Improvement of human islet cryopreservation by a p38 MAPK inhibitor.

The activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) has been shown to cause ischemia/reperfusion injury of several organs used for transplantation and also to play a significant role in primary islet graft nonfunction. Activation of p38 MAPK may also occur during islet cryopreservation and thawing. In this study, a p38 MAPK inhibitor (p38IH) was applied to human islet cryopreservation to improve islet yield and quality after thawing. Under serum-free conditions, human islets were cryopreserved, thawed and cultured using our standard procedures. Three types of solutions were tested: conventional RPMI1640 medium (RPMI), a newly developed islet cryopreservation solution (ICS), and ICS supplemented with a p38IH, SD-282 (ICS-p38IH). Activation or inhibition of p38 MAPK was demonstrated by the diminished phosphorylation of HSP27 substrate. Islet recovery on day 2 after thawing was highest with ICS-p38IH and islet viability was not significantly different in the three groups. beta Cell numbers and function were the highest in islets cryopreserved with ICS-p38IH. Glucose-stimulated human C-peptide levels were 86% of that of the nonfrozen islets when measured 4 weeks after transplantation into NODscid mice. This improvement may provide an opportunity to establish islet banks and allow the use of cryopreserved islets for clinical transplantation.

Inhibition of p38alpha MAPK enhances proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis of myeloma cells by modulating Hsp27, Bcl-X(L), Mcl-1 and p53 levels in vitro and inhibits tumor growth in vivo.

Inhibition of p38 kinase blocks the production of tumor-promoting factors in the multiple myeloma (MM) bone marrow microenvironment. Proteasome inhibitors MG132 and bortezomib have been shown to have direct cytotoxic effects on MM cells. We show that a selective inhibitor of p38alpha, SCIO-469, enhances the ability of MG132 and bortezomib to induce the apoptosis of MM cells. Previously, we showed that p38 inhibition with SCIO-469 enhances MM cytotoxicity of bortezomib by inhibiting the transient expression and phosphorylation of Hsp27, a downstream target of p38. Here we show that continued treatment of MM cells with bortezomib leads to a SCIO-469-enhanced downregulation of Hsp27 and to increased MM apoptosis. Furthermore, we show that p38 inhibition enhances the bortezomib-induced MM apoptosis by upregulation of p53 and downregulation of Bcl-X(L) and Mcl-1. In a mouse xenograft plasmacytoma model of MM, we found that inhibiting p38 augments the effects of bortezomib in decreasing MM tumor growth in vivo. Thus, in addition to its role in suppressing an activated MM microenvironment, co-treatment with a p38 inhibitor, such as SCIO-469, may enhance the cytotoxicity of bortezomib by modulating pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors in MM cells, suggesting great potential for co-therapy.

Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase protects human islets from cryoinjury and improves the yield, viability, and quality of frozen-thawed islets.

The development of an optimal islet cryopreservation method will permit transplantation of islets from multiple donors in a single procedure and contribute to alleviation of the islet shortage. In this study, we have improved human islet cryopreservation methods under serum-free conditions using an intracellular-based islet cryopreservation solution (ICS), especially supplemented with a p38 pathway inhibitor (p38IH) to suppress p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. Three different solutions were compared for freezing and thawing of human islets (1) conventional RPMI1640 medium, (2) ICS, and (3) ICS supplemented with a p38IH, SD-282 (ICS-p38IH). Islet cryopreservation with ICS-p38IH significantly improved islet recovery, viability, and quality after thawing of cryopreserved islets. This improvement may allow the use of cryopreserved islets in clinical islet transplantation.

Inhibition of the mitogen activated protein kinase, p38 alpha, prevents proinflammatory cytokine induction by human adherent mononuclear leukocytes in response to lipid loading.

Macrophage infiltration, inflammatory processes and oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein (LDL) are known contributing factors in the formation of the atherosclerotic plaque. To determine whether a direct link might exist between these factors, we examined the effect of oxidized LDL upon proinflammatory cytokine production in adherent human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes. Oxidized LDL, as well as a combination of cholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol, induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) mRNA as measured by quantitative real time PCR, by a maximum of two- to fourfold following a 24-h incubation. Analysis of cell culture supernatants revealed a concomitant stimulation of TNFalpha and IL-1 beta secreted protein as determined by ELISA. Treatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes with oxidized LDL or the combination of cholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol caused activation of p38 alpha as determined by the ability of immunoprecipitated p38 to phosphorylate an ATF-2 fusion protein, a surrogate substrate of p38 alpha. VK-19911 (Pyridine, 4-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(4-piperidinyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl]-dihydrochloride), a specific inhibitor of p38 alpha, prevented the induction of TNFalpha and IL-1 beta by oxidized LDL in a dose-dependent manner. Activated p38 alpha is known to be involved in the stabilization of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in response to stimuli such as lipopolysaccharide; however, in the setting of oxidized LDL-induced p38 alpha activation, COX-2 mRNA levels were not affected. Taken together, the data imply a potential role for p38 alpha activation in lipid-associated inflammatory processes.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF121) protects rats from renal infarction in thrombotic microangiopathy.

BACKGROUND: Renal thrombotic microangiopathy, typified by the hemolytic uremic syndrome, is associated with endothelial cell injury in which the presence of cortical necrosis, extensive glomerular involvement, and arterial occlusive lesions correlates with a poor clinical outcome. We hypothesized that the endothelial survival factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may provide protection. METHOD: Severe, necrotizing, thrombotic microangiopathy was induced in rats by the renal artery perfusion of antiglomerular endothelial antibody, followed by the administration of VEGF or vehicle, and renal injury was evaluated. RESULTS: Control rats developed severe glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury with extensive renal necrosis. The administration of VEGF significantly reduced the necrosis, preserved the glomerular endothelium and arterioles, and reduced the number of apoptotic cells in glomeruli (at 4 hours) and in the tubulointerstitium (at 4 days). The prosurvival effect of VEGF for endothelium may relate in part to the ability of VEGF to protect endothelial cells from factor-induced apoptosis, as demonstrated for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which was shown to be up-regulated through the course of this model of renal microangiopathy. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression was preserved in VEGF-treated rats compared with its marked decrease in the surviving glomeruli and interstitium of the antibody-treated rats that did not receive VEGF. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF protects against renal necrosis in this model of thrombotic microangiopathy. This protection may be mediated by maintaining endothelial nitric oxide production and/or preventing endothelial cell death.

Impaired angiogenesis in the aging kidney: vascular endothelial growth factor and thrombospondin-1 in renal disease.

We investigated the relationship of changes in the microvasculature to age-related structural and functional changes in the kidney to determine whether there was evidence of impaired angiogenesis and whether the loss of microvasculature could be accounted for by changes in the local production of angiogenic or antiangiogenic factors. Glomerular and peritubular capillary number, density, and endothelial cell proliferation were determined in aging (24 months; n = 9) and young (3 months; n = 8) rat kidneys and correlated with renal functional and structural changes and alterations in renal expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). Aging rats showed a focal decrease in both peritubular capillary (peritubular capillary staining, 5.4% +/- 1.8% versus 11.3% +/- 2.0% per 100 tubules; rarefaction index, 10.6% +/- 4.6% versus 0.6% +/- 0.1%, aging versus young rats; P < 0.05 and P: < 0.001, respectively) and glomerular capillary loops (27.3 +/- 6.9 versus 50.7 +/- 7.4/glomerulus, aging versus young rats; P < 0.001). The number of proliferating endothelial cells was decreased in aging rats compared with young rats (glomerular, 0.04 +/- 0.01 versus 0.15 +/- 0.03 positive cells/glomerular cross-section; peritubular, 0.7 +/- 0.2 versus 4.3 +/- 2.6 positive cells/mm(2); P < 0.05). In the aging kidney, VEGF expression was focally increased in the cortex compared with young rats, whereas a profound decrease was observed in the outer and inner medulla (total area of VEGF expression, 19.2% +/- 11.4% versus 39.3% +/- 7.6%; P < 0.05). Tubular VEGF expression correlated with peritubular capillary density (r(2) = 0.57; P < 0.01) and inversely correlated with tubular osteopontin (r(2) = -0.55; P < 0.05) and macrophage infiltration (r(2) = -0.64; P < 0.01). TSP-1 staining was increased in the glomeruli and tubulointerstitium of the aging rats. Glomerular TSP-1 score correlated inversely with glomerular capillary number (r(2) = -0.89; P < 0.001). Tubulointerstitial TSP-1 also correlated with percentage of positive staining of peritubular capillary (r(2) = -0.59; P < 0.001). Glomerular capillary number showed significant correlation with glomerulosclerosis score, as well as with 24-hour urinary protein excretion. Peritubular capillary density also inversely correlated with interstitial fibrosis score and urinary protein excretion. In conclusion, glomerular and peritubular capillary loss in the aging kidney correlate with alterations in VEGF and TSP-1 expression and also with the development of glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. These findings suggest that impaired angiogenesis associated with progressive loss in renal microvasculature may have a pivotal role in age-related nephropathy.

