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Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play an important role in nephrogenesis. The biologic effect and mechanism of action of these proteins in the adult kidney has not yet been studied. We investigated the effect of BMP2, a member of these growth and differentiation factors, on mitogenic signal transduction pathways induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in glomerular mesangial cells. PDGF is a growth and survival factor for these cells in vitro and in vivo. Incubation of mesangial cells with increasing concentrations of BMP2 inhibited PDGF-induced DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner with maximum inhibition at 250 ng/ml. Immune complex tyrosine kinase assay of PDGF receptor beta immunoprecipitates from lysates of mesangial cells treated with PDGF showed no inhibitory effect of BMP2 on PDGF receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. This indicates that the inhibition of DNA synthesis is likely due to postreceptor events. However, BMP2 significantly inhibited PDGF-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity that phosphorylates the Elk-1 transcription factor, a component of the ternary complex factor. Using a fusion protein-based reporter assay, we also show that BMP2 blocks PDGF-induced Elk-1-mediated transcription. Furthermore, we demonstrate that BMP2 inhibits PDGF-induced transcription of c-fos gene, a natural target of Elk-1 that normally forms a ternary complex that activates the serum response element of the c-fos gene. These data provide the first evidence that in mesangial cells, BMP2 signaling cross-talks with MAPK-based transcriptional events to inhibit PDGF-induced DNA synthesis. One target for this inhibition is the early response gene c-fos.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is induced in chronic osseous inflammation, and is temporally and spatially correlated with monocyte recruitment. We investigated the mechanism of MCP-1 regulation in a human osteoblastic cell line in response to IFN-gamma, a potent mediator of the immune inflammatory response. Nuclear run-on and stability studies demonstrated that IFN-gamma stimulated MCP-1 transcription and did not enhance mRNA stabilization. Using MCP-1 promoter/reporter gene constructs, we determined that IFN-gamma-enhanced MCP-1 transcription is regulated by a 29-bp element located at -227 relative to the ATG start codon. This element contains a 13-bp CT-rich sequence (GCTTCCCTTTCCT) adjacent to a IFN-gamma activation site (GAS). Since deletion of the CT sequence enhanced both the magnitude and duration of IFN-gamma-stimulated, GAS-mediated transcription, we have termed it the IFN response-inhibitory sequence (IRIS). The combined IRIS/GAS sequence is highly conserved in mouse, rat, and bovine MCP-1 genes. In gel-shift assays, nuclear extracts from IFN-gamma-stimulated osteoblastic cells formed two specific inducible bands with labeled IRIS/GAS DNA. Both bands were supershifted by anti-STAT1 Abs, but not by Abs to STAT2, p48(ISGF-3y), IFN-regulatory factor-1, or IFN-regulatory factor-2. Formation of one of the bands required the presence of the IRIS moiety. IRIS/GAS DNA also formed a number of specific complexes with constitutively expressed factors, none of which were affected by the above Abs. These studies establish a mechanism for IFN-gamma-stimulated MCP-1 expression and identify a complex element that regulates MCP-1 gene transcription.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is the most potent mitogen for hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) activation in mediating the biological effects of PDGF on cultured HSCs and its involvement in vivo. METHODS: HSCs were isolated from normal human livers. PI 3-K was assayed on phosphotyrosine or PDGF- receptor immunoprecipitates by in vitro kinase assay. RESULTS: Incubation of HSCs with PDGF caused a time-dependent increase in PI 3-K activity. Immunoprecipitation of PDGF-alpha and -beta receptors showed that both subunits associate with active PI 3-K in PDGF-stimulated HSCs. Wortmannin, a specific PI 3-K inhibitor, dose-dependently blocked PI 3-K activity induced by PDGF and inhibited DNA synthesis. PDGF (homodimer)-BB also stimulated HSC chemotaxis, which was inhibited by pretreatment with wortmannin. To explore the potential role of PI 3-K in vivo, liver homogenates from rats treated with CCl4 and from control rats were immunoprecipitated with anti-PDGF-beta-receptor antibodies. Liver injury was associated with increased PDGF-beta-receptor autophosphorylation, and greater PI 3-K activity associated with the receptor itself. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that in cultured HSCs, PI 3-K activation is necessary for both mitogenesis and chemotaxis induced by PDGF and that this pathway is up-regulated during liver injury in vivo. (Gastroenterology 1997 Apr;112(4):1297-306)

