however, drebrin was concentrated in these protrusions, partly in colocalization with other actin-binding proteins. Protein extracts from human and bovine kidneys comprised 20 S-complexes of drebrin and actin, so-called drebrosomes. In summary, drebrin has to be added to the list of actin-binding proteins regulating actin dynamics of mesangial cell processes and foot processes of podocytes. It will be important to determine its role in hereditary and acquired glomerulopathies.

Cell biology of mesangial cells: the third cell that maintains the glomerular capillary

The renal glomerulus consists of glomerular endothelial cells, podocytes, and mesangial cells, which cooperate with each other for glomerular filtration. We have produced monoclonal antibodies against glomerular cells in order to identify different types of glomerular cells. Among these antibodies, the E30 clone specifically recognizes the Thy1.1 molecule expressed on mesangial cells. An injection of this antibody into rats resulted in mesangial cell-specific injury within 15 min, and induced mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis in a reproducible manner. We examined the role of mesangial cells in glomerular function using several experimental tools, including an E30-induced nephritis model, mesangial cell culture, and the deletion of specific genes. Herein, we describe the characterization of E30-induced nephritis, formation of the glomerular capillary network, mesangial matrix turnover, and intercellular signaling between glomerular cells. New molecules that are involved in a wide variety of mesangial cell functions are also introduced.

Evolutionary morphology of podocytes and primary urine-producing apparatus

Excretory organs were acquired in the early phase of metazoan evolution, and they play a crucial role in the maintenance of homeostasis of body fluids. In general, these organs consist of two functional components, the primary-urine producing apparatus and the modulating tubule. This basic organization of the excretory organs is conserved among most metazoans. Herein, we present an overview of the morphological evolution of the primary urine-producing apparatus in metazoans and describe the acquisition of the renal glomerulus—a specialized primary urine-producing apparatus—in vertebrates. We also describe the advancement of the glomerular structure and function in higher vertebrates.

Epithelial protein lost in neoplasm modulates platelet-derived growth factor-mediated adhesion and motility of mesangial cells

Mesangial cell migration, regulated by several growth factors, is crucial after glomerulopathy and during glomerular development. Directional migration requires the establishment of a polarized cytoskeletal arrangement, a process regulated by coordinated actin dynamics and focal adhesion turnover at the peripheral ruffles in migrating cells. Here we found high expression of the actin cross-linking protein EPLIN (epithelial protein lost in neoplasm) in mesangial cells. EPLIN was localized in mesangial angles, which consist of actin-containing microfilaments extending underneath the capillary endothelium, where they attach to the glomerular basement membrane. In cultured mesangial cells, EPLIN was localized in peripheral actin bundles at focal adhesions and formed a protein complex with paxillin. The MEK-ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) cascade regulated EPLIN-paxillin interaction and induced translocalization of EPLIN from focal adhesion sites to peripheral ruffles. Knockdown of EPLIN in mesangial cells enhanced platelet-derived growth factor-induced focal adhesion disassembly and cell migration. Furthermore, EPLIN expression was decreased in mesangial proliferative nephritis in rodents and humans in vivo. These results shed light on the coordinated actin remodeling in mesangial cells during restorative remodeling. Thus, changes in expression and localization of cytoskeletal regulators underlie phenotypic changes in mesangial cells in glomerulonephritis.

A comparative analysis of glomerulus development in the pronephros of medaka and zebrafish

The glomerulus of the vertebrate kidney links the vasculature to the excretory system and produces the primary urine. It is a component of every single nephron in the complex mammalian metanephros and also in the primitive pronephros of fish and amphibian larvae. This systematic work highlights the benefits of using teleost models to understand the pronephric glomerulus development. The morphological processes forming the pronephric glomerulus are astoundingly different between medaka and zebrafish. (1) The glomerular primordium of medaka - unlike the one of zebrafish - exhibits a C-shaped epithelial layer. (2) The C-shaped primordium contains a characteristic balloon-like capillary, which is subsequently divided into several smaller capillaries. (3) In zebrafish, the bilateral pair of pronephric glomeruli is fused at the midline to form a glomerulus, while in medaka the two parts remain unmerged due to the interposition of the interglomerular mesangium. (4) Throughout pronephric development the interglomerular mesangial cells exhibit numerous cytoplasmic granules, which are reminiscent of renin-producing (juxtaglomerular) cells in the mammalian afferent arterioles. Our systematic analysis of medaka and zebrafish demonstrates that in fish, the morphogenesis of the pronephric glomerulus is not stereotypical. These differences need be taken into account in future analyses of medaka mutants with glomerulus defects.

