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C I Whiteside

Publications and source records attributed to C I Whiteside.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Upregulation of osteopontin gene expression in diabetic rat proximal tubular cells revealed by microarray profiling.

Progression of diabetic nephropathy appears directly related to renal tubulointerstitial injury, but the involved genes are incompletely delineated. To identify such genes, DNA microarray analysis was performed with RNA from renal proximal tubules (RPTs) of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats, spontaneously diabetic BioBreeding rats, and rat immortalized renal proximal tubular cells (IRPTCs) exposed to high glucose (25 mM) medium for 2 weeks. Osteopontin (OPN) mRNA expression was quantified by real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) or conventional reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). OPN mRNA expression was upregulated (5-70-fold increase) in diabetic rat RPTs and in IRPTCs chronically exposed to high glucose compared to control RPTs and IRPTCs. High glucose, angiotensin II, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) stimulated OPN mRNA expression in IRPTCs in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This effect was inhibited by tiron, taurine, diphenylene iodinium, losartan, perindopril, calphostin C, or LY 379196 but not PD123319. IRPTCs overexpressing dominant-negative protein kinase C-beta 1 (PKC-beta1) cDNA or antisense TGF-beta1 cDNA prevented the high glucose effect on OPN mRNA expression. We concluded that high glucose-mediated increases in OPN gene expression in diabetic rat RPTs and IRPTCs are mediated, at least in part, via reactive oxygen species generation, intrarenal rennin-angiotensin system activation, TGF-beta1 expression, and PKC-beta1 signaling.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed2005

Mesangial cell NADPH oxidase upregulation in high glucose is protein kinase C dependent and required for collagen IV expression.

Excess collagen IV expression by mesangial cells contributes to diabetic glomerulosclerosis. We hypothesized that in high glucose reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by NADPH oxidase is PKC dependent and required for collagen IV expression by mesangial cells. In rat mesangial cells cultured in 5 mM (NG) or 25 mM d-glucose (HG), RT-PCR and Western immunoblotting detected p22(phox) and p47(phox) mRNA and protein, respectively. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analyzed collagen IV mRNA. With the use of confocal microscopy, ROS were detected with dichlorofluorescein and intracellular collagen IV by immunofluorescence. In HG, ROS were generated within 1 h, sustained up to 48 h, and prevented by a NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenylenechloride iodonium (DPI), or a conventional PKC isozyme inhibitor, Gö6976. In NG, phorbol myristate acetate stimulated ROS generation that was inhibited with DPI. In HG, expression of p22(phox) and p47(phox) was increased within 3 to 6 h and inhibited by Gö6976. In HG, Gö6976 or transfection with antisense against p22(phox) reversed the 1.8-fold increase in collagen IV mRNA. In HG, the antioxidants Tempol or Tiron, or transfection with antisense against p22(phox) or p47(phox), prevented ROS generation and the 2.3-fold increase in collagen IV protein. Increased mitochondrial redox potential in HG was unaffected by transfection with antisense against p22(phox). We conclude that in HG, mesangial cell ROS generation by upregulated NADPH oxidase is dependent on conventional PKC isozymes and also required for collagen IV expression.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

High glucose-enhanced mesangial cell extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase activation and alpha1(IV) collagen expression in response to endothelin-1: role of specific protein kinase C isozymes.

