Prothrombin Knockdown Protects Podocytes and Reduces Proteinuria in Glomerular Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading cause of death, and its progression is driven by glomerular podocyte injury and loss, manifesting as proteinuria. Proteinuria includes urinary loss of coagulation zymogens, cofactors, and inhibitors. Importantly, both CKD and proteinuria significantly increase the risk of thromboembolic disease. Prior studies demonstrated that anticoagulants reduced proteinuria in rats and that thrombin injured cultured podocytes. Herein we aimed to directly determine the influence of circulating prothrombin on glomerular pathobiology. We hypothesized that (pro)thrombin drives podocytopathy, podocytopenia, and proteinuria. Glomerular proteinuria was induced with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) in Wistar rats. Circulating prothrombin was either knocked down using a rat-specific antisense oligonucleotide or elevated by serial intravenous infusions of prothrombin protein, which are previously established methods to model hypo- (LoPT) and hyper-prothrombinemia (HiPT), respectively. After 10 days (peak proteinuria in this model) plasma prothrombin levels were determined, kidneys were examined for (pro)thrombin co-localization to podocytes, histology, and electron microscopy. Podocytopathy and podocytopenia were determined and proteinuria, and plasma albumin were measured. LoPT significantly reduced prothrombin colocalization to podocytes, podocytopathy, and proteinuria with improved plasma albumin. In contrast, HiPT significantly increased podocytopathy and proteinuria. Podocytopenia was significantly reduced in LoPT vs. HiPT rats. In summary, prothrombin knockdown ameliorated PAN-induced glomerular disease whereas hyper-prothrombinemia exacerbated disease. Thus, (pro)thrombin antagonism may be a viable strategy to simultaneously provide thromboprophylaxis and prevent podocytopathy-mediated CKD progression.

Optimizing extracellular vesicles' isolation from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient plasma and cell line supernatant

In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and very likely all cancer types, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a common mechanism by which intercellular messages are communicated between normal, diseased, and transformed cells. Studies of EVs in CLL and other cancers have great variability and often lack reproducibility. For CLL patient plasma and cell lines, we sought to characterize current approaches used in isolating EV products and understand whether cell culture-conditioned media or complex biological fluids confound results. Utilizing nanoparticle tracking analysis, protein quantification, and electron microscopy, we show that ultracentrifugation with an OptiPrep cushion can effectively minimize contaminants from starting materials including plasma and conditioned media of CLL cell lines grown in EV-depleted complete RPMI media but not grown in the serum-free media AIM V commonly used in CLL experimental work. Moreover, we confirm the benefit of including 25 mM trehalose in PBS during EV isolation steps to reduce EV aggregation, to preserve function for downstream applications and characterization. Furthermore, we report the highest particles/μg EVs were obtained from our CLL cell lines utilizing the CELLine bioreactor flask. Finally, we optimized a proliferation assay that offers a functional evaluation of our EVs with minimal sample requirements.

The role of PHOX2B-derived astrocytes in chemosensory control of breathing and sleep homeostasis

KEY POINTS

The embryonic PHOX2B-progenitor domain generates neuronal and glial cells which together are involved in chemosensory control of breathing and sleep homeostasis. Ablating PHOX2B-derived astrocytes significantly contributes to secondary hypoxic respiratory depression as well as abnormalities in sleep homeostasis. PHOX2B-derived astrocyte ablation results in axonal pathologies in the retrotrapezoid nucleus.

ABSTRACT

We identify in mice a population of ∼800 retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) astrocytes derived from PHOX2B-positive, OLIG3-negative progenitor cells, that interact with PHOX2B-expressing RTN chemosensory neurons. PHOX2B-derived astrocyte ablation during early life results in adult-onset O2 chemoreflex deficiency. These animals also display changes in sleep homeostasis, including fragmented sleep and disturbances in delta power after sleep deprivation, all without observable changes in anxiety or social behaviours. Ultrastructural evaluation of the RTN demonstrates that PHOX2B-derived astrocyte ablation results in features characteristic of degenerative neuro-axonal dystrophy, including abnormally dilated axon terminals and increased amounts of synapses containing autophagic vacuoles/phagosomes. We conclude that PHOX2B-derived astrocytes are necessary for maintaining a functional O2 chemosensory reflex in the adult, modulate sleep homeostasis, and are key regulators of synaptic integrity in the RTN region, which is necessary for the chemosensory control of breathing. These data also highlight how defects in embryonic development may manifest as neurodegenerative pathology in an adult.

Longitudinal growth curves for children with classical osteogenesis imperfecta (types III and IV) caused by structural pathogenic variants in type I collagen

PURPOSE

Growth deficiency is a cardinal feature of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) types III and IV, caused by pathogenic variants in type I collagen. OI-specific longitudinal growth charts are needed for patient care.