Post-cyclosporine-mediated hypertension and nephropathy: amelioration by vascular endothelial growth factor.

Recent studies have demonstrated a role for microvascular and tubulointerstitial injury in some models of salt-sensitive hypertension. We utilized a model of post-cyclosporin A (CsA) nephropathy and hypertension to test the hypothesis that treatment with an angiogenic factor aimed at ameliorating the microvascular and renal injury would prevent the development of hypertension. CsA was administered with a low-salt diet for 45 days, resulting in a renal lesion characterized by afferent arteriolopathy, focal peritubular capillary loss, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Rats were then placed on a high-salt diet and randomized to receive either vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF(121)) or vehicle for 14 days. Placement of rats with established CsA nephropathy on a high-salt diet results in the rapid development of salt-sensitive hypertension. VEGF(121) treatment resulted in lower blood pressure, and this persisted on discontinuing the VEGF. VEGF(121) treatment was also associated with a decrease in osteopontin expression, macrophage infiltration, and collagen III deposition and markedly stimulated resolution of the arteriolopathy (20.9 +/- 7.8 vs. 36.9 +/- 6.1%, VEGF vs. vehicle, P < 0.05). In conclusion, CsA-associated renal microvascular and tubulointerstitial injury results in the development of salt-sensitive hypertension. Treatment of animals with established CsA nephropathy with VEGF reduces the hypertensive response and accelerates histological recovery. The vascular protective effect of VEGF may be due to the improvement of arteriolopathy. Angiogenic growth factors may represent a novel strategy for treating CsA-associated hypertension and renal disease.

Vascular endothelial growth factor accelerates renal recovery in experimental thrombotic microangiopathy.

BACKGROUND: Renal microvascular injury characterizes thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). The possibility that angiogenic growth factors may accelerate recovery in TMA has not been studied. METHODS: TMA was induced in rats by the selective right renal artery perfusion of antiglomerular endothelial cell IgG (30 mg/kg). Twenty-four hours later, rats received vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF121, 100 microg/kg/day) or vehicle (control) daily until day 14. To evaluate renal function, the unperfused left kidney was removed at day 14, and rats were sacrificed at day 17. RESULTS: The induction of TMA was associated with loss of glomerular and peritubular capillary endothelial cells and decreased arteriolar density at day 1. Some spontaneous capillary recovery was present by day 17; however, repair was incomplete, and severe tubulointerstitial damage occurred. The lack of complete microvascular recovery was associated with reduced VEGF immunostaining in the outer medulla. VEGF-treated rats had more glomeruli with intact endothelium, less glomerular ischemia (collapsed glomeruli), and greater peritubular capillary density with less peritubular capillary loss. This was associated with less tubulointerstitial fibrosis, less cortical atrophy, and improved renal function. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF accelerates renal recovery in this experimental model of TMA. These studies suggest that angiogenic growth factors may provide a new therapeutic strategy for diseases associated with endothelial cell injury.

CTGF expression is induced by TGF- beta in cardiac fibroblasts and cardiac myocytes: a potential role in heart fibrosis.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a cysteine-rich protein induced by transforming growth factor beta (TGF- beta) in connective tissue cells. CTGF can trigger many of the cellular processes underlying fibrosis, such as cell proliferation, adhesion, migration and the synthesis of extracellular matrix; however, its role in acute and chronic cardiac injury is not fully understood. Here, we show that TGF- beta is a specific inducer of CTGF expression in both cardiac fibroblasts and cardiac myocytes. The activity of a CTGF promoter-based reporter construct correlated with endogenous CTGF expression, suggesting that TGF- beta induces CTGF expression most likely by activating its promoter. Upregulation of CTGF coincided with an increase in fibronectin, collagen type I and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 production. Forskolin, a stimulator of cyclic AMP, blocked TGF- beta induced CTGF expression and reduced the basal level of CTGF, whereas an inhibitor that blocks the MAP kinase signaling pathway (PD 98059) significantly enhanced TGF- beta induced CTGF expression. Furthermore, we found that both TGF- beta and CTGF mRNAs were significantly elevated in the left ventricles and septa of rat hearts 2-16 weeks following myocardial infarction. This correlated well with concomitant increases in fibronectin, and type I and type III collagen mRNA levels in these animal hearts. Significant upregulation of CTGF was also detected in human heart samples derived from patients diagnosed with cardiac ischemia. Based on these findings, we propose that CTGF is an important mediator of TGF- beta signaling in the heart and abnormal expression of this gene could be used as a diagnostic marker for cardiac fibrosis.

