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Regular Articles |

From the Department of Cell Biology and the Cell Adhesion and
Matrix Research Center*
and the Department of
Medicine,
Division of Nephrology, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| Abstract |
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| Introduction |
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Integrins are
ß dimeric transmembrane receptors that play
important roles in cell-matrix interactions.20-25
In
addition to serving as extracellular matrix receptors mediating cell
adhesion and transducing signals from the extracellular matrix,
integrins are crucially involved in the cellular control of
extracellular matrix deposition.22,26-28
Using genetic
reconstitution and functional blocking antibodies, studies by a number
of laboratories including ours have
demonstrated that multiple integrins including
5ß1,29-33
3ß1,34
and
vß3
integrins35-37
are involved in the regulation of
fibronectin deposition into extracellular matrix. The ability of
integrins to promote fibronectin matrix deposition is controlled by
both the integrin activation state and the cytoskeletal
interaction.38
Because integrin activation and
cytoskeletal interaction are regulated by integrin cytoplasmic
domains,22
these studies suggest that intracellular
proteins associated with the integrin cytoplasmic domains likely play
important roles in the cellular regulation of fibronectin matrix
assembly.
Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is an intracellular serine/threonine kinase that interacts with multiple integrins (eg, ß1 and ß3 integrins)39 and cytoskeleton-associated proteins including PINCH,40 CH-ILKBP,41 and paxillin.42 It becomes increasingly clear now that ILK is crucially involved in the regulation of a number of integrin-mediated processes including cell adhesion, cell shape changes, and gene expression.41,43,44 We have recently found overexpression of ILK in cultured cells dramatically stimulates the deposition of fibronectin into extracellular matrix,45 indicating that ILK is involved in the cellular regulation of fibronectin matrix deposition. However, despite our rapidly increasing knowledge on the molecular activities of ILK, nothing was known about the distribution and regulation of ILK in the kidney, either under normal physiological conditions or under pathological conditions. In this study, we have examined the distribution of ILK protein in normal human kidneys. Furthermore, we have analyzed the expression of ILK in diabetic nephropathy. Finally, we have analyzed the regulation of the cellular level of ILK in response to hyperglycemia, a causal factor of diabetic glomerulosclerosis, and the subcellular localization of ILK in mesangial cells that assemble a fibronectin matrix.
| Materials and Methods |
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Mouse monoclonal anti-ILK antibody 65.1 and rabbit polyclonal anti-fibronectin antibody were generated as previously described.33,46 Mouse monoclonal anti-actin antibody mAb 1501 was from Chemicon (Temecula, CA). Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated AffiniPure goat anti-mouse IgG antibody (minimal cross-reaction with human, bovine, rabbit, and swine serum proteins), Rhodamine Red-conjugated AffiniPure goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody (minimal cross-reaction with human, mouse, and rat serum proteins), and horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG were from Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories (West Grove, PA). Rat kidney glomerular mesangial cells were isolated as described.47 Media for cell culture were from Life Technologies (Grand Island, NY) or Mediatech/CellgroR (Herndon, VA).
Immunohistochemical Staining of Normal and Diabetic Human Kidneys
Studies were approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Kidney tissues from four patients with diabetic nephropathy and five control patients were obtained through the Tissue Procurement Facility at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Tissues from the control patients showed no morphological abnormalities. Sections (3 µm) of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded kidney tissues were stained with anti-ILK antibody 65.1. The formalin-fixed kidney sections were peroxidase-blocked with 0.03% hydrogen peroxide for 10 minutes at room temperature and then with 10% normal goat serum in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 1 hour at room temperature. The sections were incubated with mouse anti-ILK monoclonal antibody (0.5 µg IgG/ml) or with an irrelevant mouse IgG (0.5 µg/ml) as a control. The primary antibody was detected with a DAKO EnVision+System (DAKO, Carpinteria, CA) peroxidase (diaminobenzidine) kit and counterstained with hematoxylin. A semiquantitative staining score was created, based on staining of individual glomeruli observed at x20 magnification. The scoring system ranged from 0 to 3+, with 0 representing no visible staining of the glomerulus; 1+, faint segmental glomerular staining; 2+, segmental increase in staining of the glomerulus; and 3+, globally increased staining of the glomerulus. Twenty-five glomeruli from each kidney were scored and averaged to produce the semiquantitative stain intensity score for each kidney. Glomeruli with morphological evidence of advanced sclerosis were omitted from analysis. Data were presented as means ± SE. Significant differences were determined using the unpaired t-test. A P value <0.05 assigned statistical significance.
