Effect of glycated proteins on the matrix of glomerular epithelial cells

In this study, cultured glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) were exposed to a diabetic milieu containing glycated proteins to determine whether such proteins cause metabolic alterations that may lead to defects seen in the extracellular matrix in diabetic nephropathy. Cultured glomerular epithelial cells were cloned and maintained in RPMI media containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The medium was changed to RPMI-1% glycated FBS (experimental) or RPMI-1% control FBS, and cells were incubated for 1 or 4 d. Mitogenicity was tested by 3H-thymidine uptake. The media were collected and analyzed for collagenase activity by a quantitative fluorescence assay and by zymography. The cell layers were processed for matrix antigen (collagen I, glomerular basement membrane antigens, laminin, and fibronectin) and for the proteins of the tight junction (cadherin, desmosomal protein) by quantitative immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence. Cell lysates were tested for cadherin and desmosomal protein by immunoblotting. Cells were also grown on 0.2-microM filter membranes to test for permeability to 3H-inulin and 125I-albumin. Glycated FBS resulted in a 1.8-fold increase in 3H-thymidine uptake in subconfluent layers accompanied by an increase in cell number. The treatment caused accumulation of laminin (18% above control, P < 0.05) and basement membrane antigens (33% above control, P < 0.05). Collagen I and fibronectin were unchanged. Exposing cells to glycated FBS changed the distribution of cadherin from a linear to a diffuse pattern associated with a decrease in cadherin observed on immunoblots. The media of glycated FBS-treated cells contained 45% lower collagenase activity (72-, 92-, and 150-kD species). Permeability to inulin increased by 550% and to albumin by 320% in glycated FBS-treated monolayers compared with controls. It is concluded that glycated proteins increased the accumulation of matrix proteins in the GEC, associated with a concomitant depression in collagenase activity. There were qualitative and quantitative changes in the tight junction protein cadherin. These matrix changes resulted in a functional defect in the permselective properties of the GEC tight junctions and manifested as increased leakage of inulin and albumin. Thus, the GEC are metabolically sensitive to the presence of glycated proteins, and this could play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.