Functional kupffer cells migrate to the liver from the intraperitoneal cavity.

We established a method of KC transplantation by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection using EGFP-expressing cells (EGFP-KCs) and normal KCs. The novel method is easier and less invasive than conventional methods so that it is not only technically advantageous but also ethically preferable for experiments using animals. We demonstrated that KCs migrated to the liver following i.p. Injection. Engraftment in the liver was not observed for peritoneal macrophages (pMPs). This suggests that KCs migrate to the liver via a sorting mechanism. KC injection decreased the KC number at 24 h and then recovered the KCs at 10 days to a normal level. Additionally, recovery to the normal level by KC injection was observed in mice with KC depletion induced by GdCl3. These results suggest that a regulatory mechanism exists for controlling the number of KCs.

Development of fully automated and ultrasensitive assays for urinary adiponectin and their application as novel biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) are used to diagnose and classify the severity of chronic kidney disease. Total adiponectin (T-AN) and high molecular weight adiponectin (H-AN) assays were developed using the fully automated immunoassay system, HI-1000 and their significance over conventional biomarkers were investigated. The T-AN and H-AN assays had high reproducibility, good linearity, and sufficient sensitivity to detect trace amounts of adiponectin in the urine. Urine samples after gel filtration were analyzed for the presence of different molecular isoforms. Low molecular weight (LMW) forms and monomers were the major components (93%) of adiponectin in the urine from a diabetic patient with normoalbuminuria. Urine from a microalbuminuria patient contained both high molecular weight (HMW) (11%) and middle molecular weight (MMW) (28%) adiponectin, although the LMW level was still high (52%). The amount of HMW (32%) and MMW (42%) were more abundant than that of LMW (24%) in a diabetic patient with macroalbuminuria. T-AN (r = - 0.43) and H-AN (r = - 0.38) levels showed higher correlation with estimated GFR (eGFR) than UAER (r = - 0.23). Urinary levels of both T-AN and H-AN negatively correlated with renal function in diabetic patients and they may serve as new biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease.