Induction and inhibition of pinocytosis by aminoglycoside antibiotics

We investigated whether differences in induction or stimulation of pinocytosis by six amino-glycosides reflected reported differences in their nephrotoxicity. Pinocytosis induced by antibiotics, Na+, K+ or Ca2+ was quantified by the number of pinocytotic channels in Amoeba proteus, a cell suitable for the study of the pinocytotic process. The aminoglycosides were potent inducers of pinocytosis. They were effective in the order of their cationic charge: neomycin greater than gentamicin greater than netilmicin = tobramycin greater than kanamycin greater than streptomycin. Factors which reduced the charge of the molecules, i.e. alkaline pH and combination with carbenicillin or heparin, diminished pinocytosis. Like La3+ the antibiotics inhibited Na+ -induced pinocytosis. The order of efficacy was netilmicin greater than gentamicin greater than neomycin. A similar rank order, which is the reverse of the order of nephrotoxicity, was observed for inhibition of Ca2+ -stimulated, Na+ -induced pinocytosis. Netilmicin was also the most potent inhibitor of the Ca2+-induced pinocytosis in cells treated with concanavalin A. Inhibition of Ca2+ -stimulated pinocytosis by netilmicin was reversed by Ca2+, the calcium ionophore A 23187, or 4-aminopyridine. We have shown that several nephrotoxic cations are strong inducers of pinocytosis in the amoeba, that aminoglycosides in Ringer solution induce pinocytosis in the approximate order of their nephrotoxicity and that factors which are known to diminish toxicity reduce pinocytosis. It, therefore, appears that the mechanism of aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity is related to their ability to induce pinocytosis in the amoeba. Low inducing potency and strong Ca2+ -antagonism, as for netilmicin, are qualities which may reduce the tendency of polycationic compounds to damage proximal tubular cells.