Role of multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) in glutathione-bimane efflux from Caco-2 and rat renal proximal tubule cells.
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ABSTRACT: 1. The multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) has been shown to play an important role in the transport of glutathione conjugates in the liver. Its importance in renal excretion, however, is still uncertain and other organic anion transporters may be involved. The objective of the present study was to characterize glutathione conjugate efflux from rat kidney proximal tubule cells (PTC), and to determine the contribution of Mrp2. 2. We used isolated PTC in suspension, as well as grown to monolayer density. For comparison, transport characteristics were also determined in the human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2, an established model to study MRP2-mediated transport. The cells were loaded with monochlorobimane (MCB) at 10 degrees C. MCB enters the cells by simple diffusion and is conjugated with glutathione to form the fluorescent glutathione-bimane (GS-B). 3. In primary cultures of rat PTC, no indications for a transporter-mediated mechanism were found. The efflux of GS-B from Caco-2 cells and freshly isolated PTC was time- and temperature-dependent. Furthermore, GS-B transport in both models was inhibited by chlorodinitrobenzene (CDNB), with an inhibitory constant of 46.8+/-0.9 microM in freshly isolated PTC. In Caco-2 cells, the inhibitory potency of CDNB was approximately 20 fold higher. Finally, efflux of GS-B from freshly isolated PTC from Mrp2-deficient (TR(-)) rats was studied. As compared to normal rat PTC, transport characteristics were not different. 4. We conclude that in freshly isolated rat PTC glutathione conjugate excretion is mediated by other organic anion transporters rather than by Mrp2.
Project description:The calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) cyclosporine A and tacrolimus comprise the basis of immunosuppressive regimes in all solid organ transplantation. However, long-term or high exposure to CNI leads to histological and functional renal damage (CNI-associated nephrotoxicity). In the kidney, proximal tubule cells are the only cells that metabolize CNI and these cells are believed to play a central role in the origin of the toxicity for this class of drugs, although the underlying mechanisms are not clear. Several studies have reported oxidative stress as an important mediator of CNI-associated nephrotoxicity in response to CNI exposure in different available proximal tubule cell models. However, former models often made use of supra-therapeutic levels of tissue drug exposure. In addition, they were not shown to express the relevant enzymes (e.g., CYP3A5) and transporters (e.g., P-glycoprotein) for the metabolism of CNI in human proximal tubule cells. Moreover, the used methods for detecting ROS were potentially prone to false positive results. In this study, we used a novel proximal tubule cell model established from human allograft biopsies that demonstrated functional expression of relevant enzymes and transporters for the disposition of CNI. We exposed these cells to CNI concentrations as found in tissue of stable solid organ transplant recipients with therapeutic blood concentrations. We measured the glutathione redox balance in this cell model by using organelle-targeted variants of roGFP2, a highly sensitive green fluorescent reporter protein that dynamically equilibrates with the glutathione redox couple through the action of endogenous glutaredoxins. Our findings provide evidence that CNI, at concentrations commonly found in allograft biopsies, do not alter the glutathione redox balance in mitochondria, peroxisomes, and the cytosol. However, at supra-therapeutic concentrations, cyclosporine A but not tacrolimus increases the ratio of oxidized/reduced glutathione in the mitochondria, suggestive of imbalances in the redox environment.
Project description:Plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) and the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger participate in regulating cell function by maintaining proper intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i). In renal epithelial cells these proteins have been additionally implicated in cellular calcium absorption. The purpose of the present studies was to determine the Ca2+ extrusion mechanisms in cells derived from the proximal tubule. Homology-based RT-PCR was used to amplify PMCA transcripts from RNA isolated from mouse cell lines originating from the S1, S2, and S3 proximal tubule segments. S1, S2, and S3 cells exhibited only PMCA1 and PMCA4 products. PCR product identity was confirmed by sequence analysis. Northern analysis of proximal tubule cell RNAs revealed appropriate transcripts of 7.5 and 5.5 kb for PMCA1 and 8.5 and 7.5 kb for PMCA4, but were negative for PMCA2 and PMCA3. Western analysis with a monoclonal antibody to PMCA showed that all proximal cell lines expressed a reacting plasma membrane protein of 140 kD, the reported PMCA molecular mas. Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) mRNA expression, analyzed by RT-PCR, protein expression by Western analysis, and functional exchange activity were uniformly absent from all proximal tubule cell lines. These observations support the idea that immortalized cells derived from the proximal tubule express PMCA1 and PMCA4, which may serve as the primary mechanism of cellular Ca2+ efflux.