Altered patterns of gene expression in response to myocardial infarction.

The use of cDNA microarrays has made it possible to simultaneously analyze gene expression for thousands of genes. Microarray technology was used to evaluate the expression of >4000 genes in a rat model of myocardial infarction. More than 200 genes were identified that showed differential expression in response to myocardial infarction. Gene expression changes were monitored from 2 to 16 weeks after infarction in 2 regions of the heart, the left ventricle free wall and interventricular septum. A novel clustering program was used to identify patterns of expression within this large set of data. Unique patterns were revealed within the transcriptional responses that illuminate changes in biological processes associated with myocardial infarction.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 induces fetalization in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

We employed cDNA microarrays representing 4000 distinct sequences to profile changes in gene expression in a rodent model of heart disease, namely, progression to heart failure after myocardial infarction. Differential gene expression in the left ventricle was examined at 4-week intervals over a 12-week period after coronary artery ligation in rats. Over this time course, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) was found to have a greater expression than in nondiseased tissues. We then employed quantitative real-time PCR to analyze gene expression in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes that had been treated with recombinantly expressed IGFBP-3 to examine a number of transcriptional responses designed to reflect the heart failure phenotype. The IGFBP-3 protein was shown to induce transcription of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and beta-myosin heavy chain (B-MHC). Analysis of conditioned media taken from IGFBP-3-treated cardiac myocyte cultures demonstrated an increase in ANF protein as well as in protein synthesis, as determined by metabolic incorporation of a radiolabeled amino acid. However, transcriptional changes of troponin-1, endothelin-1, or angiotensin-II by IGFBP-3 were not observed.

Neutral lipid from proteinuric rat urine is a novel inhibitor of the red blood cell calcium pump.

Proteinuria may be associated with hypertension and progression of renal insufficiency, which in turn may accompany abnormalities in cell calcium homeostasis. Therefore, urine from rats made proteinuric by puromycin aminoglycoside administration was analyzed, in a search for factors affecting cellular calcium transport. Proteinuric urine was fractionated by thin-layer chromatography and HPLC, and the effects of the fractions on the plasma membrane calcium pump in human red blood cells were assessed. Proteinuric urine contained a powerful specific inhibitor of the calcium pump that had little or no effect on the Na+/K+- or Mg2+-ATPases. The inhibitor was characterized as a neutral lipid, migrating as a single band, that inhibited 45Ca2+ efflux. To confirm the presence of an inhibitor in other proteinuric states, the urine from two patients with proteinuria was examined and subjected to chromatography as in the rat studies. These thin-layer chromatographic fractions contained a very strong inhibitor of the red blood cell calcium pump, suggesting that this substance may have relevance for the pathogenesis of proteinuric renal disease in human patients. Rat proximal tubule cells in tissue culture, when challenged with lipid-replete albumin, secreted an inhibitor of the calcium pump that migrated in the same chromatographic band as the urine factor. Therefore, the processing of fatty acids borne by albumin into endocytosing proximal tubular epithelium results in the synthesis and release of a previously unknown lipid modulator of the calcium pump, an effect that may predispose kidney tissue toward elevations in cytosolic calcium levels in target cells.

Natriuretic and diuretic actions of a highly selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonist.