High glucose (HG) stimulates glomerular mesangial cell (MC) expression of extracellular matrix, a process involving protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes and enhanced signaling by autocrine peptides such as endothelin-1 (ET-1). The purpose of this study was to identify the specific PKC isozymes mediating the effects of HG on MC extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) signaling and alpha1(IV) collagen expression in response to ET-1. HG (30 mmol/l for 72 h) enhanced ET-1-stimulated alpha1(IV) collagen mRNA expression from 1.2 +/- 0.1-fold to 1.9 +/- 0.2-fold (P < 0.05 vs. normal glucose [NG] + ET-1), and the effect was significantly reduced by Calphostin C or the MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase) inhibitor PD98059. In transiently transfected MCs, dominant-negative (DN)-PKC-delta, -epsilon, or -zeta inhibited ET-1 activation of ERK1/2. Likewise, downstream of ERK1/2, ET-1 stimulated Elk-1-driven GAL4 luciferase activity to 11 +/- 1-fold (P < 0.002 vs. NG + ET-1) in HG, and DN-PKC-delta, -epsilon, or -zeta attenuated this response to NG levels. HG enhanced ET-1-stimulated intracellular alpha1(IV) collagen protein expression, assessed by confocal immunofluorescence imaging, showed that individual DN-PKC-delta, -epsilon, -zeta, as well as DN-PKC-alpha and -beta, attenuated the response. Thus, HG-enhanced ET-1 stimulation of alpha1(IV) collagen expression requires PKC-delta, -epsilon, and -zeta to act through an ERK1/2-dependent pathway and via PKC-alpha and -beta, which are independent of ERK1/2.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Stretch-induced mesangial cell ERK1/ERK2 activation is enhanced in high glucose by decreased dephosphorylation.

Glomerular hypertension and hyperglycemia are major determinants of diabetic nephropathy. We sought to identify the mechanisms whereby stretch-induced activation of mesangial cell extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/ERK2) is enhanced in high glucose (HG). Mesangial cells cultured on fibronectin Flex I plates in normal glucose (NG; 5.6 mM) or HG (30 mM), were stretched by 15% elongation at 60 cycles/min for up to 60 min. In HG, a 5-min stretch increased ERK1/ERK2 phosphorylation by 6.4 +/- 0.4/4.3 +/- 0.3-fold (P < 0.05 vs. NG stretch). In contrast, p38 phosphorylation was increased identically by stretch in NG and HG. Unlike many effects of HG, augmentation of ERK activity by HG was not dependent on protein kinase C (PKC) as indicated by downregulation of PKC with 24-h phorbol ester or inhibition with bisindolylmaleimide IV. In both NG and HG, pretreatment with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide (0.5 mg/ml) to inhibit integrin binding or with cytochalasin D (100 ng/ml) to disassemble filamentous (F) actin, significantly reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/ERK2 and p38. To determine whether the rate of mitogen-activated protein kinase dephosphorylation is affected by HG, cellular kinase activity was inhibited by depleting ATP. Post-ATP depletion, phosphorylation of ERK1/ERK2 was reduced to 36 +/- 9/51 +/- 14% vs. 9 +/- 5/7 +/- 6% in NG (P < 0.05, n = 5). Thus stretch-induced ERK1/ERK2 and p38 activation in both NG and HG is beta(1)-integrin and F-actin dependent. Stretch-induced ERK1/ERK2 is enhanced in high glucose by diminished dephosphorylation, suggesting reduced phosphatase activity in the diabetic milieu. Enhanced mesangial cell ERK1/ERK2 signaling in response to the combined effects of mechanical stretch and HG may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Endothelin-1-induced mesangial cell contraction involves activation of protein kinase C-alpha, -delta, and -epsilon.

In endothelin-1 (ET-1)-stimulated mesangial cells, to identify the independent roles of calcium and protein kinase C (PKC) causing contraction, the changes in planar surface area in response to ET-1, ionomycin, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) were compared. ET-1, PMA, and ionomycin reduced planar area to 49 +/- 3%, 56 +/- 3%, and 78 +/- 2% of basal (means +/- SE, n = 40-50 cells), respectively. ET-1 or ionomycin increased cytosolic calcium from 80 +/- 7 to 220 +/- 30 nM or 97 +/- 10 to 192 +/- 10 nM, respectively. The myosin light chain kinase inhibitor, ML-7, blunted ET-1- but not PMA-stimulated contraction (82 +/- 3% and 48 +/- 6% of time 0, respectively). Cells pretreated with 10 microM chelerythrine for 1 h or PMA for 24 h failed to contract to either ET-1 or PMA. To identify the specific PKC isoform response to ET-1, cytosolic, membrane, and particulate fractions of mesangial cell lysates were immunoblotted with PKC isoform-specific polyclonal antibodies. ET-1 increased membrane PKC-alpha, -delta, and -epsilon to 173 +/- 30%, 162 +/- 26%, and 166 +/- 11% of basal (P < 0.05 vs. basal), respectively, and decreased PKC-delta and PKC-epsilon in the cytosol to 56 +/- 11% and 37 +/- 6% of basal, respectively (P < 0.05). ET-1 increased particulate PKC-delta and PKC-epsilon to 172 +/- 15% and 187 +/- 33% of basal (P < 0.05), respectively. PKC-alpha in the cytosol and particulate fractions was not altered by ET-1, but translocation to the nucleus and cell periphery was observed by confocal immunofluorescence imaging. Ionomycin did not change PKC isoform distribution. PKC-zeta was expressed but unaltered by ET-1. Therefore, mesangial cell ET-1-stimulated contraction not only involves a calcium-dependent pathway but also includes the activation of one or more PKC-alpha, -delta, and -epsilon, but not PKC-zeta.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Preconditioning cultured human pediatric myocytes requires adenosine and protein kinase C.

