A simple method of rat renal brush border membrane preparation using polyethylene glycol precipitation

Cleistanthus collinus poisoning affects mitochondrial respiration and induces oxidative stress in the rat kidney

Cleistanthus collinus is a poisonous shrub used for deliberate self-harm in rural areas of South India and intake of boiled decoction of leaves is a common method of self-harm. Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) is an important clinical symptom observed in C. collinus poisoning, and renal V-ATPases may be potential targets of damage. However, a lack of understanding of molecular mediators involved hampers medical management, which is mainly supportive. We hypothesized that C. collinus poisoning induces renal oxidative stress; probably by inducing mitochondrial uncoupling, which compromises V-ATPase activity to ultimately produce dRTA. This was tested by exposing renal BBMV, kidney cells in culture, and Wistar rats to C. collinus poisoning. Exposure to C. collinus aqueous extract resulted in significant elevations in the lipid peroxidation marker, conjugated dienes, in cell culture and in vivo. A significant decrease in mitochondrial respiratory control ratio was observed in kidneys from C. collinus-treated animals suggesting that mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is uncoupled. This was accompanied by significant increase in ADP levels and a decrease in proton pump activity. Thus, these results demonstrate that C. collinus poisoning induces oxidative stress which influences proton pump activity, probably due to feedback inhibition by elevated ADP levels because of mitochondrial dysfunction in the rat kidney.

De novo expression of sodium-glucose cotransporter SGLT2 in Bowman's capsule coincides with replacement of parietal epithelial cell layer with proximal tubule-like epithelium

In kidney nephron, parietal epithelial cells line the Bowman's capsule and function as a permeability barrier for the glomerular filtrate. Bowman's capsule cells with proximal tubule epithelial morphology have been found. However, the effects of tubular metaplasia in Bowman's capsule on kidney function remain poorly understood. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) plays a major role in reabsorption of glucose in the kidney and is expressed on brush border membrane (BBM) of epithelial cells in the early segment of the proximal tubule. We hypothesized that SGLT2 is expressed in tubularized Bowman's capsule and used our novel antibody to test this hypothesis. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with our SGLT2 antibody on C57BL/6 mouse kidney prone to have tubularized Bowman's capsules. Cell membrane was examined with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain. The results showed that SGLT2 was localized on BBM of the proximal tubules in young and adult mice. Bowman's capsules were lined mostly with normal brush border-less parietal epithelial cells in young mice, while they were almost completely covered with proximal tubule-like cells in adult mice. Regardless of age, SGLT2 was expressed on BBM of the tubularized Bowman's capsule but did not co-localize with nephrin in the glomerulus. SGLT2-expressing tubular cells expanded from the urinary pole toward the vascular pole of the Bowman's capsule. This study identified the localization of SGLT2 in the Bowman's capsule. Bowman's capsules with tubular metaplasia may acquire roles in reabsorption of filtered glucose and sodium.

Mechanisms of toxicity of Cleistanthus collinus: vacuolar ATPases are a putative target

Ingestion of Cleistanthus collinus, a shrub native to South India, either intentionally or accidentally, is a common cause of death in the area. Consumption of a boiled decoction of leaves is highly toxic, but medical management of patients is mainly supportive because the molecular mechanisms of toxin action are unknown. Distal renal tubular acidosis is one of the symptoms of poisoning in patients and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) requiring proton pumps is important for acid secretion in the kidney. Hence, we hypothesized that these may be putative targets for C. collinus action and we tested this by exposing rat renal brush border membrane (BBM) as well as cultured kidney cells to a boiled decoction of C. collinus. Exposure to the C. collinus decoction resulted in significant inhibition of vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) activity in renal BBM as well as blocking of the proton pump in renal BBM vesicles. C. collinus decoction was also found to inhibit acidification of intracellular organelles in cells in culture, similar to the effect seen with either bafilomycin or concanamycin - specific inhibitors of the V-ATPase. This was accompanied by a decrease in V-ATPase activity, but an increase in protein levels. These results demonstrate that the V-ATPase in renal cells is a putative target for the toxins in C. collinus and the inhibition of this important proton pump probably plays a role in the development of distal renal tubular acidosis and subsequent renal failure seen in poisoned patients.

Cleistanthus collinus induces type I distal renal tubular acidosis and type II respiratory failure in rats

Background and Purpose:

A water decoction of the poisonous shrub Cleistanthus collinus is used for suicidal purposes. The mortality rate is 28%. The clinical profile includes distal renal tubular acidosis (DRTA) and respiratory failure. The mechanism of toxicity is unclear.

Objectives:

To demonstrate features of C. collinus toxicity in a rat model and to identify its mechanism(s) of action.

Materials and Methods:

Rats were anesthetized and the carotid artery was cannulated. Electrocardiogram and respiratory movements were recorded. Either aqueous extract of C. collinus or control solution was administered intraperitoneally. Serial measurements of blood gases, electrolytes and urinary pH were made. Isolated brush border and basolateral membranes from rat kidney were incubated with C. collinus extract and reduction in ATPase activity was assessed. Venous blood samples from human volunteers and rats were incubated with an acetone extract of C. collinus and plasma potassium was estimated as an assay for sodium–potassium pump activity.

Results:

The mortality was 100% in tests and 17% in controls. Terminal event in test animals was respiratory arrest. Controls had metabolic acidosis, respiratory compensation acidic urine and hyperkalemia. Test animals showed respiratory acidosis, alkaline urine and low blood potassium as compared to controls. C. collinus extract inhibited ATPase activity in rat kidney. Plasma K⁺ did not increase in human blood incubated with C. collinus extract.

Conclusions and Implications:

Active principles of C. collinus inhibit proton pumps in the renal brush border, resulting in type I DRTA in rats. There is no inhibition of sodium–potassium pump activity. Test animals develop respiratory acidosis, and the immediate cause of death is respiratory arrest.

Sodium-dependent phosphate uptake in the jejunum is post-transcriptionally regulated in pigs fed a low-phosphorus diet and is independent of dietary calcium concentration

In rodents, severe dietary P restriction increases active phosphate absorption by the intestine. However, it remains unknown if moderate dietary P restriction has a similar effect. Weanling pigs (n = 32; body weight 7.4 +/- 0.55 kg) were used in a 2 x 2 factorial design and fed dietary available P (aP) concentrations of 0.23 or 0.40% and Ca concentrations of 0.58 or 1.00% for 14 d. Diets were formulated on an aP basis instead of a total P basis, because pigs are unable to absorb phytate-P present in corn and soybean meal. Jejunal segments were mounted in modified Ussing chambers for determination of Na(+)-dependent nutrient transport. Intestinal mucosal scrapings were taken for RNA isolation and brush border membrane (BBM) vesicle isolation. Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake and gene expression of Na-phosphate cotransporter IIb (NaPi-IIb), SGLT-1 (sodium/glucose cotransporter-1), and calbindin D(9k) and protein expression of NaPi-IIb were evaluated. Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport increased (P < 0.05) 46% as dietary aP concentration was decreased. However, increased Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake was not accompanied by increased NaPi-IIb mRNA expression. Expression of NaPi-IIb protein in the BBM increased (P < 0.01) 84% in pigs fed low-P diets compared with pigs fed adequate-P diets. No dietary Ca effects or aP x Ca interactions were detected for Na-dependent P uptake, mRNA or protein expression of NaPi-IIb, or mRNA expression of calbindin D(9k). These data suggest that restricting dietary aP concentration by only 43% stimulates Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake and expression of the NaPi-IIb protein in the BBM of the small intestine and through a post-transcriptional mechanism.

Characterization of chicken cystatin binding to rat renal brush-border membranes

Chicken cystatin, a homologue of human cystatin C, like other low-molecular-weight proteins is metabolized by renal proximal tubule cells. However, the precise mechanism(s) of this process has not been elucidated yet. To characterize chicken cystatin binding to renal brush-border membranes, the incubation of fluorescein labelled protein with rat cortical homogenate was performed. Saturation-dependent and reversible binding with low affinity (K(d)=3.67-4.07 microM) and high capacity (B(max)=2.32-2.79 nmol/mg) was observed. Bovine albumin was the most potent competitor (K(i)=0.7 microM) among other megalin/cubilin ligands tested. The presence of Ca(+2) ions was necessary to effective cystatin binding by brush-border membranes. Obtained data strongly support the hypothesis that chicken cystatin is a novel ligand for megalin/cubilin receptors tandem on proximal tubular cells.