METHODS

We compiled longitudinal length, weight, head circumference, and body mass index (BMI) data from 100 children with types III and IV OI and known type I collagen pathogenic variants. Effects of gender, OI type, and pathogenic variant were examined using multilevel modeling. OI-specific centile curves were constructed using generalized additive model for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS).

RESULTS

OI type and gender, but not the specific mutated collagen gene, significantly affect stature, but only OI type affects weight. Head circumference was not significantly different by gender, type, or mutated gene. In both genders, length curves for types III and IV OI overlap and the type IV 95th centile curve overlaps the lower US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) curves for the general population. A pubertal growth spurt is generally absent or blunted in types III/IV OI. The body mass index 50th and 95th centile curves are distinctly shifted above respective US CDC curves in both genders.

CONCLUSIONS

OI type is a stronger contributing factor than gender for OI growth, while curves do not differ for COL1A1 versus COL1A2 pathogenic variants. Types III and IV OI-specific growth curves are presented.

Magnetic mapping of iron in rodent spleen

Evaluation of iron distribution and density in biological tissues is important to understand the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases and the fate of exogenously administered iron-based carriers and contrast agents. Iron distribution in tissues is typically characterized via histochemical (Perl's) stains or immunohistochemistry for ferritin, the major iron storage protein. A more accurate mapping of iron can be achieved via ultrastructural transmission electron microscopy (TEM) based techniques, which involve stringent sample preparation conditions. In this study, we elucidate the capability of magnetic force microscopy (MFM) as a label-free technique to map iron at the nanoscale level in rodent spleen tissue. We complemented and compared our MFM results with those obtained using Perl's staining and TEM. Our results show how MFM mapping corresponded to sizes of iron-rich lysosomes at a resolution comparable to that of TEM. In addition MFM is compatible with tissue sections commonly prepared for routine histology.

Abnormal type I collagen post-translational modification and crosslinking in a cyclophilin B KO mouse model of recessive osteogenesis imperfecta

Cyclophilin B (CyPB), encoded by PPIB, is an ER-resident peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) that functions independently and as a component of the collagen prolyl 3-hydroxylation complex. CyPB is proposed to be the major PPIase catalyzing the rate-limiting step in collagen folding. Mutations in PPIB cause recessively inherited osteogenesis imperfecta type IX, a moderately severe to lethal bone dysplasia. To investigate the role of CyPB in collagen folding and post-translational modifications, we generated Ppib^−/− mice that recapitulate the OI phenotype. Knock-out (KO) mice are small, with reduced femoral areal bone mineral density (aBMD), bone volume per total volume (BV/TV) and mechanical properties, as well as increased femoral brittleness. Ppib transcripts are absent in skin, fibroblasts, femora and calvarial osteoblasts, and CyPB is absent from KO osteoblasts and fibroblasts on western blots. Only residual (2–11%) collagen prolyl 3-hydroxylation is detectable in KO cells and tissues. Collagen folds more slowly in the absence of CyPB, supporting its rate-limiting role in folding. However, treatment of KO cells with cyclosporine A causes further delay in folding, indicating the potential existence of another collagen PPIase. We confirmed and extended the reported role of CyPB in supporting collagen lysyl hydroxylase (LH1) activity. Ppib^−/− fibroblast and osteoblast collagen has normal total lysyl hydroxylation, while increased collagen diglycosylation is observed. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis of bone and osteoblast type I collagen revealed site-specific alterations of helical lysine hydroxylation, in particular, significantly reduced hydroxylation of helical crosslinking residue K87. Consequently, underhydroxylated forms of di- and trivalent crosslinks are strikingly increased in KO bone, leading to increased total crosslinks and decreased helical hydroxylysine- to lysine-derived crosslink ratios. The altered crosslink pattern was associated with decreased collagen deposition into matrix in culture, altered fibril structure in tissue, and reduced bone strength. These studies demonstrate novel consequences of the indirect regulatory effect of CyPB on collagen hydroxylation, impacting collagen glycosylation, crosslinking and fibrillogenesis, which contribute to maintaining bone mechanical properties.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease, is characterized by susceptibility to fractures from minimal trauma and growth deficiency. Deficiency of components of the collagen prolyl 3-hydroxylation complex, CRTAP, P3H1 and CyPB, cause recessive types VII, VIII and IX OI, respectively. We have previously shown that mutual protection within the endoplasmic reticulum accounts for the overlapping severe phenotype of patients with CRTAP and P3H1 mutations. However, the bone dysplasia in patients with CyPB deficiency is distinct in terms of phenotype and type I collagen biochemistry. Using a knock-out mouse model of type IX OI, we have demonstrated that CyPB is the major, although not unique, peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in collagen folding. CyPB is also required for activity of the collagen prolyl 3-hydroxylation complex; collagen α1(I) P986 modification is lost in the absence of CyPB. Unexpectedly, CyPB was found to also influence collagen helical lysyl hydroxylation in a tissue-, cell- and residue-specific manner. Thus CyPB facilitates collagen folding directly, but also indirectly regulates collagen hydroxylation, glycosylation, crosslinking and fibrillogenesis through its interactions with other collagen modifying enzymes in the endoplasmic reticulum.