We showed previously that 20 min of low-volume anoxia ("ischemia") and 20 min of "reperfusion" preconditions quiescent pediatric myocyte cultures against damage resulting from 90 min of subsequent prolonged ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion. The purpose of this study was to assess the roles of adenosine and protein kinase C (PKC) in this preconditioning model. Our results suggest that 1) preconditioned myocytes secrete a protective mediator(s) into the "ischemic" supernatant that is transferable to other cells, and adenosine is released into the supernatant in quantities sufficient for adenosine-receptor activation (2) preconditioning is inhibited by adenosine-receptor antagonism, and myocyte protection similar to preconditioning can be achieved with exogenously administered adenosine or adenosine-receptor stimulation; (3) brief ischemic and adenosine-induced myocyte preconditioning is mimicked by the phorbol ester 4beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PKC agonist) and inhibited by PKC antagonists; and (4) brief ischemic and adenosine-induced myocyte preconditioning both induce PKC translocation to myocyte membranes and increase the PKC phosphorylation rate. These data suggest that adenosine released from ischemic human pediatric myocytes mediates preconditioning through activation of PKC.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1996

Heparin inhibits mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent and -independent c-fos induction in mesangial cells.

Heparin suppresses mitogenic responses in renal mesangial cells, and when quiescent mesangial cells are stimulated with serum, heparin blocks the induction of c-fos seen at 15 min. Because heparin is taken up by cells over a much longer time course, we addressed mechanisms whereby extracellular heparin might suppress c-fos induction at such early times. Quiescent cells were treated with serum, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, or low concentrations of Ca2+ ionophores that produced increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in the physiological range. Each treatment caused an increase in c-fos mRNA, but they did so by different mechanisms. Serum activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and increased [Ca2+]i without affecting protein kinase C. Activation of protein kinase C with phorbol ester activated MAPK without much effect on [Ca2+]i. Ionophores increased [Ca2+]i without affecting basal levels of protein kinase C or MAPK. Heparin (1 microg/ml) suppressed the induction of c-fos initiated by all three treatments. It did not affect the activity of protein kinase C, but inhibited activation of MAPK by either serum or phorbol ester, suggesting a common site of action at or below the probable convergence of the induced signals at Ras/Raf-1 activation. Heparin also inhibited the serum-stimulated entry of extracellular Ca2+ to the same extent as verapamil, consistent with the ability of verapamil to block L-type Ca2+ channels and the known presence of these channels in mesangial cells. However, this effect does not appear to be related to heparin's ability to inhibit induction of c-fos. First, verapamil had no effect on induction of c-fos by serum. Second, heparin had no effect on changes in [Ca2+]i achieved by ionophores. We conclude that heparin suppresses induction of c-fos in mesangial cells by blocking at least two different points in signal transduction cascades, one upstream of MAPK and the other independent of MAPK, but dependent on intracellular Ca2+.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Glomerular dysfunction in the aging Fischer 344 rat is associated with excessive growth and normal mesangial cell function.