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) stimulates the accumulation of extracellular matrix in renal and hepatic disease. Kidney glomerular mesangial cells (GMC) and liver fat-storing cells (FSC) produce latent of inactive TGF-beta. In this study, we characterized the latent TGF-beta complexes secreted by these cells. Human FSC produce a single latent TGF-beta complex, predominantly of the TGF-beta 1 isoform, whereas GMC secrete multiple complexes of latent TGF-beta, containing beta 1 and beta 2 isoforms. At least four forms were identified in GMC using ion exchange chromatography, including a peak not previously described in other cell types which eluted at 0.12 M NaCl, and predominantly of the beta 2 isoform. Both cell types secrete the latent TGF-beta 1 binding protein of 190 kDa, as part of a high molecular weight TGF-beta complex. Epidermal growth factor stimulates the secretion of latent TGF-beta and latent TGF-beta binding protein in both cell types. Secretion of latent TGF-beta in both cell types was found to be associated with secretion of decorin. This study shows that vascular pericytes from the kidney and the liver have distinctly different profiles of latent TGF-beta complexes, with GMC secreting a unique form of latent TGF-beta 2. The regulatory effect of epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor has potential implication for the pathophysiology of liver regeneration and chronic liver and kidney diseases.

Liver fat-storing cells (FSC) proliferate and secrete extracellular matrix in experimental models of liver injury. In this study, we determined if thrombin, a serine protease produced during acute and chronic tissue injury, modulates the functions of FSC. Thrombin stimulated DNA synthesis and proliferation of FSC, as assessed by [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay and measurement of cell number, respectively. Thrombin also increased the secretion of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. The effect of thrombin on both DNA synthesis and MCP-1 secretion was neutralized by pretreatment of thrombin with hirudin. The increased MCP-1 secretion was associated with increased steady-state levels of MCP-1 messenger RNA. Pretreatment of FSC with 5 mumol/retinol for 48 hours inhibited the mitogenic effects of thrombin but not the induction of MCP-1 secretion. FSC express specific transcripts encoding for the human thrombin receptor, as shown by Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA. Proteolytic activation of the thrombin receptor results in the formation of a new N-terminus that functions as a tethered ligand. We studied the effects of a thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP) corresponding to the newly formed N-terminus on FSC. TRAP mimicked the effects of thrombin on [3H]-thymidine incorporation, MCP-1 secretion, and MCP-1 gene expression. This study suggest that thrombin may be involved in modulating FSC proliferation and monocyte chemotaxis during human liver disease, through proteolytic activation of its receptor.

Evidence indicates that PDGF is a major cytokine that impacts on the biology of renal cells and the pathogenesis of renal disease. The biologic effects of PDGF on cells and tissue, whether contraction, proliferation, matrix expansion, or cell migration, can result in beneficial or injurious consequences depending on the particular setting. Although expression of PDGF and PDGF receptors is required for glomerular development, their overexpression can be detrimental in renal disease. The chemotactic and mitogenic effects of PDGF are beneficial in recruitment and repopulation by mesangial cells in focal or diffuse necrotizing diseases. On the other hand, a sustained proliferative response can be detrimental to renal function. There is much to understand about PDGF's role in the cytokine network during renal development and renal injury. Understanding the mechanism of action of PDGF and, specifically, the signaling molecules transduced by the PDGF receptor may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies to offset the detrimental effect of PDGF. Methods of targeting PDGF to hypocellular or necrotic areas to effect tissue remodeling and repair are a desirable goal (28). On the other hand, promotion of fibroblast proliferation and smooth muscle cell proliferation is a detrimental effect of PDGF that contributes to interstitial and perhaps periglomerular fibrosis as well as atherosclerosis. Ultimately, understanding the role of PDGF and other cytokines in renal development and organogenesis will provide the means to treat glomerular pathology without residual scarring.

Transgenic expression of proteins represents a valid tool for the study of their function in vivo. Genomic regulatory elements attached to a reporter gene can be used as the transgenic DNA to study regulation of gene expression, whereas the coding region of a gene placed between a strong promoter and a poly A sequence is used to study gene function. In addition to transgenic animals overexpressing proteins, gene targeting by homologous recombination to inactivate genes in embryonic stem cells for the generation of chimeric "knockout" mice as well as tissue-specific disruption of genes are discussed. Examples are provided by which transgenic animals overexpressing proteins or knockout mice that are deficient in proteins may lead to important insights into the pathogenesis of renal disease.

Cell-mediated immunity and monocyte infiltration is a prominent histologic feature of several different types of glomerulonephritis. Monocyte influx to the glomerulus correlates with glomerular hypercellularity and proteinuria. Glomerular mesangial cells, in addition to being targets for inflammatory stimuli, are also effector cells that actively participate in glomerular pathology. Mesangial cells release monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1). In the present article, we characterized and studied the regulation of MCP-1 released by cultured human mesangial cells. Serum-deprived mesangial cells constitutively release chemotactic activity that is neutralized by specific anti-MCP-1 antibody. An antibody to baboon MCP-1 recognized 16, 15, and 11 kd proteins from concentrated conditioned medium that were consistent with the presence of different forms of MCP-1. Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1 (IL-1) markedly stimulate the release of MCP-1 as measured by a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay. The release of MCP-1 in response to these cytokines is at least partially dependent on de novo synthesis of the protein because all three cytokines markedly stimulate the expression of MCP-1 mRNA. These data demonstrate that human mesangial cells synthesize and release at least three different forms of MCP-1 and that IFN-gamma and other cytokines regulate the secretion of MCP-1. IFN-gamma and MCP-1 may play a major role in the recruitment and activation of monocytes to the inflamed glomerulus.

Habu snake venom induces an accelerated mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis that follows a predictable course from early capillary aneurysms to micronodules comprised of confluent mesangial cells within 72 hours. We examined morphologically the course of mesangial cell proliferation and correlated it with the expression of messenger (m) RNA encoding two peptide growth factors, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A and B chains and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Rats were uninephrectomized and 24 hours later injected with Habu snake venom or saline. Kidney cortex and isolated glomeruli were obtained 24, 48, and 72 hours later for histological assessment, preparation and Northern analysis of mRNA, and immunohistochemical localization of PDGF using a polyclonal antibody that recognizes A and B chains. Maximal expression of PDGF B chain mRNA occurred at 24 hours and before the onset of mesangial cell proliferation; whereas maximal expression of PDGF A chain and TGF-beta mRNA occurred at 48 hours and during active mesangial cell proliferation. Expression of TGF-beta mRNA persisted at 72 hours at a time when PDGF A chain declined and PDGF B chain was not expressed compared to uninephrectomy and saline controls and at a time when mesangial cells within lesions reached confluence and proliferation subsided. PDGF protein localized in glomerular lesions associated with platelets at 24 and 48 hours and within mesangial cells at 48 and 72 hours. These results agree with the known roles of PDGF and TGF-beta as positive and negative modulators, respectively, of mesangial cell growth in vitro and suggest that a relative balance of the expression of these factors may operate in glomerular disease in vivo.

In conditions of chronic liver inflammation, liver fat-storing cells (FSC) differentiate into 'myofibroblast-like cells'. This transition is characterized by a gradual loss of vitamin A stores, and previous studies suggest a possible relationship between the intracellular retinoid content and the proliferative potential of this cell type. In the present study, we further characterized this aspect of FSC biology by monitoring ultrastructural changes and growth characteristics during several serial passages in culture. Our observations suggest that the complete transition to the 'myofibroblast-like phenotype' is paralleled by a sudden and remarkable increase in the growth rate. At this stage, cell growth appears rather independent from the presence of mitogens in the culture medium, suggesting cell transformation. Accordingly, the mitogenic effects of platelet-derived growth factor and epidermal growth factor appears reduced when compared to those observed in FSC retaining the original 'storing' phenotype. Incubation of vitamin A-depleted FSC with retinol and retinoic acid resulted in the partial recovery of intracellular retinoid stores and in a significant reduction of basal growth rate and basal and growth factor-induced DNA synthesis. In summary, these in vitro observations suggest that intracellular retinoids play a central role in the control of unstimulated and growth factor-induced FSC proliferation and may help understand in vivo mechanisms leading to liver fibrosis.

Proliferation of mesangial cells and expansion of mesangial matrix are common histologic features of proliferative glomerular disease, a frequent cause of renal failure. Proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells occurs in response to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and these cells release PDGF and express PDGF A and B chain mRNAs. However, all studies relating PDGF to potential changes in glomerular structure and function to date have been performed in vitro. To explore the role of PDGF in proliferative glomerulonephritides, we studied the expression of PDGF in vivo in two animal models of IgA nephropathy with different histologic patterns of glomerular injury: either predominant mesangial proliferation or expansion of mesangial matrix. Increased expression of PDGF and PDGF B-chain mRNA in whole kidneys from diseased mice was demonstrated by immunohistochemical techniques and by solution hybridization assay, respectively. Immunohistochemically, PDGF was localized primarily within the mesangial area of glomeruli and to a much lower extent in interstitium. The increased PDGF expression correlated with the degree of hypercellularity and clinical features of the disease. In addition, PDGF expression was increased in some forms of human glomerulonephritis, characterized by mesangial proliferation. These findings suggest that PDGF may be a major contributor to mesangial cell proliferation seen in proliferative glomerulonephritides.

Increases in cell phosphatidic acid content occur in response to a wide variety of agonists, many of which have growth promoting properties. These changes have correlated with calcium flux, enzyme activation, gene induction, or cell proliferation. In the current studies we show that exogenous phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylserine stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis and DNA synthesis in cultured human renal mesangial cells. These phospholipids also induce mRNAs for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). The activation of phospholipase C by PA appears to be desensitized via protein kinase C as brief preincubation with phorbol ester abrogates the effect. PA-induced DNA synthesis is only partly mediated via protein kinase C as co-incubation with the inhibitor staurosporine blunts DNA synthesis by only one-third. In contrast, induction of PDGF A-chain mRNA is almost totally inhibited by staurosporine. We propose that changes in endogenous phospholipids such as PA or phosphatidylserine may serve as common signaling pathway for a variety of growth factors. Induction of PDGF proto-oncogenes via protein kinase C may represent one mechanism by which this cell activation occurs.

To determine whether acute chloride depletion per se stimulates renin, we produced selective chloride depletion without sodium depletion in rats by peritoneal dialysis (PD) against 0.15 M NaHCO3 or 0.15 M NaNO3. Control rats were dialyzed against 0.15 M NaCl. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was measured before (PRA1) and 105 minutes after (PRA2) PD. Plasma volume was expanded after PD by infusion of salt-free albumin and was measured immediately after PRA2 by [131I]albumin. In experiment 1, rats were prepared on a normal diet. PRA2 (7.0 +/- 1.0 ng/ml per hr, mean +/- SEM) was increased (P less than 0.05) over PRA1 (4.7 +/- 0.7 ng/ml per hr) in Cl-depleted but not in control rats (PRA1 = 5.3 +/- 0.7, PRA2 = 6.1 +/- 0.7, P = NS). In experiment 2, to produce greater chloride depletion, all rats were prepared for 2 weeks on a low salt diet. PRA2 (47 +/- 5 ng/ml per hr) was increased as compared to PRA1 (24 +/- 2 ng/ml per hr, P less than 0.005) in the Cl-depleted group but not in the control group (PRA1 = 24 +/- 3, PRA2 = 27 +/- 6 ng/ml per hr, P = NS). Serum potassium and final plasma volume were slightly but not significantly lower than controls in these Cl-depleted rats. To exclude an additive effect of these two stimuli for renin, in experiment 2a we infused chloride-depleted rats with three times as much albumin as controls and with KHCO3, 100 mEq/liter. Despite volume expansion and potassium loading, PRA2 (41 +/- 6 ng/ml per hr) was significantly elevated as compared to PRA1 (25 +/- 4 ng/ml per hr, P less than 0.01). Since acute metabolic alkalosis also was present in all Cl-depleted renin-stimulated rats, an additional group (2b) was dialyzed against 0.15 M NaNO3; final plasma arterial pH (7.43) was not different from controls (7.42). Nevertheless, PRA2 levels again were higher (36 +/- 6 ng/ml per hr, P less than 0.05) as compared to PRA1 (23 +/- 4 ng/ml per hr). In all experiments, arterial blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate, and filtered sodium load were not different. Free water reabsorption was lower in Cl-depleted than in control rats. We conclude that acute selective chloride depletion per se is a potent stimulus for renin release.

We studied in vitro the presence of histamine and the effect of histamine and its antagonists on cAMP accumulation in parathyroid tissue (parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia) from patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid adenomatous tissue contained 11.2 +/- 2.9 ng histamine/g wet weight (approximately 2 X 10(-5) M), as determined by a specific radioenzyme assay. Histamine caused a prominent increase in cAMP accumulation in parathyroid tissue slices in a dose-dependent manner, with half-maximal stimulation being achieved at 5 X 10(-6) M and maximal stimulation occurring at 10(-4) M histamine. The histamine H2 receptor antagonists, cimetidine and metiamide, caused profound inhibition of histamine-stimulated cAMP accumulation in the parathyroid tissue. Pyrilamine, an H1 antagonist, also inhibited histamine-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic agonist, elicited marked elevation of cAMP, and its stimulatory effect was blocked by propranolol, but the effects of histamine on cAMP levels in parathyroid tissue were not blocked by propranolol. Histamine significantly stimulated (an increase of 50%) the release of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone. The present observations demonstrate that parathyroid adenomatous tissue has a relatively high content of histamine, and the release of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone from this tissue. The effects of antagonists suggest that histamine stimulates cAMP accumulation in the parathyroid adenomatous tissue by an action on both H2 and H1 histamine receptors.

Histamine is known to have a profound effect on capillary permeability in nonrenal tissues and this effect is presumably mediated by cyclic (c)AMP. Because in our previous experiments we found that histamine stimulates cAMP accumulation in glomeruli (Torres, V. E., T. E. Northryn, R. M. Edwards, S. V. Shah, and T. P. Dousa. 1978. Modulation of cyclic nucleotides in isolated rat glomeruli. J. Clin. Invest.62: 1334.), we now explored whether this amine is formed in renal tissue, namely in glomeruli, and whether its renal metabolism is altered in experimental nephrosis induced by puromycin aminonucleoside (PA) in rats. In normal rats, histamine content was higher (Delta + 240%) in cortex than in medulla. In glomeruli isolated from renal cortex, histamine content was significantly higher (Delta + 260%) than in tubules. Incubation of isolated glomeruli with l-histidine resulted in a time-dependent increase of histamine content in glomeruli, but no change was found in tubules. The increase in glomerular histamine was blocked by the histidine decarboxylase inhibitor bromocresine. In rats with PA nephrosis induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of PA (15 mg/100 g body wt) urinary excretion of histamine was markedly increased (Delta + 200%), but control rats did not differ from rats with PA nephrosis in urinary excretions of l-histidine and of creatinine. At the peak of proteinuria (day 9 after injection of PA) the plasma level of histamine was slightly elevated, and plasma histidine slightly decreased in animals that developed PA nephrosis. The content of histamine was markedly higher and the level of histidine was significantly lower in the renal cortex of PA-nephrotic rats as compared with controls; PA-nephrotic and control rats did not differ in the content of histidine and histamine in the liver. In addition, the content of histamine was higher in glomeruli isolated from PA-nephrotic rats; lesser difference was found in cortical tubules. The results further indicate that PA-nephrotic rats have higher content of histamine in the renal cortex, predominently in glomeruli with increased urinary histamine excretion. The elevated renal cortical histamine is not due to higher availability of histamine precursor l-histidine. Results thus show that glomeruli are a major site of intrarenal histamine synthesis and accumulation, and also suggest that abnormal renal metabolism of this amine in PA nephrosis may be related, as a cause or as a consequence, to the pathogenesis of this disease.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogen for cells of mesenchymal origin and is released and/or synthesized by platelets, macrophages, endothelial cells, and rat mesangial cells. In the present investigation, we found that human glomerular mesangial cells in culture release a PDGF-like protein which competes for 125I-PDGF binding to human foreskin fibroblasts and is mitogenic for these fibroblasts. The competing and to a lesser extent the mitogenic activities present in the conditioned medium are partially recognized by an anti-PDGF antibody. Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA from human mesangial cells demonstrates the expression of both PDGF A- and B-chain mRNAs. PDGF also binds to mesangial cells in a specific manner and stimulates DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. These data suggest that a PDGF-like protein secreted by mesangial cells or released from platelets, monocytes, or endothelial cells during glomerular inflammation may function as an autocrine or a paracrine growth factor for these cells. The biological role of PDGF in mediating proliferative and other inflammatory events in the glomerulus remains to be identified.

Catabolism of histamine in the isolated glomeruli and tubules of the rat kidney. Histamine alters renal hemodynamics including the glomerular microcirculation, and histamine receptors are present in rat glomeruli. We have recently shown that isolated rat glomeruli, but not cortical tubules, incubated with the histamine substrate L-histidine synthesize histamine. This study explores the catabolic pathways of histamine in isolated glomeruli and cortical tubules of the rat kidney. Glomeruli and cortical tubules were incubated with radiolabeled histamine, and the products were separated on thin layer chromatography (TLC). Glomeruli predominantly catabolized histamine to acid metabolites of the diamine oxidase (histaminase) pathway, imidazole acetic acid and ribosylimidazole acetic acid, and to a lesser extent to the inactive methylation product, Nτ-methylhistamine (7.5% vs. 2.5%). Tubules on the other hand catabolized histamine to Nτ-methylhistamine and to a lesser degree to acid metabolites (7.6% vs. 2.3%). The methyl donor S-Adenosyl-methionine (SAM) (10 -4 M) markedly enhanced the production of Nτ-methylhistamine in both glomeruli and tubules (Δ + 600%) but had no effect on the production of acid metabolites. In the presence of equimolar concentrations of SAM, tubules continued to methylate histamine to a greater extent than glomeruli (46.0% vs. 18%). In both glomeruli and tubules, the diamine oxidase inhibitor, amino-guanidine, abolished the production of acid metabolites while amodiaquine and pyrilamine, inhibitors of the methylation pathway, markedly reduced the production of Nτ-methylhistamine. In addition, in the presence of SAM, tubules catabolized nonlabelled histamine to a greater extent than glomeruli. These studies show that tubules have a greater capacity than glomeruli to degrade histamine and that histamine is differentially catabolized in these segments. A major pathway of histamine catabolism in glomeruli results in the formation of biologically active products. Catabolisme de l'histamine dans des glomerules et des tubules isoles de rein de rat. L'histamine altere l'hemodynamique renale notamment la microcirculation glomerulaire, et des recepteurs de l'histamine sont presents dans les glomerules de rat. Nous avons recemment montre que des glomerules isoles de rat, mains non des tubules corticaux, incubes avec de la L-histidine, le substrat de l'histamine, synthetisent de l'histamine. Cette etude explore les voies cataboliques de l'histamine dans des glomerules et des tubules corticaux isoles de reins de rat. Les glomerules et les tubules corticaux ont ete incubes avec de l'histamine radiomarquee, et les produits ont ete separes par chromatographie en couche mince (TLC). Les glomerules catabolisaient preferentiellement l'histamine en des metabolites acides de la voie de la diamine oxidase (histaminase), l'acide imidazole acetique et l'acide ribosylimidazole acetique, et a un moindre degre en produit de methylation inactif, le Nτ-methylhistamine. Les tubules, quant a eux, catabolisaient l'histamine en Nτ-methylhistamine et a un moindre degre en metabolites acides (7.6% contre 2.3%). La S-Adenosyl-methionine (SAM) (10 -4 M), un donneur de methyle, a stimule de facon marquee la production de Nτ-methylhistamine dans les glomerules et les tubules (Δ + 600%) mais n'avait pas d'effet sur la production des metabolites acides. En presence de concentrations equimolaires de SAM, les tubules continuaient de methyler l'histamine de facon plus importante que les glomerules (46.0% contre 18%). Dans les glomerules comme dans les tubules, un inhibiteur de la diamine oxidase, l'amino-guanidine, a supprime la production de metabolites acides, alors que l'amodiaquine et la pyrilamine, des inhibiteurs de la voie de methylation, ont reduit considerablement la production de Nτ-methylhistamine. En outre, en presence de SAM, les tubules catabolisaient l'histamine non marquee de facon plus importante que les glomerules. Ces etudes montrent que les tubules ont une plus forte capacite que les glomerules a degrader l'histamine, et que l'histamine est catabolisee de facon differente dans ces segments. Une voie majeure du catabolisme de l'histamine dans les glomerules aboutit a la formation de produits biologiquement actifs.

