Localization of -Dystroglycan on the Podocyte
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from Top to Toe
Division of Nephrology (NPJV,MAHB,JvdV,JHMB) and Department of Pathology (HD), Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and Department of Physiology and Biophysics (KPC), Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Correspondence to: J.H.M. Berden MD, PhD, Division of Nephrology (545), Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. E-mail: j.berden{at}nier.umcn.nl
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Summary |
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Key Words: dystroglycan podocyte agrin laminin glomerulus kidney podocalyxin renal
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Introduction |
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The localization of -DG on podocytes has been controversial. We showed, with monoclonal antibody (MoAb) IIH6 as probe, that
-DG covers both the apical and the basolateral cell membranes of rat podocytes. In contrast, Regele et al. (2000)
demonstrated a strict basolateral localization on human podocytes by using a different technique and by probing with a different MoAb to
-DG, MoAb VIA4.1. Both mouse MoAbs are directed at carbohydrate epitopes on
-DG; the immunoglobulin subclass of IIH6 is IgM and that of VIA4.1 is IgG1 (Ohlendieck et al. 1991
; Michele et al. 2002
). Because
-DG was shown to link the actin cytoskeleton of muscle and nerve to the extracellular matrix, it has been postulated that
-DG is a major adhesion molecule for podocytes. To date, the function of
-DG localized apically has not been discussed.
DG is encoded by a single gene, DAG1, and cleaved into - and ß-DG by posttranslational processing (Ibraghimov-Beskrovnaya et al. 1992
).
-DG is heavily glycosylated with many sialic acidrich oligosaccharides, which accounts for its negative charge. The predicted molecular mass of the core protein of
-DG is
74 kDa, whereas the apparent molecular mass, as detected by SDS-PAGE, is
156 kDa in skeletal muscle, and ranges from 120 kDa in brain to
200 kDa in bovine kidney (Ervasti and Campbell 1991
; Gee et al. 1993
; Bowe et al. 1994
; Yamada et al. 1994
; Smalheiser and Kim 1995
). Because no differences in primary protein structure have been described, these observed differences in molecular mass seem to be due to differences in glycosilation (Ibraghimov-Beskrovnaya et al. 1993
). Using biophysical methods, a dumbbell-like structure was visualized, in which the C-terminal region of
-DG interacts with the N-terminal region of the transmembrane ß-DG (Brancaccio et al. 1995
; Sciandra et al. 2001
). Within podocytes, the intracellular C-terminal tail of ß-DG interacts with utrophin, an autosomal homolog of dystrophin, which finally interacts with the actin cytoskeleton (Raats et al. 2000
; Ilsley et al. 2002
). Extracellularly,
-DG binds to laminin G modules that are present in agrin, laminin, and perlecan, which are localized in the extracellular matrix (Gee et al. 1994
; Sugiyama et al. 1994
; Yamada et al. 1996
; Gesemann et al. 1998
; Hohenester et al. 1999
; Timpl et al. 2000
).
-DG has been shown to play an important role in basement membrane assembly. Mice with a targeted disruption of the DG gene (DAG1/) do not develop Reichert's membrane, at which stage further development of the embryo stops (Williamson et al. 1997
). Blocking of the binding site of
-DG to laminin with antibody IIH6 in kidney organ culture pertubates development of epithelium (Durbeej et al. 1995
). The expression of glomerular
-DG has been studied in some human and experimental glomerular diseases: It was decreased in minimal-change nephropathy and in experimental adriamycine nephropathy, but remained stable in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and in experimental passive Heymann nephritis (Raats et al. 2000
; Regele et al. 2000
).
Podocytes have a unique architecture, in which pedicles spread from the cell body, covering the capillary loop by the formation of foot processes. These foot processes interdigitate and form filtration slits. This shape can be maintained by the negative charge of sialic acids, which has been shown to cover the apical membrane (Faraggiana et al. 1982; Charest and Roth 1985
; Holthofer et al. 1988
; Wagner and Roth 1988
). Podocalyxin has been identified as a major sialic acidrich glycoprotein covering this apical membrane (Kerjaschki et al. 1984
). Removal of sialic acid by sialidase induces a loss of filtration slits and foot process effacement (Andrews 1979
; Gelberg et al. 1996
). Neutralization of the polyanionic surface by perfusion of kidneys with polycations such as protamin sulfate or hexadimethrine has similar effects, which can be prevented by scavenging these polycations with heparin (Kerjaschki 1978
,1994
; Bridges et al. 1991
).
