Yashpal S. Kanwar

Role of proteoglycans in renal development

The role of proteoglycans (PGs) in morphogenesis was investigated. Fetal kidneys were obtained from 13-day-old mouse embryos and maintained for 7 days in culture. The biosynthesis of PGs was perturbed by addition of p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside in the culture medium. The kidneys were processed for morphological and biochemical studies. The morphological studies included staining of tissues with anti-basement membrane antibodies and ruthenium red. [35S]sulfate was used as the precursor product for biosynthetic and autoradiographic studies. The kidneys treated with xyloside had loose mesenchyme, inhibition of ureteric bud branching, diminution in the population of developing nephron elements, decreased immunofluorescence with anti-proteoglycan antibodies and staining with ruthenium red, and a reduced [35S]sulfate incorporation into poorly organized extracellular matrices. The biochemical studies included characterization of PGs/glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) by Sepharose CL-4B, -6B, and DEAE-Sephacel chromatographies and cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Under the influence of xyloside, the total radioactivities decreased 2 to 4-fold in tissues and increased 18 to 42-fold in media fractions. A reduction in the size of macromolecular form of PGs, i.e., from MW approximately 2.5 X 10(6) to approximately 2.5 X 10(4), was noted. The PGs/GAGs synthesized were mainly made up of heparan sulfate and small amounts of chondroitin sulfate. They eluted at a lower salt concentration as compared to the controls. A similar diminution in the size of media PGs, i.e., from MW approximately 1.8 X 10(5) to approximately 2.8 X 10(4), was observed. Additional studies with [3H]xyloside indicated that the chains initiated on xyloside residues were similar in size and composition to GAG-chains. These findings indicate that a perturbance in the biosynthesis of PGs/GAGs leads to abnormalities in renal organogenesis.

Nephritogenicity of antibodies to proteoglycans of the glomerular basement membrane--I.

We investigated nephritogenic potential of antibodies to heparan sulfate-proteoglycan of glomerular basement membrane. Glomeruli were isolated, basement membranes were prepared, proteoglycans extracted, and purified core protein was obtained. We immunized rabbits with the core protein, IgG fraction prepared from the antisera and specificity of the antibody determined. A single immunoprecipitin line in agar diffusion plate and a single band (approximately 18,000 mol wt) on the immunoblot autoradiograms were visualized. The antibody showed precise reactivity with the glomerular basement membranes. The clearance studies indicated that approximately 75% of the radioiodinated antibody disappeared from circulation within 1 h and 1-2% bound to the kidney. For nephritogenicity experiments, the antibody was intravenously administered into rats and we examined their kidneys at 1 h to 24 d later. A linear immunofluorescence of glomerular basement membranes was observed with rabbit IgG at all times while that of C3 until the 10th day. Early morphologic changes included glomerular infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes with focal exfoliation of endothelium. The leukocytic infiltration subsided by the third day and was followed by progressive thickening of basement membranes, focal mesangial cell proliferation, increase in mesangial matrix, and accumulation of monocytes. Focal knob-like thickening of glomerular basement membrane was observed from the 15th day onward. Regularly-spaced electrondense deposits were seen in the lamina rara interna and externa of glomerular basement membranes and persisted throughout the investigatory period. No significant proteinuria was observed at any stage of the experiment. These findings suggest that the antibodies to the basement membrane heparan sulfate-proteoglycan are nephrotoxic but possess weak nephritogenic potential.

Glycosaminoglycans of the Glomerular Basement Membrane in Normal and Nephrotic States

Alterations in the permeability of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) towards native ferritin (NF) and iodinated albumin (125I-BSA) following removal of the major glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of the GBM, heparan sulfate (HS) and hyaluronic acid (HA), were assessed utilizing the techniques of routine electron microscopy and autoradiography, respectively. Kidneys were incubated with heparinase (to degrade the GAGs of the GBM) and subsequently perfused with either NF or 125I-BSA. Control kidneys, which were not treated with heparinase, showed a low permeability to both tracers, with NF being confined to the lamina rara interna and 125I-BSA exhibiting a low level of passage into the urinary spaces (as indicated by a low density of autoradiographic grains over the urinary spaces). After heparinase treatment there was an increase in the permeability of the GBM such that both NF and 125I-BSA passed through the GBM in larger quantities and entered the urinary spaces. Perfusion of cationized ferritin (CF) into control kidneys revealed this probe to bind to the HS-rich anionic sites present within the GBM. Treatment with heparinase resulted in an abolition of the CF binding thereby indicating that the sites are composed mainly of HS and that HS plays a key role in establishing the permeability properties of the GBM. The changes in the pattern of distribution and density of the anionic sites of the GBM following induction of nephrosis was also studied. Animals were rendered nephrotic by subcutaneous injections of an aminonucleoside of puromycin and their kidneys subsequently perfused with either CF or cationized cytochrome c. No difference in either the pattern of distribution on density of the anionic sites in the GBM of nephrotic kidneys was observed when compared to nonnephrotic controls; thus indicating that the proteinuria associated with aminonucleoside nephrosis might be due to changes in components of the glomerular capillary wall other than the anionic sites.

Occurrence of Intercapillary Nodular Glomerulosclerosis in the Absence of Glucose Intolerance

The case of a 58-year-old man with nephrotic syndrome and characteristic pathologic renal lesions of KW disease is presented. No evidence of diabetes was found by oral or intravenous glucose tolerance tests. The possibilities of light-chain disease, membranoproliferative form of glomerulonephritis, and amyloidosis were excluded by histochemistry and immunofluorescent microscopy.

Functional Organization of the Glomerulus: Presence of Glycosaminoglycans (Proteoglycans) in the Glomerular Basement Membrane

Since the first descriptions of the structural organization of glomerular capillaries with the electron microscope in the 1950s, scientists have struggled to understand the structural basis of glomerular filtration. They have attempted to relate the special fine-structural features of the glomerulus to its special filtration function. Similarly, since the original description of the characteristic patterns of changes in glomerular organization seen in various glomerular diseases, described at about the same period, scientists have struggled to understand the structural basis for the abnormal glomerular function found in these diseases. In spite of nearly 30 years of research on this topic, its understanding is still incomplete and relatively rudimentary. However, there has been continual progress in growth of understanding of these problems during that period.