Monoclonal antibody P-31 recognizes a novel intermediate filament-associated protein (p250) in rat podocytes

The visceral glomerular epithelial cells (GECs) or podocytes of the renal glomerulus constitute a highly specialized epithelium. To study the nature of podocytes, we established mouse monoclonal antibodies against GEC. Clone P-31 reacted exclusively with the cytoplasm of GEC by immunofluorescence. Immunoblot analysis with P-31 showed that a single band of 250 kDa was detectable in a glomerular lysate. The 250-kDa polypeptide (p250) was recovered from Triton X-100-insoluble fractions of isolated glomeruli, suggesting that this molecule is associated with the cytoskeleton. Immunogold staining with P-31 demonstrated that the gold particles were located at the intersections of vimentin-type intermediate filaments of podocytes. In developing kidney, this protein first appeared in immature GECs during the S-shaped body stage. In puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis, p250 was dramatically increased in glomeruli where enhanced desmin expression was observed in GECs. These results indicate that p250 is a novel intermediate filament-associated protein and plays a role in the organization of the intermediate filament network in both normal and diseased conditions.