We also analyzed frozen sections of normal human kidney (frozen sections of diabetic human kidney were not available) by immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal anti-ILK antibody based on a previously described method.48 The primary antibody was detected with FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG (35 µg/ml) and the images were observed under a fluorescence microscope and photographed at x20 magnification with a digital camera (model C5810, Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.).
Immunofluorescent Staining of Mesangial Cells
Rat kidney glomerular mesangial cells were plated in wells of Lab-Tek 8-chamber culture slides (Nunc, Inc.) in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 µg/ml streptomycin, and 1x insulin-transferrin-selenium-A solution supplement (Life Technologies, Inc.). The cells were fixed with 3.7% paraformaldehyde in PBS, permeabilized with 0.1% Triton X-100 in PBS containing 1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin, and then stained with mouse anti-ILK antibody (0.5 µg/ml) and rabbit anti-fibronectin antibody (8 µg/ml). After rinsing, the bound mouse IgG and rabbit IgG were detected with a FITC-conjugated AffiniPure goat anti-mouse IgG antibody and a Rhodamine Red-conjugated AffiniPure goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody, respectively. Stained cells were observed under a fluorescence microscope equipped with rhodamine and FITC filters. In control experiments, no cross-reactivity between the mouse monoclonal antibodies and the Rhodamine Red-conjugated AffiniPure goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody or that between the rabbit polyclonal antibodies and the FITC-conjugated AffiniPure goat anti-mouse IgG antibody was observed.
Immunoblotting Analysis
Rat mesangial cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 µg/ml streptomycin, 1x insulin-transferrin-selenium-A supplement and either high (30 mmol/L) or normal (5.6 mmol/L) concentration of glucose for 21 days. The cells were harvested and then lysed with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate in 50 mmol/L of Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5) containing150 mmol/L NaCl, 0.2 mmol/L 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride, 10 µg/ml aprotinin, 5 µmol/L leupeptin, and 1 µmol/L pepstatin. Protein concentrations of the cell lysates were determined using bicinchoninic acid protein assay reagents (Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, IL). Cell lysates were separated on 10% reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels and ILK protein was detected by immunoblotting with anti-ILK antibody 65.1. Equal loading of cell lysates was confirmed by probing the membranes with anti-actin mAb1501.
| Results |
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To analyze ILK distribution in normal human kidney, we stained
sections derived from normal human kidneys with monoclonal anti-ILK
antibody. Immunofluorescent staining of frozen sections of normal human
kidneys revealed that ILK was present primarily in the glomerulus in a
peripheral pattern (Figure 1A)
. To
further analyze this, we stained sections of formalin-fixed
paraffin-embedded normal human kidney tissues, in which morphology was
better preserved, with the monoclonal anti-ILK antibody. Consistent
with the results of immunofluorescent staining, immunohistochemical
analyses revealed that ILK is present to a large extent in the
periphery of normal glomeruli (Figure 1C)
. Examination of the sections
at higher magnifications showed visceral epithelial cell staining
(Figure 1D
, arrowheads) by the monoclonal anti-ILK antibody. Faint
staining of mesangial cells was also observed in some glomeruli of
normal kidneys. Tubular cell staining, primarily in the distal tubule,
was also present. Vascular staining was not apparent using the present
techniques. In control experiments, no specific staining was detected
when the monoclonal anti-ILK antibody was replaced with an irrelevant
mouse IgG (Figure 1B)
, confirming the specificity of the staining.
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To determine whether ILK expression in the kidney is altered in
patients with diabetic nephropathy, we analyzed sections of kidney
tissues from patients with diabetic nephropathy by immunohistochemical
staining with the monoclonal anti-ILK antibody. The results showed a
striking increase in the ILK protein level in diabetic glomeruli, with
strong staining detected in both mesangial cells and epithelial cells
(Figure 2
; A, B, and C, compare to Figure 1C
). Tubular cell staining was also increased focally in the proximal
tubules in these specimens. We have compared the ILK staining in
glomeruli from four patients with diabetic nephropathy with that in
glomeruli from five normal control patients (25 glomeruli from each
kidney were scored). The results showed that the ILK protein level was
significantly increased in diabetic glomeruli (Figure 3)
. The increase in ILK staining seemed
to be associated with diffuse mesangial expansion (Figure 2, B and C)
.
ILK was not detected in nodular sclerotic lesions (Figure 2A
, arrow).
In glomeruli where advanced nodular sclerosis and global sclerosis were
dominant, ILK staining was reduced (Figure 2
; D, E, and F, arrows).
Taken together, these results suggest that the amount of ILK expressed
by mesangial cells was significantly increased in response to diabetic
milieu and the increase in ILK expression was a relatively early event
in the development of glomerulosclerosis.
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Hyperglycemia is an important factor contributing to mesangial
expansion in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. To test whether
an elevated concentration of glucose exerts an effect on the ILK
protein level in mesangial cells, we cultured rat kidney glomerular
mesangial cells in medium containing either normal concentration (5.6
mmol/L) or high concentration (30 mmol/L) of glucose. ILK expressed by
mesangial cells that were exposed to normal or high concentration of
glucose was detected by immunoblotting with monoclonal anti-ILK
antibody. The results showed that exposure of mesangial cells to high
glucose concentration significantly increased the amount of ILK protein
expressed by the mesangial cells (Figure 4)
, suggesting that hyperglycemia is
likely a causal factor for the up-regulation of ILK protein level in
mesangium (Figures 2 and 3)
.
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It has been well documented that kidney glomerular mesangial cells
deposit fibronectin into extracellular matrix and the amount of
fibronectin matrix deposited by mesangial cells increase in response to
high concentration of glucose.16,19
We have previously
shown that in cells cultured in plastic dishes, ILK is clustered in
focal adhesions,46
regions of close contacts between the
substrate and the plasma membrane on the basal surface of the
cells.49,50
In cells that assemble fibronectin matrix,
cell membranes are also in close contact with fibronectin fibrils at
sites termed as extracellular matrix contacts that are morphologically
and structurally distinct from the focal adhesions.51-57
Because extracellular matrix contacts are active sites for the
deposition of fibronectin into extracellular matrix,54,58
we have tested whether ILK also localizes in the extracellular matrix
contacts. To do this, we stained mesangial cells with both mouse
monoclonal anti-ILK antibody and rabbit polyclonal anti-fibronectin
antibody. As expected, we have detected abundant ILK clusters in focal
adhesions (Figure 5A
, arrowheads). In
addition, we have found that ILK was also clustered in sites where
fibronectin fibrils were in contact with the cells (Figure 5, A and B
,
arrows). These results are highly consistent with our previous studies
showing that overexpression of ILK promotes fibronectin matrix
assembly45
and suggest that ILK is likely directly
involved in the initiation of fibronectin matrix assembly in mesangial
cells.
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| Discussion |
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5ß1,
3ß1, and
vß3
integrins).32,34-38
Cell biological and genetic knock-out
studies have also implied an important role of integrins in the
assembly of basement membranes.59-62
Using model cell
culture systems, we have found that overexpression of ILK promotes
fibronectin matrix deposition.34
These studies suggest
that integrins and integrin cytoplasmic domain-binding proteins such as
ILK are important elements in the signaling pathway that controls
fibronectin matrix assembly. It was not known, however, whether the
cellular level of ILK is elevated in pathological situations such as
diabetic nephropathy that associate with abnormal fibronectin matrix
deposition. In this study, we have obtained evidence showing that ILK
expression is markedly increased in glomerular mesangium in patients
with diabetic nephropathy. The increase in ILK expression seems to be
associated with diffuse mesangial expansion and therefore the
up-regulation of ILK is likely a relatively early event in the
pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Additionally, we have found that
exposure of mesangial cells to high glucose significantly increased the
level of ILK in these cells. It is interesting to note that the levels
of several integrins, including ß1 integrins to which ILK binds, are
also increased in the mesangium of human diabetic
kidneys.63
Exposure of cultured mesangial cells to high
glucose concentration also increased the cellular level of several
integrins.64
Based on these studies, we propose that ILK,
together with integrins and other associated proteins, are coordinately
regulated in response to hyperglycemia, which in turn contributes to
the expansion of mesangial matrix in patients with diabetic
nephropathy. Clearly, future studies are required to further analyze
the role of ILK and associated proteins in this pathological process. Previous studies have shown that sites between cell membrane and fibronectin fibrils can serve as fibronectin matrix assembly sites initiating the deposition of fibronectin into extracellular matrix.54,58 In this study, we have demonstrated that ILK is localized to fibronectin matrix contact sites. These observations, together with our previous results showing that overexpression of ILK promotes fibronectin matrix assembly,45 raises an interesting possibility that ILK is directly involved in the organization of fibronectin matrix assembly sites and thereby play a direct role promoting fibronectin matrix assembly. We have previously demonstrated that integrin activation and cytoskeletal interaction are essential for the assembly of a fibronectin matrix.38 ILK associates with multiple integrins including members of both ß1 and ß3 integrin families.39,43 Recently, we have found that ILK can be physically connected to actin cytoskeleton through a novel ILK- and actin-binding protein that we termed as CH-ILKBP.41 Thus, ILK could participate in the deposition of fibronectin into extracellular matrix by influencing the activation of integrins and/or by providing a connection between integrins that mediate fibronectin matrix assembly and the actin cytoskeleton. Regardless of the specific mechanism involved, the data shown in this and other studies strongly suggest that ILK is one important element in the cellular control of deposition of fibronectin into extracellular matrix, including that occurring in the mesangium in diabetic nephropathy. One important goal of future studies is to develop tools that down-regulate ILK expression, which is stimulated by hyperglycemia, as well as to develop tools that disrupt ILK function in mesangial cells. These tools will allow us to further test the notion that ILK promotes mesangial matrix accumulation found in patients with diabetic nephropathy and to develop new approaches to intervene in the progressive renal failure in diabetes patients.
In addition to regulating fibronectin matrix assembly, ILK is also
involved in other integrin-mediated cellular process including cell
adhesion, cell shape changes, and anchoring the actin cytoskeleton to
the extracellular matrix.39,43,44,65
In normal human
kidneys, ILK is expressed at relatively high concentration in visceral
epithelial cells or podocytes (Figure 1, C and D)
. Visceral epithelial
cells are involved in production of the outer portion of the glomerular
basement membranes and maintenance of the filtration slit structure
that prevents protein escape from the glomerular
capillaries.8,66-69
Recent studies have shown that
visceral epithelial cells, such as mesangial cells, are also involved
in progressive glomerular damage in diabetic
patients.67,68,70,71
Although alteration of ILK level in
diabetic visceral epithelial cells was difficult to assess (in
comparing to the readily detectable changes in mesangium), it is quite
likely that ILK may play an important physiological role in visceral
epithelial cell functions given its relatively high level of expression
in normal visceral epithelial cells. Although the specific functions of
ILK in visceral epithelial cell remain to be determined, data from
studies in other systems suggest that ILK could be potentially involved
in anchoring the actin cytoskeleton to the glomerular basement
membranes, organization of the glomerular basement membranes, or
maintenance of the cell shape of visceral epithelial
cells.39,41,45,72
Diseases are frequently caused by disorders of basic cell biological mechanisms that govern the functions of individual tissues and organs73 and detailed knowledge of the molecular pathogenesis is a prerequisite for the design of specific therapies.66 The progression of diabetic nephropathy is a complex process involving a number of factors including extracellular matrix, growth factors and other cytokines, and intracellular signaling proteins. The findings described in this report provide novel in vivo and in vitro evidence suggesting that ILK is one of the factors involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic glomerulosclerosis. Future studies aimed at defining the molecular mechanism by which ILK functions in kidney mesangial and visceral epithelial cells will likely help us to better understand the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy as well as other renal diseases associated with glomerulosclerosis.
| Footnotes |
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Supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants DK54639 to C. W. and DK46199 to P. W. S.), and the Research Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs (to P. W. S).
Current address of L. G. and C. W.: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 3550 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261.
Accepted for publication July 23, 2001.
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