New genes in bone development: what's new in osteogenesis imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heritable bone dysplasia characterized by bone fragility and deformity and growth deficiency. Most cases of OI (classical types) have autosomal dominant inheritance and are caused by mutations in the type I collagen genes. During the past several years, a number of noncollagenous genes whose protein products interact with collagen have been identified as the cause(s) of rare forms of OI. This has led to a paradigm shift for OI as a collagen-related condition. The majority of the non-classical OI types have autosomal recessive inheritance and null mutations in their respective genes. The exception is a unique dominant defect in IFITM5, which encodes Bril and leads to hypertrophic callus and interosseous membrane ossification. Three recessive OI types arise from defects in any of the components of the collagen prolyl 3-hydroxylation complex (CRTAP, P3H1, CyPB), which modifies the collagen α1(I)Pro986 residue. Complex dysfunction leads to delayed folding of the procollagen triple helix and increased helical modification. Next, defects in collagen chaperones, HSP47 and FKBP65, lead to improper procollagen folding and deficient collagen cross-linking in matrix, respectively. A form of OI with a mineralization defect is caused by mutations in SERPINF1, whose protein product, PEDF, is a well-known antiangiogenesis factor. Defects in the C-propeptide cleavage enzyme, BMP1, also cause recessive OI. Additional genes, including SP7 and TMEM38B, have been implicated in recessive OI but are as yet unclassified. Elucidating the mechanistic pathways common to dominant and recessive OI may lead to novel therapeutic approaches to improve clinical manifestations.

Inhibition of collagen fibrillogenesis by cells expressing soluble extracellular domains of DDR1 and DDR2

Collagen fiber assembly affects many physiological processes and is tightly controlled by collagen-binding proteins. However, to what extent membrane-bound versus cell-secreted collagen-binding proteins affect collagen fibrillogenesis is not well understood. In our previous studies, we had demonstrated that the membrane-anchored extracellular domain (ECD) of the collagen receptor discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) inhibits fibrillogenesis of collagen endogenously secreted by the cells. These results led to a novel functional role of the DDR2 ECD. However, since soluble forms of DDR1 and DDR2 containing its ECD are known to naturally exist in the extracellular matrix, in this work we investigated if these soluble DDR ECDs may have a functional role in modulating collagen fibrillogenesis. For this purpose, we created mouse osteoblast cell lines stably secreting DDR1 or DDR2 ECD as soluble proteins. Transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and hydroxyproline assays were used to demonstrate that DDR ECD expression reduced the rate and quantity of collagen deposition and induced significant changes in fiber morphology and matrix mineralization. Collectively, our studies advance our understanding of DDR receptors as powerful regulators of collagen deposition in the ECM and elucidate their multifaceted role in ECM remodeling.

Regulation of collagen fibrillogenesis by cell-surface expression of kinase dead DDR2

The assembly of collagen fibers, the major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), governs a variety of physiological processes. Collagen fibrillogenesis is a tightly controlled process in which several factors, including collagen binding proteins, have a crucial role. Discoidin domain receptors (DDR1 and DDR2) are receptor tyrosine kinases that bind to and are phosphorylated upon collagen binding. The phosphorylation of DDRs is known to activate matrix metalloproteases, which in turn cleave the ECM. In our earlier studies, we established a novel mechanism of collagen regulation by DDRs; that is, the extracellular domain (ECD) of DDR2, when used as a purified, soluble protein, inhibits collagen fibrillogenesis in-vitro. To extend this novel observation, the current study investigates how the DDR2-ECD, when expressed as a membrane-anchored, cell-surface protein, affects collagen fibrillogenesis by cells. We generated a mouse osteoblast cell line that stably expresses a kinase-deficient form of DDR2, termed DDR2/-KD, on its cell surface. Transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and hydroxyproline assays demonstrated that the expression of DDR2/-KD reduced the rate and abundance of collagen deposition and induced significant morphological changes in the resulting fibers. Taken together, our observations extend the functional roles that DDR2 and possibly other membrane-anchored, collagen-binding proteins can play in the regulation of cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix.