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F A Prins

Publications and source records attributed to F A Prins.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Antigenic specificities of glomerular-bound autoantibodies in membranous glomerulopathy induced by mercuric chloride.

The present study describes the development of membranous glomerulopathy (MGP) with high proteinuria in DZB rats exposed to mercuric chloride (HgCl2). IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies, eluted from glomeruli with subepithelial immune deposits, bind to the interface of the GBM and epithelial cells. High reactivity to GBM was demonstrated by ELISA and Western blotting, which could be absorbed for 30% by laminin or laminin-associated extracellular matrix components. No reactivity was found with type IV collagen, fibronectin, heparan sulfate proteoglycans, or tubular brush border antigens. Absorption to GBM removed the reactivity to renal antigens. Passively transferred eluted antibodies bind in a predominantly linear pattern along the GBM, causing focal ultrastructural transformations of the podocytes. These results suggest that this type of HgCl2-induced MGP, associated with epithelial cell injury and proteinuria, is caused by autoantibodies to basement membrane components which are located at the epithelial cell-basement membrane interface and may be involved in cell-matrix binding.

Animals↗

Kupffer cell depletion in vivo results in clearance of large-sized IgA aggregates in rats by liver endothelial cells.

We investigated the clearance kinetics and tissue distribution of different sized IgA in normal and macrophage-depleted rats. Rats were injected iv with liposomes containing dichloromethylene diphosphonate (DMDP). DMDP treatment resulted in complete depletion of liver macrophages 24-48 h after administration. Normal and macrophage depleted rats were injected intravenously with monomeric, dimeric, polymeric or aggregated polymeric IgA (AIgA) and assessed for blood clearance and tissue distribution. In normal rats, clearance of IgA was size dependent, i.e. a faster clearance with increasing size. No differences in clearance kinetics were observed of the different sized IgA between normal and DMDP-treated rats. TCA non-precipitable radioactivity, a measure for degradation of IgA, was found in the circulation of normal and DMDP-treated rats after AIgA administration. The liver was the main organ responsible for the clearance of IgA in normal and DMDP-treated rats. Immunofluorescence studies on liver biopsies indicated that AIgA was associated with Kupffer cells in normal rats. Electron microscopical studies revealed that the AIgA was internalized and located in vesicles in Kupffer cells. In DMDP-treated rats the AIgA was associated with endothelial cells and electron microscopy studies showed that this AIgA was taken up by endothelial cells. These data show that rat liver endothelial cells are able to bind, internalize and degrade AIgA in situations where Kupffer cells are absent, and that these cells may play an important role in the handling of AIgA and IgA-immune complexes.

Alkaloids↗

New sensitive light microscopical detection of colloidal gold on ultrathin sections by reflection contrast microscopy. Combination of reflection contrast and electron microscopy in post-embedding immunogold histochemistry.

One simple post-embedding method for combined light- and electron microscopy is presented. Different types of antigens in normal rat and mouse kidneys as well as in tissues from cases of experimental induced nephritis were stained after Lowicryl K4M embedding by an immunogold (silver) method. The (silver-enhanced) gold particles were visualized by light microscopy, e.g. bright-field (BFM)- and reflection contrast (RCM) microscopy, as well as by electron microscopy. The potentials of RCM visualization in this field were investigated, resulting in the successful detection of colloidal gold (15 nm) particles, or silver enhanced gold particles, on ultrathin sections. Furthermore, an increased detection sensitivity of RCM compared with BFM together with an increase in the sensitivity of the immunostaining by RCM visualization was found. The different ways to use RCM, alone or in combination with bright-field- or phase contrast microscopy for visualization of plastic sections varying in thickness, type of plastic and staining, are discussed.

Animals↗

The pathophysiology of protein-overload proteinuria.

Alterations in glomerular function and structure were studied in protein-overload nephrosis in the rat induced by intraperitoneal administration of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Fractional clearance (C/GFR) studies using inulin and tracer proteins of different molecular size and charge revealed in proteinuric rats 1) unchanged glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow; 2) a 34-fold increase in C/GFR of rat serum albumin, reaching values similar to BSA; 3) a 2-fold increase in C/GFR for anionic horse radish peroxidase (HRP), but normal values for neutral and cationic HRP, and 4) an 11- and 3-fold increase for heterologous IgG and IgM, respectively. Glomerular epithelial cells showed degenerative changes, but the distribution of anionic sites in the glomerular basement membrane was found to be unaltered, as determined by polyethyleneimine binding studies. In summary, an elevation of serum albumin concentration resulted in an increased transcapillary albumin transport. This was found to lead to degenerative changes of glomerular epithelial cells with development of large pore defects, which were completely reversible.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural localization and quantitation of nephritogenic antibodies in experimental glomerulonephritis.

The recently developed postembedding immunoelectron microscopic technique using low temperature embedding in Lowicryl K4M has been applied for the localization and relative quantitation of nephritogenic antibodies in rats with nephrotoxic serum nephritis. Nephrotoxic serum nephritis with different degrees of severity was induced by intravenous administration of increasing doses of rabbit anti-rat glomerular basement membrane antiserum to male Wistar rats. Twenty-four hours after administration, renal tissue was processed for immunoelectron microscopy using Lowicryl embedding after fixation in paraformaldehyde. Thin sections were stained with colloidal gold-labeled antibodies to rabbit IgG. By morphometric analysis the amount of gold label per nanometer of glomerular basement membrane was counted and a strong correlation was found with the amount of administered antiserum. These data show that postembedding immunoelectron microscopy using low temperature embedding in Lowicryl K4M and immunogold staining can be applied to study the localization and relative quantitation of tissue-bound immunoglobulins.

Animals↗

Cytokeratin and neurofilament in lung carcinomas.

Three monoclonal antibodies, one directed against cytokeratin (clone 80) and two directed against neurofilament (clones 2F11 and 3G6), were used in the study of a series of 77 lung carcinomas by immunohistochemical staining. The anti-cytokeratin antibody, a very broadly reacting antibody directed against an antigenic determinant common to a great number of cytokeratins, was applicable on frozen sections. The two anti-neurofilament antibodies, directed against the 70 kD protein (clone 2F11) and the 160 kD and 200 kD proteins (clone 3G6) of neurofilament, were applicable on both frozen sections and paraffin sections. The staining results on the lung carcinomas indicate that all types of tumors studied, including small-cell anaplastic carcinoma, are markedly positive for cytokeratin. Frozen sections of five and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of six other small-cell anaplastic carcinomas were negative with both anti-neurofilament monoclonal antibodies. One poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma positive with anti-neurofilament clone 2F11 but negative with clone 3G6. This distribution of cytoskeletal proteins demonstrates the epithelial differentiation of all types of lung carcinomas. Neuroendocrine differentiation of lung carcinomas as found in the small-cell anaplastic types does not result in expression of neurofilament proteins.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Assessment of islet isolation efficacy in dogs.

The outcome of islet isolation is considered uncertain because of the large variability of islet and insulin yield, but comparison of the isolated and native islet population has not been attempted. We therefore addressed the efficacy of collagenase digestion, and density gradient purification of islets from the splenic dog pancreas (n = 31) by morphometry of the islet volume and size distribution, and by extraction of insulin and amylase, in samples from the pancreas, the digest, and gradient fractions. In contrast to a approximately 90% recovery of pancreatic insulin and amylase after digestion, islet yield amounted to 50% of the islet content of the pancreas. After density separation, islets were mainly found in the purified fractions, while half of the recovered insulin was located in the acinar fraction of the gradients-indicating a substantial proportion of islets entrapped in acinar fragments. The islet and insulin content of the pancreas correlated well with islet and insulin yield after digestion (r = 0.7, p < .0001). The insulin content of digest suspensions did neither correlate with islet nor insulin recovery in the purified fraction of the gradients (r = 0.4) as opposed to the islet content of digest suspensions, which correlated with both (r = 0.7, p < .0001). After density separation near 100% purity was obtained, and no loss of insulin from isolated islets was demonstrated by extraction and microscopy. Size distributions of native and isolated islets demonstrated no fragmentation. We conclude that the variability of isolation outcome may be attributed to a large extent to the variability of the native endocrine pancreas. Isolation efficacy was best documented by morphometry, because insulin extraction did not discriminate between free and entrapped islets. However, assessment by both morphometry and extraction allowed the quantitation of entrapped islets, and demonstrated preservation of beta-cell granulation. Similar studies should facilitate the analysis of other factors affecting islet isolation in man.

Animals↗

Cell preservation in University of Wisconsin solution during isolation of canine islets of Langerhans.

Allogeneic islet transplantation in Type I diabetic patients is considerably hampered by the variable outcome of islet isolation and purification. After collagenase digestion of the pancreas, islet isolation is traditionally performed under hypothermic conditions in physiological solutions such as Hanks and RPMI. The University of Wisconsin solution (UWS) has been shown superior for hypothermic preservation of the pancreas. We, therefore, compared the UWS and RPMI for canine islet isolation and subsequent purification in either a conventional hyperosmotic density gradient of dextran in Hanks, or a novel normosmotic density gradient of Percoll in UWS. The isolation solution did not affect islet yield before purification (51% of the native islet mass). Loss of amylase (30%) and swelling of the acinar cells were observed in RPMI. In contrast, no loss of amylase and slight shrinkage of the acinar cells were observed in the UWS. Cell swelling affected the density separation and viability of the cells. Dextran density separation resulted in a 15% purity and 41% recovery of the islets isolated in RPMI, as compared to a 93% purity and 52% recovery of islets isolated in UWS. Percoll density separation improved the purity (99%) and recovery (74%) of islets isolated in UWS. Islets isolated in UWS demonstrated a superior basal and glucose stimulated insulin release during perifusion. Electron microscopy demonstrated a well-preserved islet ultrastructure after isolation in both solutions--except for slightly swollen mitochondria after isolation in RPMI. Autotransplantation of islets in pancreatectomised dogs was successful both after isolation in UWS and RPMI. We conclude that prevention of cell swelling during isolation and purification in the UWS resulted in an improved yield of viable and consistent virtually pure islets. Prevention of cell swelling during islet isolation should facilitate the analysis and control of other factors affecting outcome in man.

Animals↗

Evaluation of nephrotoxicity in vitro using a suspension of highly purified porcine proximal tubular cells and characterization of the cells in primary culture.

Proximal tubular cells (PTC) were isolated from porcine kidney by collagenase treatment, subsequently purified on a discontinuous density gradient and finally cultured. Porcine PTC (PPTC) in primary culture expressed keratin, characteristics of epithelia and brush border specific glycoproteins (FX1A). In addition, vimentin was present. All cells were negative for the endothelial marker pal-E. Less than 0.1% expressed the Tamm-Horsfall protein, characteristic of the distal tubule, while less than 0.3% of all cells in culture expressed desmin, characteristic of connective tissue (i.e. fibroblasts) and mesangial cells. Ultrastructural analysis revealed microvilli, tight junctions and abundant mitochondrial and lysosomes, all characteristics of proximal tubular cells. Freshly isolated PPTC were validated as in vitro model to detect nephrotoxicity by studying the effect of mercuric chloride, cis-platin, p-aminophenol and the halogenated alkenes 1,2 dichlorovinyl-l-cysteine, S-(1,1-difluoro-2,2-dichloroethyl)-L-cysteine (DCDFE-cys) and the glutathione conjugate of DCDFE on viability and mitochondrial membrane potential. The cells responded, time- and dose-dependently, to the nephrotoxic compounds with a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and loss of viability. The sensitivity of the porcine cells in detecting toxic effects corresponded favorably with in vitro systems derived from other animals.

Alkenes↗