The effect of serotonin on cAMP accumulation in parathyroid adenoma tissue from patients with primary hyperparathyroidism was studied in vitro. Incubation with 10(-5) M serotonin elicited a marked increase (of 90--150%) in cAMP content in slices of parathyroid adenoma tissue. This stimulatory effect of serotonin was already apparent after 2 min of incubation; stimulation by serotonin was dose dependent, with the highest stimulation being achieved at 10(-4) M serotonin. The serotonin antagonists, methylsergide and cinanserin, in concentrations equimolar to serotonin completely blocked the stimulatory effect of serotonin on cAMP increase. The serotonin content in surgically removed parathyroid adenoma tissue, as determined by fluorometric assay, was 6.4 +/- 1.2 pmol/mg wet wt (approximately 0.8 x 10(-5) M). The present observations demonstrate that parathyroid adenoma tissue has a high content of serotonin, and serotonin stimulates cAMP accumulation in this tissue. Since cAMP acts as a mediator of parathyroid hormone (PTH) release, our results suggest that serotonin could be one of the factors regulating PTH secretion and/or contributing to PTH hypersecretion in various forms of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Proliferation of mesangial cells is a common histologic abnormality in glomerular diseases. In vivo studies suggest a role for platelets and monocytes-macrophages in mediating glomerular hypercellularity. The authors recently reported that several peptide growth factors stimulate DNA synthesis and growth of human mesangial cells. This article reports that transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), a peptide released by inflammatory cells and platelets, inhibits DNA synthesis and growth of human mesangial cells. The stimulatory and inhibitory effects of these mitogens on DNA synthesis and growth was confirmed by autoradiography and cell counting. The inhibitory effect of TGF-beta is not mediated at the receptor level because TGF-beta did not inhibit the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) to mesangial cells. Because peptide growth factors that stimulate DNA synthesis in mesangial cells induce expression of PDGF mRNAs, the effect of TGF-beta on PDGF mRNAs expression induced by peptide growth factors was studied. TGF-beta did not lower the increased levels of PDGF mRNAs caused by EGF or PDGF. These data show that TGF-beta is a potent inhibitor of DNA synthesis and growth of mesangial cells. The mechanism of the inhibitory effect of TGF-beta remains to be determined.

Lysosomal hydrolases produce degradation of glomerular basement membrane and may play a key role in catabolism of glycoproteins of extracellular matrix in glomeruli. Therefore we investigated activities of some lysosomal enzymes and stability of lysosomes in glomeruli of normal and nephrotic rats. Nephrosis was induced in rats by single injections of puromycin aminonucleoside. In glomeruli from nephrotic rats we found lower activities of β-fucosidase and arylsulfatase, but activity of acid phosphatase was higher compared with control rats. Osmotic stability of lysosomes measured by release of β-glucuronidase was decreased in nephrotic rats. Abnormal activity of lysosomal enzymes and altered physiology of lysosomes in glomeruli may be a pathogenic factor in the altered glycoprotein metabolism in nephrotic syndrome and perhaps also in other glomerular diseases.