As outlined above, there is still discussion about the exact localization of -DG on podocytes. In this study, we addressed this question by applying different techniques (immunofluorescence and confocal and electron microscopy) and by using the available MoAbs against
-DG, i.e., IIH6 and VIA4.1. We found that in situ
-DG is localized at both the apical and basolateral sides of rat and human podocytes, and we confirmed this finding in cultured mouse podocytes. These observations indicate that glomerular
-DG plays a dual role in the maintenance of the unique architecture of podocytes by its binding to the GBM, and in the maintenance of the integrity of the filtration slit, resulting from its negative charge by sialic acid residues.
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Materials and Methods |
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Immunoelectron Microscopy
Immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) was performed according to the two methods described previously for -DG, respectively a pre- and a post-embedding technique (Raats et al. 2000
; Regele et al. 2000
).
For the pre-embedding technique, kidneys were immersion-fixed in a mixture of 10 mM periodate (Merck), 75 mM lysine (Merck), and 2% paraformaldehyde (PLP), pH 6.2, for 3 hr. After rinsing several times in PBS, the kidneys were cryoprotected by immersion in 2.3 M sucrose for 1 hr, and subsequently frozen in liquid nitrogen. Twenty-micron-thick sections were incubated with the MoAbs IIH6, VIA4.1, or isotype controls, in IF buffer for 18 hr at 4C and then washed three times for 30 min with PBS. After rinsing, the sections were incubated for 90 min with the appropriate peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody rabbit anti-mouse IgM/IgG (Dako; Glostrup, Denmark), then incubated for 90 min in IF buffer. After rinsing in PBS for three 30-min periods, the sections were preincubated for 10 min in PBS containing 0.05% diaminobenzidine (DAB; Fluka/Sigma-Aldrich, Germany) in 50 mM Tris[hydroxymethyl]aminomethane (Sigma). Subsequently, the sections were stained for 10 min with the same medium containing 0.003% hydrogen peroxide (Merck). After washing three times in distilled water, the sections were postfixed for 30 min at room temperature in 1% OsO4 [Electronic Microscopy Sciences (EMS); Hatfield, PA], pH 7.4, dehydrated, and embedded in Epon 812 (Merck). Ultrathin sections were prepared on an ultratome (Leica; Reichert Ultracuts, Wien, Austria).
Additionally, a post-embedding technique was performed. Kidneys were immersion-fixed in PLP and embedded in Lowicryl HM20 resin (EMS). Ultrathin sections were incubated via droplet method with the MoAbs IIH6 or VIA4.1, or isotype controls for 1 hr in IF buffer at RT, and washed several times in PBS. Subsequently, sections were incubated with 10 nm gold-labeled goat anti-mouse IgM or IgG (Amersham Biosciences; Little Chalfont, UK) for 1 hr in IF buffer, washed several times in PBS, then washed three times in distilled water and contrasted with 4% aqueous uranyl acetate (EMS) for 15 min. All sections were examined by a JEOL 1200 EX2 electron microscope (JEOL; Tokyo, Japan).
Cell Culture
Conditionally immortalized mouse podocytes (MPC5, generously provided by Dr. Peter Mundel, Division of Nephrology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY), which harbor the gene encoding the temperature-sensitive SV40 large T antigen under control of a -interferon-inducible H2Kb promoter, were used. These cells have been shown to polarize during differentiation (Mundel et al. 1997
). Podocytes were maintained in RPMI 1640 (Invitrogen; Breda, The Netherlands) supplemented with 10% FCS (Greiner; Alphen aan de Rijn, The Netherlands) and 100 U/ml penicillin-streptomycin (Invitrogen) at 97% humidity, in 5% CO2. Cells were propagated in polystyrene flasks (Greiner) at 33C, with 20 U/ml mouse
-interferon (Sigma) added to the medium. Podocytes were allowed to differentiate by culturing at 37C, without additional mouse
-interferon, on collagen A (Biochrom; Berlin, Germany), laminin EHS (Campro Scientific; Veenendaal, The Netherlands), or Matrigel (BD; Alphen aan de Rijn, The Netherlands) -coated glass coverslips for 3 weeks. Passages 1017 were used in these experiments. For immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, podocytes were fixed in PLP for 10 min at RT, and subsequently washed three times in PBS and blocked for 20 min in blocking solution [2% FCS, 2% BSA, 0.2% fish gelatin (Amersham) in PBS]. Indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy were performed essentially as described above in blocking solution, without postfixation. Normal goat serum (diluted 1:10) was added when probing with the conjugates, and the nucleus was probed with topro (diluted 1:20; Molecular Probes).
