Mitochondrial complex I and III mutations and neutral-lipid storage in activated mononuclear macrophages and neutrophils: a case presenting with necrotizing myopathy, poikiloderma atrophicans vasculare, and xanthogranulomatous bursitis

We report the case of a 57-year-old woman suffering from xanthogranulomatous bursitis, necrotizing myopathy, and poikiloderma atrophicans vasculare, which are associated with marked accumulation of neutral-lipid storage phagocytes. The observed lipid storage was restricted to activated phagocytes independent of the presence of tissue necrosis and was not seen either in circulating blood leukocytes or in muscle fibers. The patient's daughter disclosed xanthomatous inflammatory reaction with profound delay of wound healing secondary to pelviscopy. Examination of the mitochondrial DNAs of the patient, her daughter, and her two grandchildren revealed two homoplasmic mutations at positions 13708 and 15257 of the mitochondrial genome. We discuss the involvement of these mutations in the pathogenesis of xanthomatous and xanthogranulomatous inflammation. Further investigations are required to test whether impairment of aerobic energy production independent from mitochondrial DNA mutations (eg, by hypoxia or microbial toxins) similarly can cause the accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages and explain the persistency of xanthogranulomatous inflammation.

Measurements of mitochondrial deficiencies in living cells by microspectrofluorometry

Microspectrofluorometric methods were developed for detection of mitochondrial metabolites and marker molecules in living cells. After excitation in the near UV and blue spectral ranges, respiratory-deficient strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed higher levels of intrinsic fluorescence than corresponding wild types. This may be attributed to an increased emission by NADH and flavin molecules of the mutants. After incubation with the mitochondrial marker rhodamine 123, there was a strong indication that an energy transfer from flavin to rhodamine molecules occurred, which was more pronounced for the respiratory-deficient yeast strains. Skin fibroblasts obtained from patients with mitochondrial diseases showed approximately the same levels of autofluorescence and energy transfer but higher variances than a control cell line. These higher variances may result from a coexistence of intact and defective mitochondria.

A Na-K-Cl cotransporter in isolated rat papillary collecting duct cells

Lactate production and ion fluxes were measured in isolated rat papillary collecting duct cells (PCD) to gain further insight into the transport properties of the papillary collecting duct. Lactate production was found to be inhibited by bumetanide in a dose-dependent manner, a maximum inhibition of 22% was obtained at 10(-4) M bumetanide and an apparent Ki of 10(-8) M was determined. Bumetanide inhibition of lactate production was dependent on the presence of sodium and chloride. Chloride removal inhibited lactate production also by 20%. Bumetanide (10(-4) M) inhibited by 35% sodium uptake into PCD cells exposed to 10 mM ouabain and chloride uptake into ion depleted PCD cells by 40%. In addition, this bumetanide-sensitive chloride uptake was dependent on the presence of sodium and potassium in the incubation medium. Furthermore, 86Rb uptake into these cells was significantly reduced in the presence of 10(-4) M bumetanide. These data provide evidence for the operation of a Na-K-Cl cotransport system in rat papillary collecting duct cells. This transport system might be involved in active chloride transport in the papillary collecting duct and/or volume regulation of the PCD cells.

Measurement of element content in isolated papillary collecting duct cells by electron probe microanalysis

A method was developed to measure the element content of freshly isolated papillary collecting duct (PCD) cells by electron probe microanalysis in a scanning electron microscope. After isolation, the cells were transferred onto a Thermanox support by centrifugation and the extracellular medium was removed by brief exposure to buffered ammonium acetate; cryofixation, freeze-drying, and coating with carbon followed. Under visual control in the scanning electron microscope the Na, Cl, K and P content of cell clusters (about 30 cells/cluster) was then measured by X-ray microanalysis. Cells incubated in control medium showed potassium:sodium ratios identical to those determined previously in cryosections of the same cells. In ouabain-treated cells sodium influx and potassium efflux was demonstrated. Potassium left the cells with a t1/2 of 21.7 min. The t1/2 of Na influx was 12.6 min for the first 15 min of incubation, whereafter further influx was markedly slower. Ouabain-induced sodium influx was inhibited 40% by amiloride. These results indicate that X-ray microanalysis can be applied to analyze the ion content of isolated cell clusters derived from the papillary collecting duct. Using ouabain and amiloride as inhibitors the suitability of the method to identify transport systems is demonstrated.

[Transport mechanisms and metabolic processes in isolated cells of the collecting tubule of the kidney papilla]

Taking into account recent results obtained with isolated papillary collecting duct cells the metabolic pathways and membrane transport systems of collecting duct cells are reviewed. The plasma membranes contain a luminal proton AT-Pase and a contraluminal Cl-/HCO3- exchanger which are involved in proton secretion; a luminal sodium channel and a contraluminal Na+/K+-AT-Pase for sodium reabsorption; a K+ channel for potassium secretion, and a Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport system for chloride transport and/or volume regulation. The plasma membranes also possess transport systems for organic substrates and organic osmolytes. D-glucose, the main substrate of the papillary collecting duct is taken up into the cell by a sodium-independent D-glucose transport system with a Km of 1.2 mM. The plasma membrane also contains mechanisms which mediate sorbitol release into the medium. This mechanism is stimulated when cells are exposed to media with a low osmolality and inhibited when cells are exposed to media with a high osmolality. D-glucose is used as metabolic substrate in anaerobic and aerobic glycolysis and as precursor for sorbitol synthesis via the aldose reductase, which is highly enriched in papillary collecting duct cells. The cells also show gluconeogenic activity as evidenced by incorporation of labeled carbon from L-alanine into glycerol, sorbitol, and myo-inositol. Accordingly, the cells show fructose-1,6-biphosphatase activity. Sorbitol synthesis in contrast to sorbitol permeability is not affected by osmolarity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)