Swimming exercise prevents fibrogenesis in chronic kidney disease by inhibiting the myofibroblast transdifferentiation

Background

The renal function of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients may be improved by a number of rehabilitative mechanisms. Swimming exercise training was supposed to be beneficial to its recovery.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Doxorubicin-induced CKD (DRCKD) rat model was performed. Swimming training was programmed three days per week, 30 or 60 min per day for a total period of 11 weeks. Serum biochemical and pathological parameters were examined. In DRCKD, hyperlipidemia was observed. Active mesangial cell activation was evidenced by overexpression of PDGFR, P-PDGFR, MMP-2, MMP-9, α-SMA, and CD34 with a huge amount collagen deposition. Apparent myofibroblast transdifferentiation implicating fibrogenesis in the glomerular mesangium, glomerulonephritis and glomeruloscelorosis was observed with highly elevated proteinuria and urinary BUN excretion. The 60-min swimming exercise but not the 30 min equivalent rescued most of the symptoms. To quantify the effectiveness of exercise training, a physical parameter, i.e. “the strenuosity coefficient” or “the myokine releasing coefficient”, was estimated to be 7.154×10⁻³ pg/mL-J.

Conclusions

The 60-min swimming exercise may ameliorate DRCKD by inhibiting the transdifferentiation of myofibroblasts in the glomerular mesangium. Moreover, rehabilitative exercise training to rescue CKD is a personalized remedy. Benefits depend on the duration and strength of exercise, and more importantly, on the individual physiological condition.

Podocyte EphB4 signaling helps recovery from glomerular injury

Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligands (ephrins) have a pivotal role in the homeostasis of many adult organs and are widely expressed in the kidney. Glomerular diseases beginning with mesangiolysis can recover, with podocytes having a critical role in this healing process. We studied here the role of Eph signaling in glomerular disease recovery following mesangiolytic Thy1.1 nephritis in rats. EphB4 and ephrinBs were expressed in healthy glomerular podocytes and were upregulated during Thy1.1 nephritis, with EphB4 strongly phosphorylated around day 9. Treatment with NPV-BHG712, an inhibitor of EphB4 phosphorylation, did not cause glomerular changes in control animals. Nephritic animals treated with vehicle did not have morphological evidence of podocyte injury or loss; however, application of this inhibitor to nephritic rats induced glomerular microaneurysms, podocyte damage, and loss. Prolonged NPV-BHG712 treatment resulted in increased albuminuria and dysregulated mesangial recovery. Additionally, NPV-BHG712 inhibited capillary repair by intussusceptive angiogenesis (an alternative to sprouting angiogenesis), indicating a previously unrecognized role of podocytes in regulating intussusceptive vessel splitting. Thus, our results identify EphB4 signaling as a pathway allowing podocytes to survive transient capillary collapse during glomerular disease.

The effects of PTK787/ZK222584, an inhibitor of VEGFR and PDGFRβ pathways, on intussusceptive angiogenesis and glomerular recovery from Thy1.1 nephritis

The aim of our study was to investigate the phenomenon of intussusceptive angiogenesis with a focus on its molecular regulation by vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)/platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) pathways and biological significance for glomerular recovery after acute injury. Glomerular healing by intussusception was examined in a particular setting of Thy1.1 nephritis, where the lysis of mesangial cells results in an initial collapse and successive rebuilding of glomerular capillary structure. Restoration of capillary structure after induction of Thy1.1 nephritis occurred by intussusceptive angiogenesis resulting in i) rapid expansion of the capillary plexus with reinstatement of the glomerular filtration surface and ii) restoration of the archetypical glomerular vascular pattern. Glomerular capillaries of nephritic rats after combined VEGFR2 and PDGFRβ inhibition by PTK787/ZK222584 (PTK/ZK) were tortuous and irregular. However, the onset of intussusceptive angiogenesis was influenced only after long-term PTK/ZK treatment, providing an important insight into differential molecular regulation between sprouting and intussusceptive angiogenesis. PTK/ZK treatment abolished α-smooth muscle actin and tensin expression by injured mesangial cells, impaired glomerular filtration of microspheres, and led to the reduction of glomerular volume and the presence of multiple hemorrhages detectable in the tubular system. Collectively, treatment of nephritic patients with PTK/ZK compound is not recommended.

