Hepatic α2μ-globulin localizes to the cytosol of rat proximal tubule cells
Authors: Yihan Wang, Michael A. Shia, Thomas G. Christensen, Steven C. Borkan
Journal: Kidney International (2000)

Hepatic α2μ-globulin localizes to the cytosol of rat proximal tubule cells.Backgroundα2μ-Globulin (A2), an 18.6 kD protein of hepatic origin, accumulates in the proximal tubule as an abundant, 15.5 kD cleavage product termed “A2-fragment” (A2-f). A2-f facilitates proximal tubule fatty acid oxidation, presumably by binding hydrophobic ligands. This requires some A2-f to enter the cytosol of the renal epithelial cell (REC). The localization of A2/A2-f in the proximal tubule cell was evaluated in this study.MethodsImmunoblot analysis of renal cortical homogenates separated by differential centrifugation and quantitative immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) was performed to localize A2/A2-f using an affinity-purified antibody that detects both proteins. To evaluate A2 as a physiologically relevant ligand, the accumulation of A2-f in the female rat kidney (normally devoid of A2-f) was examined after the induction of hepatic A2 synthesis. Ligand binding, uptake, and degradation assays were used to assess A2 processing by RECs in vitro.ResultsAlthough A2 and A2-f were detected in the “lysosomal” fraction, only A2-f was found in the soluble protein fraction. IEM confirmed the presence of significant signal in the vesicular and lysosomal as well as the cytosolic compartments. In contrast, both β2μ globulin (B2) and cathepsin B were restricted to endosomes. In the female rat, induction of hepatic A2 production resulted in A2-f accumulation in the renal cortex. In RECs in culture, uptake of A2 and B2 demonstrated nonsaturable, nondisplacable surface binding and similar uptake rates. Compared with B2, A2 was markedly resistant to degradation.ConclusionsA fraction of A2 escapes lysosomal degradation, permitting A2-f to accumulate in the cytosol of the proximal tubule epithelial cell. A2 may represent an unusual example of a physiologic protein capable of accumulating in a distant cell type. Hepatic α2μ-globulin localizes to the cytosol of rat proximal tubule cells. α2μ-Globulin (A2), an 18.6 kD protein of hepatic origin, accumulates in the proximal tubule as an abundant, 15.5 kD cleavage product termed “A2-fragment” (A2-f). A2-f facilitates proximal tubule fatty acid oxidation, presumably by binding hydrophobic ligands. This requires some A2-f to enter the cytosol of the renal epithelial cell (REC). The localization of A2/A2-f in the proximal tubule cell was evaluated in this study. Immunoblot analysis of renal cortical homogenates separated by differential centrifugation and quantitative immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) was performed to localize A2/A2-f using an affinity-purified antibody that detects both proteins. To evaluate A2 as a physiologically relevant ligand, the accumulation of A2-f in the female rat kidney (normally devoid of A2-f) was examined after the induction of hepatic A2 synthesis. Ligand binding, uptake, and degradation assays were used to assess A2 processing by RECs in vitro. Although A2 and A2-f were detected in the “lysosomal” fraction, only A2-f was found in the soluble protein fraction. IEM confirmed the presence of significant signal in the vesicular and lysosomal as well as the cytosolic compartments. In contrast, both β2μ globulin (B2) and cathepsin B were restricted to endosomes. In the female rat, induction of hepatic A2 production resulted in A2-f accumulation in the renal cortex. In RECs in culture, uptake of A2 and B2 demonstrated nonsaturable, nondisplacable surface binding and similar uptake rates. Compared with B2, A2 was markedly resistant to degradation. A fraction of A2 escapes lysosomal degradation, permitting A2-f to accumulate in the cytosol of the proximal tubule epithelial cell. A2 may represent an unusual example of a physiologic protein capable of accumulating in a distant cell type.