The natriuretic and diuretic action of a highly selective adenosine A1 receptor (A1AdoR) antagonist, 1,3-dipropyl-8-[2-(5,6-epoxy)norbornyl]xanthine (CVT-124), was investigated in anesthetized rats. CVT-124 (0.1 to 1 mg/kg) caused dose-dependent increases in urine flow and fractional and absolute sodium excretion of by six- to 10-fold and, at 0.1 mg/kg, increased the GFR (1.6+/-0.1 to 2.5+/-0.2 ml/min; P<0.01). There were no changes in BP or heart rate. CVT-124 reduced absolute proximal reabsorption (26+/-3 to 20+/-2 nl/min; P<0.05) despite unchanged proximally measured, single-nephron GFR (SNGFR) (42+/-5 to 44+/-4 nl/min; NS) and thereby decreased fractional proximal reabsorption (60+/-3 to 46+/-4%; P<0.05). Despite increasing distal tubular fluid flow rate (5.4+/-0.7 to 9.7+/-0.9 nl/min; P<0.001), it reduced the proximal-distal difference in SNGFR (before: 9.4+/-1.0 versus during CVT-124: 4.6+/-1.5 nl/min; P<0.01), suggesting that it had blunted the effects of the macula densa on SNGFR. Direct measurements of maximal tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) responses were made from proximal stop flow pressure (PSF) during orthograde loop perfusion from the proximal tubule with artificial tubular fluid at 40 nl/min. TGF was blunted by intravenous CVT-124 (0.5 mg/kg; deltaPSF with vehicle: 8.3+/-0.6 versus CVT-124: 6.5+/-0.3 mm Hg; n = 9; P<0.01). In conclusion, A1AdoR blockade reduces proximal reabsorption and uncouples it from glomerular filtration. It increases distal delivery of fluid yet does not activate a macula densa-dependent fall in SNGFR because it blunts the TGF response. Natriuresis accompanied by blockade of proximal glomerulotubular balance and TGF characterizes a new class of diuretic drugs.

CVT-124, a novel adenosine A1 receptor antagonist with unique diuretic activity.

Administration of the selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, CVT-124, to conscious chronically instrumented rats resulted in significant increases in urine flow rate and sodium excretion without affecting potassium excretion or renal hemodynamics. Its maximum effect was twice that of hydrochlorothiazide which was associated with a significant kaliuresis. The diuretic effect of CVT-124 was less than that observed with furosemide; however, furosemide administration was associated with a large increase in potassium excretion as well as a reduction in glomerular filtration rate. When given at equinatriuretic doses, CVT-124 enhanced the diuretic and natriuretic activity of furosemide without further increasing potassium excretion. In contrast, the combination of hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide resulted in a 3-fold increase in potassium excretion. These data suggest that CVT-124 possesses unique diuretic activity and, as such, it represents a potential new therapeutic in fluid retaining disorders. In addition, its unique mechanism of action suggests that CVT-124 would be effective in otherwise diuretic-resistant patients.

Natriuretic effect of adenosine A1-receptor blockade in rats.

BACKGROUND: Many effects of adenosine on renal function have been identified. The development of adenosine receptor blockers has made it possible to identify which of these effects are exerted by endogenous adenosine. At least four adenosine receptor subtypes, denoted A1, A2a, A2b, and A3 are currently known. In the present study the selective A1 receptor blocker 1,3-dipropyl-8[2-(5,6-epoxy) norbanyl] xanthine (CVT-117) was used to assess the effect of A1 activation by endogenous adenosine on renal function in rats. METHODS: Clearance studies were performed before and after administration of 0.1 mg/kg and 0.8 mg/kg of CVT-117 in separate groups of rats and before and after administration of vehicle in time-control rats. Measurements of heart rate before and after administration of exogenous adenosine confirmed effective A1 receptor blockade. RESULTS: At both the lower and higher doses, A1 receptor blockade with CVT-117 increased fractional sodium excretion and urine flow rate without altering GFR. The increase in sodium excretion following A1 blockade was not accompanied by increases in the excretion of phosphate or potassium. CONCLUSION: These results show that endogenous adenosine promotes sodium retention by activation of A1 receptors.

Hypothesis: the role of acquired tubulointerstitial disease in the pathogenesis of salt-dependent hypertension.

We present a new hypothesis to explain the development of salt-dependent hypertension in humans. We propose that hypertension has two phases: an early phase in which elevations in blood pressure (BP) are mainly episodic and are mediated by a hyperactive sympathetic nervous or renin-angiotensin system, and a second phase in which BP is persistently elevated and that is primarily mediated by an impaired ability of the kidney to excrete salt (NaCl). We propose that the transition from the first phase to the second occurs as a consequence of catecholamine-induced elevations in BP that preferentially damage regions of the kidney (juxtamedullary and medullary regions) that do not autoregulate well to changes in renal perfusion pressure. The catecholamine response is associated with both an increase in peritubular capillary pressure and a reduction in peritubular capillary plasma flow, resulting in injury to the peritubular capillaries with ischemia to the tubules and interstitium. The local injury triggers the release or activation (angiotensin II, adenosine, renal sympathetic nerves) or inhibition (nitric oxide, prostaglandins, dopamine) of vasoactive mediators that further augment ischemia and result in abnormal tubuloglomerular feedback and enhanced NaCl reabsorption. The peritubular capillary injury with rarefaction simultaneously blunts the pressure natriuresis mechanism. The combined effect of enhanced tubuloglomerular feedback and impaired pressure natriuresis results in a defect in NaCl excretion which, on the exposure to salt, results in the development of persistent hypertension. Evidence is provided to suggest that this may be the major mechanism for the development of salt-dependent hypertension, and particularly for the hypertension associated with blacks, aging and obesity. Thus, essential hypertension may be a type of acquired tubulointerstitial renal disease.