Project description:Three-dimensional renal tissues that emulate the cellular composition, geometry, and function of native kidney tissue would enable fundamental studies of filtration and reabsorption. Here, we have created 3D vascularized proximal tubule models composed of adjacent conduits that are lined with confluent epithelium and endothelium, embedded in a permeable ECM, and independently addressed using a closed-loop perfusion system to investigate renal reabsorption. Our 3D kidney tissue allows for coculture of proximal tubule epithelium and vascular endothelium that exhibits active reabsorption via tubular-vascular exchange of solutes akin to native kidney tissue. Using this model, both albumin uptake and glucose reabsorption are quantified as a function of time. Epithelium-endothelium cross-talk is further studied by exposing proximal tubule cells to hyperglycemic conditions and monitoring endothelial cell dysfunction. This diseased state can be rescued by administering a glucose transport inhibitor. Our 3D kidney tissue provides a platform for in vitro studies of kidney function, disease modeling, and pharmacology.
Project description:Circadian variability in kidney function is well recognized but is often ignored as a potential confounding variable in physiological experiments. Here, we have created a data resource consisting of expression levels for mRNA transcripts in microdissected proximal tubule segments from mice as a function of the time of day. Small-sample RNA sequencing was applied to microdissected S1 proximal convoluted tubules and S2 proximal straight tubules. After stringent filtering, the data were analyzed using JTK-Cycle to detect periodicity. The data set is provided as a user-friendly webpage at https://esbl.nhlbi.nih.gov/Databases/Circadian-Prox2/. In proximal convoluted tubules, 234 transcripts varied in a circadian manner (4.0% of the total). In proximal straight tubules, 334 transcripts varied in a circadian manner (5.3%). Transcripts previously known to be associated with corticosteroid action and with increased flow were found to be overrepresented among circadian transcripts peaking during the "dark" portion of the day [zeitgeber time (ZT)14-22], corresponding to peak levels of corticosterone and glomerular filtration rate in mice. To ask whether there is a time-of-day dependence of protein abundances in the kidney, we carried out LC-MS/MS-based proteomics in whole mouse kidneys at ZT12 and ZT0. The full data set (n = 6,546 proteins) is available at https://esbl.nhlbi.nih.gov/Databases/Circadian-Proteome/. Overall, 293 proteins were differentially expressed between ZT12 and ZT0 (197 proteins greater at ZT12 and 96 proteins greater at ZT0). Among the regulated proteins, only nine proteins were found to be periodic in the RNA-sequencing analysis, suggesting a high level of posttranscriptional regulation of protein abundances.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Circadian variation in gene expression can be an important determinant in the regulation of kidney function. The authors used RNA-sequencing transcriptomics and LC-MS/MS-based proteomics to identify gene products expressed in a periodic manner. The data were used to construct user-friendly web resources.
Project description:Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4/ABCC4) is a member of the MRP subfamily, which in turn is a member of the superfamily of ATP-binding-cassette (ABC) transporters. Within the MRP subfamily, ABCC4,ABCC5 (MRP5), ABCC11 (MRP8) and ABCC12 (MRP9) have similar predicted membrane topologies. All lack the additional transmembrane domain, TMD(0), which is present in the other MRPs. Using cells stably overexpressing ABCC4, this study shows that ABCC4 exports GSH. ABCC4 also facilitates the efflux of cAMP. Depletion of intracellular GSH with DL-buthionine-(S,R)-sulphoximine led to decreased export of cAMP and a corresponding increase in intracellular cAMP was observed. ABCC4 also mediates resistance to purine analogues 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)-adenine and 6-thioguanine. This resistance can be reversed by the presence of DL-buthionine-(S,R)-sulphoximine. We conclude that as well as nucleotide and nucleoside analogues, ABCC4 can mediate the export of GSH. In addition, GSH plays an important role in the function of ABCC4. Depletion of intracellular GSH adversely affects the export of cAMP by ABCC4. Resistance to nucleoside analogues is also adversely affected by depletion of cellular GSH.
Project description:NADPH oxidases are the major sources of reactive oxygen species in cardiovascular, neural, and kidney cells. The NADPH oxidase 5 (NOX5) gene is present in humans but not rodents. Because Nox isoforms in renal proximal tubules (RPTs) are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension, we tested the hypothesis that NOX5 is differentially expressed in RPT cells from normotensive (NT) and hypertensive subjects (HT). We found that NOX5 mRNA, total NOX5 protein, and apical membrane NOX5 protein were 4.2±0.7-fold, 5.2±0.7-fold, and 2.8±0.5-fold greater in HT than NT. Basal total NADPH oxidase activity was 4.5±0.2-fold and basal NOX5 activity in NOX5 immunoprecipitates was 6.2±0.2-fold greater in HT than NT (P=<0.001, n=6-14/group). Ionomycin increased total NOX and NOX5 activities in RPT cells from HT (P<0.01, n=4, ANOVA), effects that were abrogated by pre-treatment of the RPT cells with diphenylene-iodonium or superoxide dismutase. Silencing NOX5 using NOX5-siRNA decreased NADPH oxidase activity (-45.1±3.2% vs. mock-siRNA, n=6-8) in HT. D1-like receptor stimulation decreased NADPH oxidase activity to a greater extent in NT (-32.5±1.8%) than HT (-14.8±1.8). In contrast to the marked increase in expression and activity of NOX5 in HT, NOX1 mRNA and protein were minimally increased in HT, relative to NT; total NOX2 and NOX4 proteins were not different between HT and NT, while the increase in apical RPT cell membrane NOX1, NOX2, and NOX4 proteins in HT, relative to NT, was much less than those observed with NOX5. Thus, we demonstrate, for the first time, that NOX5 is expressed in human RPT cells and to greater extent than the other Nox isoforms in HT than NT. We suggest that the increased expression of NOX5, which may be responsible for the increased oxidative stress in RPT cells in human essential hypertension, is caused, in part, by a defective renal dopaminergic system.