BACKGROUND: Fischer 344 (F344) rats display focal and diffuse glomerulosclerosis with aging postulated to result from loss of normal mesangial cell intrinsic function, e.g., vasoactive hormone signaling, or preservation of normal responsiveness to extrinsic growth factors. METHODS: In 3-, 17-, and 24-month-old F344 male rats, glomerular structure, measured by PC-based morphometry, and function were compared. Immunoperoxidase staining of glomerular proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) detected cellular proliferation. Primary cultured mesangial cells from the 3 age groups were studied in parallel. Calcium (Ca2+) signaling, measured by Fura-2 fluorescence, contraction to vasopressin (AVP) 1 microM, measured by videomicroscopy, and proliferative response to platelet-derived growth factor-beta beta (PDGF) were compared. RESULTS: Proteinuria was 13 +/- 4, 38 +/- 17, and 110 +/- 35 mg/24 hours at 3, 17, and 24 months, respectively (n = 5, mean +/- SE, p < .01, 3 vs 24 months), with no change in 24-hour creatinine clearances. Glomerular volumes (n = 200/group) for 3, 17, and 24 months, respectively, were .30 +/- .01, .60 +/- .02, .74 +/- 0.2 x 10(6) micron3 (p < .001, 3 months vs 17 months, and 17 vs 24 months). Glomerular basement membrane (GBM) widths and fractional mesangial volumes increased significantly with aging. Glomerular cell PCNA staining remained positive at 24 months. Cultured mesangial cell Ca2+ signaling and contraction to AVP were unchanged with aging. Proliferation to PDGF, which was partially inhibited with verapamil, was similar at 3 and 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: In the Fischer 344 rat, mesangial cell Ca2+ signaling, contraction, and proliferation responsiveness are unchanged with aging. Continued growth is associated with the glomerulosclerosis of aging.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

Prevention of early glomerulopathy with tolrestat in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.

Hyperglycemia is of central importance in the pathogenesis of the complications of diabetes mellitus. Glucose activation of the polyol pathway may lead to renal arteriolar smooth muscle and glomerular mesangial cell hypocontractility. In the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat, the effect of the aldose reductase inhibitor, tolrestat, in preventing glomerular hyperfiltration, renal hypertrophy, extracellular matrix accumulation, and mesangial cell hypocontractility was addressed. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were followed for 12 weeks and half received tolrestat (25 mg/kg per day). Increased glomerular filtration rate was prevented by tolrestat (3.1 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.2 mL/min, diabetes vs. diabetes + tolrestat, p < 0.01), in part by reduction of the filtration fraction (0.39 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.29 +/- 0.01, diabetes vs. diabetes + tolrestat, p < 0.01). Tolrestat prevented the raised albumin excretion rates (3594 +/- 1154 vs. 713 +/- 161 mg/24 h, diabetes vs. diabetes + tolrestat, p < 0.01). Endothelin-1-induced contraction of isolated glomeruli was normal in tolrestat-treated diabetic animals compared with the hypocontractile diabetic glomeruli. Tolrestat prevented glomerular hypertrophy (1.86 +/- 0.10 vs. 1.49 +/- 0.03 microns 2 x 10(5), diabetes vs. diabetes + tolrestat, p < 0.001) and attenuated the accumulation of basement-membrane-like material (50.2 +/- 0.4% vs. 46.4 +/- 0.8%, diabetes vs. diabetes+tolrestat, p < 0.001). Fractional mesangial expansion was unchanged in tolrestat-treated diabetic rats compared with untreated animals. Tolrestat prevents the functional changes of glomerular hyperfiltration, mesangial cell hypocontractility, and increased glomerular permeability to albumin. Polyol accumulation may have differential effects on glomerular growth and extracellular matrix accumulation in early diabetic nephropathy.

Ampholyte Mixtures↗
PubMed1996

Collagen type I enhances endothelin-mediated contraction and induces nonproliferating phenotype in mesangial cells.

Accumulation of glomerular extracellular matrix is a characteristic accompaniment of mesangial cell proliferation in progressive renal disease. We examined how growth on several matrices affected the proliferative phenotype of cultured rat mesangial cells. Compared with growth on plastic, Matrigel, or mesangial matrix, collagen type I caused a decreased cell number at 72 h, decreased total DNA per culture, and a decrease in the incorporation of [3H]thymidine during S phase in cells released from quiescence. These antiproliferative and antimitogenic effects of collagen type I required growth on a collagen gel; soluble collagen or collagen fragments were without effect. Because a number of agents elicit both proliferative and contractile responses in mesangial cells, we examined the effect of growth on collagen on contractility. Compared with plastic, cells grown on collagen type I were more contractile, showed a higher Ca2+ signal in response to endothelin, and responded to endothelin with a more rapid myosin light-chain kinase-dependent phosphorylation of myosin light chain. We conclude that growth on a collagen type I gel uncouples contractility from a proliferative response in mesangial cells, suppressing proliferation while enhancing contraction and Ca2+ signaling in response to endothelin.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1996

Extracellular chloride regulates mesangial cell calcium response to vasopressor peptides.

The role of extracellular chloride in the regulation of mesangial cell calcium responsiveness to vasopressor peptides was explored. First, the components of vasopressor-stimulated calcium signaling were defined in rat mesangial cells cultured on coverslips and preloaded with fura 2. By spectrofluorometry, manganese uptake (reflecting divalent cation channel activation) was observed by quenching of fura 2, or intracellular cytosolic calcium concentration was calculated by dual-excitation ratiometric measurement. In cells depolarized with KCl (45 mM), enhanced manganese uptake or increased cytosolic calcium were inhibited with verapamil (10 microM). Pretreatment of mesangial cells with verapamil reduced the sustained calcium level in response to endothelin-1 (0.1 microM) by 65 +/- 6% (means +/- SE, n = 12) and to vasopressin (1 microM) by 62 +/- 12% (n = 8). Perforated cell patch-clamp measurement confirmed that endothelin-1 stimulated a sustained increase in cytosolic calcium or divalent cation entry only in the presence of simultaneous depolarization. In chloride-free buffer (chloride replaced with impermeant anions), sustained calcium response to endothelin-1 was reduced by 72 +/- 8 (n = 8) and by 65 +/- 4% (n = 8) in the presence of the chloride channel inhibitor, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (55 microM). In chloride-free buffer, cytosolic calcium (unstimulated) increased to > 200 nM by 30 min. These data indicate that reduced extracellular chloride increases mesangial cell basal cytosolic calcium and decreases the transient and sustained cytosolic calcium response to vasopressor peptides.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Molecular cloning, expression, and characterization of podocalyxin-like protein 1 from rabbit as a transmembrane protein of glomerular podocytes and vascular endothelium.

Podocytes are responsible in part for maintaining the size and charge filtration characteristics of the glomerular filter. The major sialoprotein of the podocyte foot process glycocalyx is a 140-kDa sialoprotein named podocalyxin. Monoclonal antibodies raised against isolated rabbit glomeruli that recognized a podocalyxin-like protein base upon size, Alcian blue staining, wheat germ agglutinin binding, and distribution in renal cortex were used to expression clone cDNAs from a rabbit glomerular library. On Northern blot the cDNAs hybridized to a 5.5-kilobase pair transcript predominantly present in glomerulus. The overlapping cDNAs spanned 5,313 base pairs that contained an open reading frame of 1,653 base pairs and were not homologous with a previously described sequence. The deduced 551-amino acid protein contained a putative 21-residue N-terminal signal peptide and a 26-amino acid transmembrane region. The mature protein has a calculated molecular mass of 55 kDa, an extracellular domain that contains putative sites for N- and O-linked glycosylation, and a potential glycosaminoglycan attachment sites. The intracellular domain contains potential sites for phosphorylation. Processing of the full-length coding region in COS-7 cells resulted in a 140-kDa band, suggesting that the 55-kDa core protein undergoes extensive post-translational modification. The relationship between the cloned molecule and the monoclonal antibodies used for cloning was confirmed by making a fusion protein that inhibited binding of the monoclonal antibodies to renal cortical tissue sections and then raising polyclonal antibodies against the PCLP1 fusion protein that also recognized glomerular podocytes and endothelial cells in tissue sections in a similar distribution to the monoclonal antibodies. We conclude that we have cloned and sequenced a novel transmembrane core glycoprotein from rabbit glomerulus, which has many of the characteristics of podocalyxin. We have named this protein podocalyxin-like protein 1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Glomerular mesangial cell altered contractility in high glucose is Ca2+ independent.

In diabetes, loss of renal arteriolar smooth-muscle cell contractility leads to intraglomerular hypertension. In glomeruli isolated from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, the mesangial cells (smooth muscle-like) display loss of contractile responsiveness to angiotensin II. This study examines the mechanistic relationship between altered mesangial cell contractility and vasopressor hormone-stimulated Ca2+ signaling in high glucose. Glomeruli were isolated from normal or STZ-induced diabetic rats to observe ex vivo mesangial cell contractile function. Also, rat mesangial cells were cultured (10-20 passages) in normal (5.6 mmol/l) or high (10-25.6 mmol/l) glucose for 1-5 days. Reduction of glomerular volume and decreased planar surface area of cultured mesangial cells in response to vasoconstrictor stimulation over 60 min were measured by videomicroscopy and personal computer-based morphometry. Contraction of glomeruli isolated from STZ-administered rat in response to endothelin (ET)-1 (0.1 mumol/l) or the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (5 mumol/l) was impaired significantly compared with that in normal glucose. In the presence of arginine vasopressin (AVP) (1.0 mumol/l) or ET-1 (0.1 mumol/l), mesangial cells demonstrated a dose-dependent loss of contractile response to increasing glucose concentrations (5.6-25.6 mmol/l) within 24 h of high-glucose exposure, which was sustained for 5 days. Mesangial cells in high glucose were consistently smaller in size compared with those in normal glucose. Mesangial cells were preloaded with myo-[2-3H]inositol and intracellular [3H] inositol phosphate release in response to AVP (1.0 mumol/l) was analyzed by Dowex chromatography. Comparing cells in normal (5.6 mmol/l) verus high (25.6 mmol/l) glucose, we observed no significant difference in stimulated inositol phosphate levels from 10 to 60 s.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

High glucose alters actin assembly in glomerular mesangial and epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Glomerular mesangial and epithelial cell structure and function are maintained by cytoskeletal protein organization and function. To determine whether the diabetic milieu alters filamentous (F-) actin assembly, the spatial distributions and content of F- and monomeric (G-) actin were analyzed in rat mesangial and glomerular epithelial cells (10 to 15 passages) cultured for 5 days in high (22.4 mM) or normal (5.2 mM) glucose and in cells of whole glomeruli isolated from streptozotocin-treated diabetic or normal rats. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Cells were labeled with the fluorescent probes rhodamine-phalloidin and FITC-DNase-1 specific for F- and G-actin, respectively. The average pixel intensities per cell were measured using dual channel confocal laser scanning microscopy (N = 60 cells per group). Total and G-actin were measured in mesangial cells by a spectrophotometric-based DNase-1 inhibition assay. RESULTS: In response to endothelin-1, 0.1 microM, vasopressin 1.0 microM, or angiotensin II 1.0 microM, mesangial cells cultured in normal glucose displayed partial disassembly of F-actin characterized by decreased fluorescence intensity (microfilament bundle pattern changed to network) with no change in G-actin fluorescence. In high glucose, but not mannitol (22.4 mM), partial disassembly of F-actin and loss of response to the agonists were observed. In high glucose, the F-actin content (micrograms/mg cellular protein) was reduced significantly with no change in absolute G-actin compared with normal glucose exposure. The effect of high glucose on mesangial cell actin was reversed by returning the cells to normal glucose for 2 days, stimulation with insulin 2 micrograms/ml, or with a protein kinase C inhibitor. Mesangial cells in high glucose were smaller in planar area and exhibited loss of contractile response to endothelin-1 (0.1 microM) or vasopressin (1.0 microM) measured by videomicroscopy. High glucose-induced F-actin disassembly, possibly due to activated protein kinase C, could account for smaller cell size and lack of response to vasopressor agents. Glomerular epithelial cells cultured in normal glucose demonstrated F-actin disassembly and increased G-actin fluorescence intensity in response to A23187 (5 microM) or bradykinin (10 nM). When cultured in high glucose, but not mannitol, increased epithelial G-actin fluorescence and loss of F- and G-actin response to agonists were observed. Although stimulation with insulin reversed the high glucose effect on epithelial G-actin, F-actin remained unresponsive to agonists. The cells of glomeruli isolated from the diabetic rat displayed the same increase in G-actin, no change in F-actin fluorescence, and loss of response to agonist stimulation as observed in cultured epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that high glucose alters actin assembly in both glomerular mesangial and epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo, possibly contributing to cellular dysfunction in early diabetes.

Actins↗
PubMed1994

Cellular mechanisms of glucose-induced myo-inositol transport upregulation in rat mesangial cells.

Uptake of myo-inositol (MI) is necessary to maintain normal cellular phosphoinositide signaling and function. MI transport is up-regulated in the cells of diabetic rat glomeruli compared with normal rat glomeruli [C. I. Whiteside, J. C. Thompson, and J. Ohayon. Am. J. Physiol. 260 (Renal Fluid Electrolyte Physiol. 29): F138-F144, 1991]. To identify mechanisms associated with upregulation of MI transport, rat mesangial cells were cultured in high (25.6 mM) vs. normal (5.6 mM) glucose. Specific Na(+)-dependent [3H]MI uptake (> 97%), using L-[14C]glucose as the nonspecific marker, was linear for 120 min in high and normal glucose. In high glucose, compared with normal glucose, there was no change in Michaelis-Menten constant values [29.1 +/- 0.6 vs. 30.3 +/- 0.7 microM (SE)], whereas maximum velocity (Vmax) was increased (2.024 +/- 52 vs. 1.132 +/- 115 fmol.mg protein-1.min-1, P < 0.001). Mannitol (20.0 mM), used as an osmotic control, had no effect on the upregulation of MI transport. Maximum upregulation of MI transport measured by Vmax (control taken as 100%) was observed after 8 h of exposure to high glucose (222 +/- 6% above control, P < 0.0001) or galactose (20.0 mM) (194 +/- 6%, P < 0.0001) and was sustained for up to 48 h. The protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide (20 micrograms/ml) or actinomycin D (5 micrograms/ml), the F-actin depolymerizing agent cytochalasin D (2 micrograms/ml), and the aldose reductase inhibitor Tolrestat (0.3 mM) independently prevented glucose- or galactose-induced upregulation of MI transport.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldehyde Reductase↗
PubMed1993

Epithelial cell detachment in the nephrotic glomerulus: a receptor co-operativity model.

Detachment of epithelial cells from the glomerular capillary wall correlates with the massive increase in protein leakage across the capillary wall that is characteristic of many renal diseases. We introduce the hypothesis that this detachment process involves three classes of physical events acting at the subcellular level: the receptor-mediated binding of epithelial cells to basement membrane, the transglomerular hydraulic pressure gradient acting to lift the cells off the basement membrane, and a receptor-receptor co-operativity induced by mechanical deformations of the epithelial cell surface. After presenting the available evidence, we explore the hypothesis by means of a simplified, quantitative model of the detachment process. The model is developed by mapping between the stochastic events of cell adhesion receptor binding and the equilibrium statistical mechanics of the Ising model. Monte Carlo simulations predict cell attachment under normal conditions, as expected from experimental data, and detachment at lower receptor binding affinity and/or increased pressure gradient. The normal attached state in the model is found to be particularly sensitive to changes in the receptor-binding affinity. The amount of resistance the cell surface offers to deformation forces is a key determinant of whether the detachment of small clusters of receptors spreads to involve large areas of the plasma membrane, precipitating bulk detachment.

Cell Adhesion↗