RESUMEN
Mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are the most common known genetic cause of Parkinson's disease, and LRRK2 is also linked to Crohn's and Hansen's disease. LRRK2 is expressed in many organs in mammals but is particularly abundant in the kidney. We find that LRRK2 protein is predominantly localized to collecting duct cells in the rat kidney, with much lower expression in other kidney cells. While genetic knockout (KO) of LRRK2 expression is well-tolerated in mice and rats, a unique age-dependent pathology develops in the kidney. The cortex and medulla of LRRK2 KO rat kidneys become darkly pigmented in early adulthood, yet aged animals display no overt signs of kidney failure. Accompanying the dark pigment we find substantial macrophage infiltration in LRRK2 KO kidneys, suggesting the presence of chronic inflammation that may predispose to kidney disease. Unexpectedly, the dark kidneys of the LRRK2 KO rats are highly resistant to rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury compared with wild-type rats. Biochemical profiling of the LRRK2 KO kidneys using immunohistochemistry, proteomic and lipidomic analyses show a massive accumulation of hemoglobin and lipofuscin in renal tubules that account for the pigmentation. The proximal tubules demonstrate a corresponding up-regulation of the cytoprotective protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) which is capable of mitigating acute kidney injury. The unusual kidney pathology of LRRK2 KO rats highlights several novel physiological roles for LRRK2 and provides indirect evidence for HO-1 expression as a protective mechanism in acute kidney injury in LRRK2 deficiency.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Renales/genética , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/genética , Rabdomiólisis/genética , Animales , Citoprotección , Células Epiteliales/metabolismo , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Hemo Oxigenasa (Desciclizante)/genética , Hemo Oxigenasa (Desciclizante)/metabolismo , Enfermedades Renales/etiología , Túbulos Renales Proximales/metabolismo , Túbulos Renales Proximales/patología , Proteína 2 Quinasa Serina-Treonina Rica en Repeticiones de Leucina , Masculino , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/deficiencia , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/metabolismo , Proteómica , Ratas , Rabdomiólisis/complicaciones , Regulación hacia ArribaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The transmission of Mycobacterium leprae, the causative pathogen of leprosy, has been postulated to occur mainly through upper respiratory route rather than skin-to-skin contact via minor injuries. The M. leprae genome contains mce1A gene, which encodes a putative mammalian cell entry protein. However, to date, there have been no functional analyses of the M. leprae mce1A gene product. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to elucidate a possible relationship between this transmission mechanism and the mce1A gene product. METHODS: We analyzed the cell uptake activity in vitro of polystyrene latex beads coated with a purified recombinant (r-) protein expressed by a 849-bp locus within the mce1A gene. RESULTS: The r-protein promoted uptake of the beads into human nasal epithelial cells derived from nasal polyps, human bronchial epithelial cell line, normal human dermal fibroblasts, normal human microvascular endothelial cells and normal human keratinocytes cultured at 0.01 mM extracellular calcium concentration [Ca]; no uptake occurred with keratinocytes cultured at 1.2mM [Ca]. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the mce1A gene product can mediate M. leprae entry into respiratory epithelial cells as their natural target cells, which may be the main mode of transmission. Endothelial cells, on the other hand, may serve as the reservoir of the bacilli for long-term infection. The M. leprae Mce1A protein has potential important implications for mode of transmission and pathogenesis of leprosy.