Rab23 plays a role in the pathophysiology of mesangial cells--a proteomic analysis

Rab23, a novel member of the Rab family of small GTPases, has recently been identified in mesangial cells (MCs). Although Rab23 levels in MCs are associated with glomerular nephropathies, the exact physiological and pathological roles of Rab23 in MCs are unknown. In the present study, its roles in MCs were explored by performing proteomics and systems biology analyses in MCs after knockdown or overexpression of Rab23. Knockdown of Rab23 was achieved by transfecting MCs with a plasmid expressing short hairpin RNA against Rab23, while overexpression of Rab23 was accomplished by transfection with the wild-type, dominant negative, and constitutively active Rab23 gene constructs. The effects of different levels of Rab23 activity on proteome of various biological pathways were investigated. Gel-based proteomic approaches and systems biology tools, respectively, were used to identify the Rab23-regulated proteins and the functional pathways. Proteomic analysis revealed the potential roles for Rab23 in multiple processes, including G-protein signal transduction, transcription modulation, RNA stabilization, protein synthesis and degradation, cytoskeleton reorganization, anti-oxidation and detoxification, circadian rhythm regulation and phagocytosis. Bioinformatics analyses showed that Rab23 impacts on multiple biological networks in MCs. These data may shed light on the roles of Rab23 in mesangiopathy or MC damage.

Beta-cytoplasmic actin localization in vertebrate glomerular podocytes

The unique cytoarchitecture of glomerular podocytes is conserved in vertebrate evolution. Actin filaments play a crucial role in the formation of the conserved cytoarchitecture, though several isoforms of cytoplasmic actin have been found in vertebrates. The present study examined the expression and subcellular distribution of the beta-cytoplasmic actin (beta-actin) isoform in the podocytes of six vertebrate species by means of immunohistochemical techniques to reveal whether the beta-actin isoform is involved in the formation of podocyte cytoarchitecture throughout vertebrates. beta-actin was predominantly localized at the foot processes in carp, turtle, quail, and rat podocytes in addition to actin filament condensations, which were found only in carp and rat podocytes. The actin filament condensations in rats were in direct contact with the basal plasma membrane, but those in carp were found at the cell body and separated from the basal plasma membrane. In contrast with the above four species, beta-actin was not detected in podocytes in two amphibians-newt and frog, although podocyte foot processes are actin-filament based cytoplasmic protrusions in these species as well as in other vertebrates. In conclusion, the beta-actin isoform is involved in the formation of the podocyte actin cytoskeleton in vertebrates except for amphibians. Several kinds of unconventional cytoplasmic actins other than beta- and gamma-cytoplasmic actins are known to be expressed in amphibians, making it highly likely that one of these isoforms, instead of beta-actin, constructs actin filaments in the foot processes of newt and frog podocytes.

SIRP-alpha-CD47 system functions as an intercellular signal in the renal glomerulus

The renal glomerulus consists of endothelial cells, podocytes, and mesangial cells. These cells cooperate with each other for glomerular filtration; however, the intercellular signaling molecules between glomerular cells are not fully determined. Tyrosine phosphorylation of slit diaphragm molecules is a key to the detection of the signal to podocytes from other cells. Although src kinase is involved in this event, the molecules working for dephosphorylation remain unclear. We demonstrate that signal-inhibitory regulatory protein (SIRP)-alpha, which recruits a broadly distributed tyrosine dephosphorylase SHP-2 to the plasma membrane, is located in podocytes. SIRP-alpha is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein, which has three immunoglobulin-like domains in the extracellular region and two SH2 binding motifs in the cytoplasm. This molecule functions as a scaffold for many proteins, especially the SHP-2 molecule. SIRP-alpha is concentrated in the slit diaphragm region of normal podocytes. CD47, a ligand for SIRP-alpha, is also expressed in the glomerulus. CD47 is located along the plasma membrane of mesangial cells, but not on podocytes. CD47 is markedly decreased during mesangiolysis, but increased in mesangial cells in the restoration stage. SIRP-alpha is heavily tyrosine phosphorylated under normal conditions; however, tyrosine phosphorylation of SIRP-alpha was markedly decreased during mesangiolysis induced by Thy1.1 monoclonal antibody injection. It is known that the cytoplasmic domain of SIPR-alpha is dephosphorylated when CD47 binds to the extracellular domain of SIRP-alpha. The data suggest that the CD47-SIRP-alpha interaction may be functionally important in cell-cell communication in the diseased glomerulus.

Mesangial cell complement receptor 1-related protein y limits complement-dependent neutrophil accumulation in immune complex glomerulonephritis