Evidence for inflammatory and secretagogue lipids in cyst fluids from patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Advanced autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized morphologically by massive cyst enlargement, moderate interstitial infiltration with mononuclear cells, and extensive fibrosis. In patients affected by a common genotype (PKD1), it has been suggested that the progressive decline in renal function that transpires over a highly variable time course may be due to endogenous or exogenous epigenetic factors. We have postulated that a neutral lipid, discovered in human cyst fluid and stimulating the rates of transepithelial fluid secretion and cellular proliferation of renal epithelial cells in vitro may have a potential role in cyst growth and the progressive decline of kidney function. In this study, we used thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance TLC (HPTLC) to determine whether lipid extracts of human cyst fluid stimulated monocyte chemotaxis in vitro. Monocyte chemotactic activity, determined by the transmembrane migration of murine RAW 264.7 cells, was stimulated (delta 26.0 +/- 1.5 optical density units) by a lipid fraction less polar than sphingosine but more polar by TLC and HPTLC than 1-monooleoylglycerol. A high level of secretagogue activity was detected in this fraction (delta 0.336 +/- 0.022 microliter/cm2 1 hr) and to a lesser extent (delta 0.253 +/- 0.022 microliter/cm2/hr) in a neighboring fraction that encompassed the 1-monooleoylglycerol standard. Cyst fluid with undetectable secretagogue activity had a monocyte chemotactic-activity level only 18% as great as fluids with high levels of secretagogue activity. The secretagogue and chemotactic activities in TLC-HPTLC fractions were resistant to treatment with KOH, but both were diminished by HCl, borohydride, or periodate. Rat proximal tubule cultures incubated with oleate complexed with albumin elaborated secretagogue and chemotactic activities in the conditioned medium, with TLC-HPTLC mobility characteristics similar to the biologically active cyst fluid lipids. On the basis of these studies, we conclude that human cyst fluids harbor potent secretagogue and chemotactic lipids that may have a role in determining the functional course of ADPKD. On the basis of preliminary chemical characterizations, we suggest that the secretatogue and monocyte chemotactic activities of cyst fluid may reflect the action of lipid molecules of similar structure, the source of which may be renal epithelial cells.

In vivo suppression of the renal Na+/Pi cotransporter by antisense oligonucleotides.

A 20-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotide (AS1) was designed to hybridize to the message for the rat kidney sodium phosphate cotransporter NaPi-2 close to the translation initiation site. Single intravenous doses of this oligonucleotide were given to rats maintained on a low phosphorus diet to increase NaPi-2 expression. At 3 days after oligonucleotide infusion, rats receiving 2.5 micromol of AS1 exhibited a reduction in renal NaPi-2 to cyclophilin mRNA ratio by 40% +/- 17%, and rats receiving 7.5 micromol of AS1 exhibited a reduction in NaPi-2 to cyclophilin mRNA ratio by 46% +/- 21%. Reversed-sequence AS1 was without effect. The higher dose of 7.5 micromol of AS1 also reduced the rate of phosphate uptake into renal brush border membrane vesicles and the expression of NaPi-2 protein detected by Western blotting in these vesicles. Reversed sequence AS1 was again without effect on these parameters. These results suggest that systemically infused oligonucleotides can exert antisense effects in the renal proximal tubule.

Antisense and the kidney.

Antisense oligonucleotides are being used as gene-therapeutic agents. This short overview focuses on the in vivo kinetics and on potential in vivo applications for research purposes as well as therapeutic applications. The most promising experimental results have been obtained with oligonucleotides targeted against genes involved in cell proliferation, such as c-myc, c-myb, Kras, and cdc-2. High parenteral doses of such oligonucleotides have limited growth of experimental tumors, and local application of such oligonucleotides has limited neointimal proliferation in injured arteries. Therapeutic use of antisense in the kidney seems more distant. Because proximal tubule cells take up circulating oligonucleotides, transient suppression of proximal tubule message expression may be obtained following parenteral oligonucleotide administration. More sophisticated delivery systems, however, will be required to achieve antisense efficacy over longer periods and in other compartments of the kidney.