Renal damage in experimentally-induced cirrhosis in rats: Role of oxygen free radicals

Cirrhosis with ascites is associated with impaired renal function accompanied by sodium and water retention. Although it has been suggested that mediators such as nitric oxide play a role in the development of renal failure in this situation, other mechanisms underlying the process are not well understood. This study examined the role of oxidative stress in mediating renal damage during the development of cirrhosis in order to understand mechanisms involved in the process. It was shown that carbon tetrachloride- or thioacetamide-induced cirrhosis in rats results in oxidative stress in the kidney as seen by increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, accompanied by altered antioxidant status. Cirrhosis was also found to affect renal mitochondrial function, as assessed by measurement of the respiratory control ratio, the swelling of mitochondria, and calcium flux across mitochondrial membranes. Increased lipid peroxidation and changes in lipid composition were evident in the renal brush border membranes, with compromised transport of 14C glucose across these membranes. In conclusion, renal alterations produced as a result of cirrhosis in the rat are possibly mediated by oxidative stress.

Indomethacin induces free radical-mediated changes in renal brush border membranes

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used extensively in clinical medicine. One disadvantage of their use, however, is the occurrence of adverse effects in the kidneys. The side effects produced in this organ have been classically attributed to the inhibitory effect of these drugs on the activity of cyclooxygenase, a key enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis. Our earlier work with indomethacin, a commonly used NSAID, has shown that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction occur in the kidney in response to the drug. In view of this, this study looked into the effect of indomethacin on brush border membranes (BBM) from the kidney, as these biomembranes are prime targets of oxygen free radicals. Rats, fasted overnight, were dosed with indomethacin (20 mg/kg) by gavage and sacrificed 24 h later. BBM were isolated from the kidneys by polyethylene glycol precipitation. It was found that there was an increase in levels of products of peroxidation and a fall in the level of alpha-tocopherol in the BBM from indomethacin-dosed rats. These BBM also exhibited impaired glucose transport. The lipid composition of the membranes was also found to be altered. Alterations in lipids were associated with up-regulation of phospholipase A2. Pretreatment with L-arginine, a nitric oxide donor, protected against these effects of indomethacin. Thus, this study suggests that indomethacin induces impairment in structure and function of BBM in the kidney, with these effects possibly mediated by free radicals and activation of phospholipases. We postulate that such alterations may be important in the pathogenesis of NSAID-induced nephropathy.

N-Acetyl Functions and Acetate Detected by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Urine to Detect Renal Dysfunction following Aminoglycoside and/or Glycopeptide Antibiotic Therapy

BACKGROUND/AIMS

N-acetylneuraminidine (NeuNAc), N-acetylglutamine (GIcNAc) and acetate are metabolites present in normal urine. In patients treated with aminoglycosides and/or glycopeptides, elevation of these metabolites in urine suggests renal tubular injury. NeuNAc, GIcNAc and acetate are easily detected by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), in contrast to other bioanalytical methods. In the present study, these urinary metabolites were detected using MRS and compared with standard biochemical markers of renal injury in intensive care unit patients treated with aminoglycosides and/or glycopeptides.

METHODS

16 patients with clinical and biochemical signs of renal dysfunction were included in the study. Proton magnetic resonance spectra were obtained from 134 urine samples. The resonance intensity of NeuNAc, GIcNAc and acetate were reported relative to the resonance intensity of creatinine (ct). These ratios were compared with classical parameters of renal dysfunction, such as plasma creatinine and urea concentration, and 24-hour urine volume, by logistic regression and general linear models.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis showed that changes in plasma creatinine and urea concentration were reliably reflected in changes in the NeuNAc/ct ratio, and that plasma urea concentration changes also correlated with the acetate/ct ratio; however, the GIcNAc/ct ratio was not related to these measures of overall renal function.

CONCLUSIONS

NeuNAc/ct may be a useful marker of renal dysfunction in patients treated with aminoglycosides and glycopeptides; by MRS it can be both straightforward and informative to follow the renal function of patients treated with these antibiotics.