The absence of complement receptor 1 (CR1) related gene/protein y (Crry) leads to embryonic lethality as a result of unrestricted complement activation and concomitant neutrophil infiltration. Here we used Crry(-/-)C3(+/-) mice to investigate the role of Crry in the pathogenesis of immune complex glomerulonephritis (GN). After 3 weeks of immunization with horse spleen apoferritin, six of nine Crry(-/-) C3(+/-) mice and none of the six control C3(+/-) mice developed proliferative GN (P = 0.010). After 5 weeks of immunization, GN scores in Crry(-/-) C3(+/-) mice were 0.67 +/- 0.22 mean +/- standard error of the mean (SEM), compared with 0.32 +/- 0.16 in C3(+/-) mice. Glomerular hypercellularity was attributable to neutrophil infiltration in mice with GN (1.7 +/- 0.3/glomerulus) compared with those without GN (0.4 +/- 0.1/glomerulus) (P = 0.001). Absent staining for alpha-smooth muscle actin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen suggested that mesangial cell proliferation did not play a significant role in this model. Serum C3 levels in Crry(-/-) C3(+/-) mice were approximately 20% and 30% those of wild-type mice and C3(+/-) mice, respectively. To determine whether this acquired hypocomplementaemia was relevant to this GN model system, Crry(-/-) C3(+/-) mouse kidneys were transplanted into wild-type mice followed by immunization with apoferritin for 1 or 2 weeks. Surprisingly, none of the Crry(-/-) C3(+/-) mouse kidneys developed GN at these early time-points, indicating that increasing circulating C3 levels several-fold did not increase susceptibility to GN. Renal expression of decay-accelerating factor was not different among any of the groups studied. Thus, our data indicate that mesangial cell Crry limits complement activation and subsequent neutrophil recruitment in the setting of local immune complex deposition.

Glomerular endothelial cells form diaphragms during development and pathologic conditions

Unlike most fenestrated capillary endothelial cells, adult glomerular endothelial cells (GEnC) are generally thought to lack diaphragms at their fenestrae, but this remains controversial. In this study, morphologic and immunocytochemical analyses demonstrated that, except for a small fraction, GEnC of adult rats lacked diaphragmed fenestrae, which contain the transmembrane glycoprotein PV-1. In contrast, the GEnC in embryonic rats exhibited diaphragmed fenestrae and expressed PV-1 protein. The luminal surface of the fenestral diaphragm possesses a high density of anionic sites, thereby compensating for the functional immaturity of the embryonic glomerular filtration barrier. In addition, GEnC with diaphragmed fenestrae and PV-1 expression were significantly increased in adult rats with Thy-1.1 nephritis, presumably reflecting a process of restorative remodeling of the glomerular capillary tuft after injury; therefore, the reappearance of PV-1 expression and diaphragmed fenestrae may serve as a marker of glomerular capillary remodeling.

Glomerular CD34 expression in short- and long-term diabetes

Aging and diabetes are associated with exacerbated expression of adhesion molecules. Given their importance in endothelial dysfunction and their possible involvement in the alteration of glomerular permeability occurring in diabetes, we have evaluated expression of the sialomucin-type adhesion molecule CD34 in renal glomerular cells of normal and diabetic animals at two different ages by colloidal gold immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting. CD34 labeling was mostly assigned to the plasma membranes of glomerular endothelium and mesangial processes. Podocyte membranes were also labeled, but to a lesser degree. Short- and long-term diabetes triggers a substantial increase in immunogold labeling for CD34 in renal tissues compared with young normoglycemic animals. However, the level of labeling in old diabetic and healthy control rats is similar, suggesting that the effect of diabetes and aging on CD34 expression is similar but not synergistic. Western blotting of isolated glomerular fractions corroborated immunocytochemical results. Increased expression of CD34 may reflect its involvement in the pathogenesis of glomerular alterations related to age and diabetes. Alterations present in early diabetes, resembling those occurring with age, strengthen the concept that diabetes is an accelerated form of aging.

Mutation in the key enzyme of sialic acid biosynthesis causes severe glomerular proteinuria and is rescued by N-acetylmannosamine

Mutations in the key enzyme of sialic acid biosynthesis, uridine diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine (ManNAc) kinase (GNE/MNK), result in hereditary inclusion body myopathy (HIBM), an adult-onset, progressive neuromuscular disorder. We created knockin mice harboring the M712T Gne/Mnk mutation. Homozygous mutant (Gne(M712T/M712T)) mice did not survive beyond P3. At P2, significantly decreased Gne-epimerase activity was observed in Gne(M712T/M712T) muscle, but no myopathic features were apparent. Rather, homozygous mutant mice had glomerular hematuria, proteinuria, and podocytopathy. Renal findings included segmental splitting of the glomerular basement membrane, effacement of podocyte foot processes, and reduced sialylation of the major podocyte sialoprotein, podocalyxin. ManNAc administration yielded survival beyond P3 in 43% of the Gne(M712T/M712T) pups. Survivors exhibited improved renal histology, increased sialylation of podocalyxin, and increased Gne/Mnk protein expression and Gne-epimerase activities. These findings establish this Gne(M712T/M712T) knockin mouse as what we believe to be the first genetic model of podocyte injury and segmental glomerular basement membrane splitting due to hyposialylation. The results also support evaluation of ManNAc as a treatment not only for HIBM but also for renal disorders involving proteinuria and hematuria due to podocytopathy and/or segmental splitting of the glomerular basement membrane.