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Results |
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To investigate how the staining for glomerular -DG was related to the GBM, we performed double stainings for
-DG and agrin on rat and human kidney sections using confocal microscopy (Figure 2). Generally, staining for
-DG was observed outside the GBM in a podocyte-like manner. Partial colocalization with agrin was observed, especially when stained by VIA4.1 (Figure 2, rat merge VIA4.1).
The analysis with immunofluorescence revealed a lesser basolateral staining of glomerular -DG, suggesting that
-DG is predominantly expressed at the apical side of the podocyte. To determine the ultrastructural localization of
-DG on the podocyte, IEM was used, applying two different techniques. Pre-embedding incubation combined with DAB revealed a homogenous staining along the apical cell membrane and a weak staining at the basal side of the podocytes facing the GBM (Figures 3A, 3B, 3G, and 3I). The glomerular staining patterns of MoAbs IIH6 and VIA4.1 were in general identical, except that VIA4.1 showed a stronger staining at the basal side of the podocyte, particularly in human kidney sections (Figures 3I and 3J). The staining was consistently stronger in rat kidneys compared with human kidneys (Table 2). In addition, after Lowicryl embedding and staining with immunogold (post-embedding), the same pattern as in the pre-embedding technique was revealed, but with a much lower intensity (Figures 3C3F, 3H, and 3J). In fact, this latter staining method seemed to be less efficient, in comparison to the pre-embedding technique.
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Discussion |
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Until now, the proposed function of glomerular -DG has been that it provides a link between the actin cytoskeleton of the podocyte and the GBM (Raats et al. 2000
; Regele et al. 2000
; Kretzler 2002
; Luimula et al. 2002
), which only holds for the basolaterally localized
-DG. Because we provide here compelling evidence for the apical localization of
-DG, extra functions should be considered.
-DG has a high sialic acid content, which accounts for its negative charge (Chiba et al. 1997
; Ervasti et al. 1997
; Sasaki et al. 1998
; Smalheiser et al. 1998
). Furthermore, sialic acids have been found extensively on the apical membrane of podocytes, and podocalyxin has been regarded as the major protein carrying these sialic acidrich residues (Faraggiana et al. 1982
; Kerjaschki et al. 1984
; Charest and Roth 1985
; Holthofer et al. 1988
). This negative charge enables podocytes to maintain the integrity of their unique filtration slits. In vivo masking of this negative charge by protamin sulfate or hexadimethrine leads to immediate foot process effacement, which can be prevented by scavenging these positively charged molecules with heparin (Kerjaschki 1978
,1994
; Bridges et al. 1991
). It has also been shown that enzymatic removal of sialic acid residues with neuraminidase (sialidase) leads to foot process effacement and proteinuria (Andrews 1979
; Kanwar and Farquhar 1980
; Gelberg et al. 1996
). In addition, this coating with sialic acid residues prevents adhesion with parietal epithelial cells, thereby preventing synechia formation (Smeets et al. 2004
). We hypothesize that these anti-adhesive properties are in part due to the negative charge of the sialic acid residues linked to glomerular
-DG and that therefore apical glomerular
-DG has a function similar to that of podocalyxin in this respect. Foot process effacement is a major reaction of podocytes in many proteinuric glomerular diseases, such as minimal change nephropathy and experimental adriamycin nephropathy, in which the expression of glomerular
-DG is decreased (Raats et al. 2000
; Regele et al. 2000
). It has also been proposed that retraction of foot processes can be induced by outside-in signaling events. Because
-DG is known for its ability to bind several ligands in the extracellular matrix, it may also have a function in signaling events. Indeed, preliminary work from our laboratory shows that
-DG on podocytes is involved in calcium signaling.
In conclusion, the glomerular anionic glycoprotein -DG has apical as well as basolateral localization and may be involved in the maintenance of the unique podocyte architecture by acting as an adhesion molecule at the basolateral side and as an anti-adhesion molecule at the cell membranes facing the filtration slit and Bowman's space, respectively.
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Acknowledgments |
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Footnotes |
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