Project description:We synthesized "mesoscale" nanoparticles, approximately 400 nm in diameter, which unexpectedly localized selectively in renal proximal tubules and up to 7 times more efficiently in the kidney than other organs. Although nanoparticles typically localize in the liver and spleen, modulating their size and opsonization potential allowed for stable targeting of the kidneys through a new proposed uptake mechanism. Applying this kidney targeting strategy, we anticipate use in the treatment of renal disease and the study of renal physiology.
Project description:All components of the renin angiotensin system necessary for ANG II generation and action have been reported to be present in renal proximal convoluted tubules. Given the close relationship between renal sodium handling and blood pressure regulation, we hypothesized that modulating the action of ANG II specifically in the renal proximal tubules would alter the chronic level of blood pressure. To test this, we used a proximal tubule-specific, androgen-dependent, promoter construct (KAP2) to generate mice with either overexpression of a constitutively active angiotensin type 1A receptor transgene or depletion of endogenous angiotensin type 1A receptors. Androgen administration to female transgenic mice caused a robust induction of the transgene in the kidney and increased baseline blood pressure. In the receptor-depleted mice, androgen administration to females resulted in a Cre recombinase-mediated deletion of angiotensin type 1A receptors in the proximal tubule and reduced blood pressure. In contrast to the changes observed at baseline, there was no difference in the blood pressure response to a pressor dose of ANG II in either experimental model. These data, from two separate mouse models, provide evidence that ANG II signaling via the type 1A receptor in the renal proximal tubule is a regulator of systemic blood pressure under baseline conditions.
Project description:Multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRP) 2 and 4 are localized in proximal tubular epithelial cells and participate in the renal elimination of xenobiotics. MRP2 has also been implicated in the renal and hepatic elimination of mercury. The current study tested the hypothesis that MRP2 and MRP4 are involved in renal and hepatic handling of inorganic mercury (Hg(2+)). We examined the disposition of Hg(2+) in Mrp2(-/-) mice and assessed the transport of mercuric conjugates in inside-out membrane vesicles containing human MRP4. Since MRP2 has been shown to utilize glutathione (GSH) for transport of select substrates, we examined renal concentrations of GSH and cysteine and the expression of glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) in Mrp2(-/-) and FVB mice. The effect of Hg(2+) exposure on renal GSH levels was also assessed in these mice. Our data suggest that MRP2, but not MRP4, is involved in proximal tubular export of Hg(2+). In addition, GSH levels are greater in Mrp2(-/-) mice and exposure to Hg(2+) reduced renal levels of GSH. Expression of GCL was also altered in Mrp2(-/-) mice under normal conditions and following exposure to HgCl2. This study provides important novel data regarding the transport of Hg(2+) and the effect of Hg(2+) exposure on GSH levels.
Project description:AKI increases the risk of developing CKD, but the mechanisms linking AKI to CKD remain unclear. Because proximal tubule injury is the mainstay of AKI, we postulated that proximal tubule injury triggers features of CKD. We generated a novel mouse model to induce proximal tubule-specific adjustable injury by inducing the expression of diphtheria toxin (DT) receptor with variable prevalence in proximal tubules. Administration of high-dose DT in mice expressing the DT receptor consistently caused severe proximal tubule-specific injury associated with interstitial fibrosis and reduction of erythropoietin production. Mild proximal tubule injury from a single injection of low-dose DT triggered reversible fibrosis, whereas repeated mild injuries caused sustained interstitial fibrosis, inflammation, glomerulosclerosis, and atubular glomeruli. DT-induced proximal tubule-specific injury also triggered distal tubule injury. Furthermore, injured tubular cells cocultured with fibroblasts stimulated induction of extracellular matrix and inflammatory genes. These results support the existence of proximal-distal tubule crosstalk and crosstalk between tubular cells and fibroblasts. Overall, our data provide evidence that proximal tubule injury triggers several features of CKD and that the severity and frequency of proximal tubule injury determines the progression to CKD.