Atmani F, Glenton P A, Khan S R
Université Mohamed 1, Faculté des Sciences, Départment de Biologie, Oujda-Morocco.
Urol Res. 1999;27(1):63-7. doi: 10.1007/s002400050090.
Our earlier studies indicated that members of the inter-alpha-inhibitor (IalphaI) family of glycoproteins may play an important role in urolithiasis. Indeed bikunin, the light chain of IalphaI is a potent inhibitor of calcium oxalate crystallization. In order to understand this role, the distribution of IalphaI and its related proteins, as well as the expression of bikunin, were studied in normal and nephrolithic rats. In normal rats, IalphaI immunoreactivity was located mainly in proximal tubules. However, in nephrolithic rats, in addition to proximal tubules, the staining was intensively extended to tubules in the corticomedullary junction. Furthermore, by using polymerase chain reaction technique, we demonstrated that gene encoding for bikunin was activated in kidneys of nephrolithic rats. We have previously demonstrated increased staining for osteopontin in association with calcium oxalate crystal deposition in rat kidneys. Others have shown an increase in osteopontin production by renal epithelial cells on exposure to calcium oxalate crystals. Based on these observations we conclude that kidney cells possess an auto-defense system against calcium oxalate crystallization and stone formation in which members of the IalphaI family may be closely involved.
我们早期的研究表明，α-抑制因子（IαI）家族的糖蛋白成员可能在尿路结石形成中发挥重要作用。实际上，IαI的轻链比基尼蛋白是草酸钙结晶的有效抑制剂。为了了解这一作用，我们研究了正常大鼠和肾结石大鼠中IαI及其相关蛋白的分布以及比基尼蛋白的表达。在正常大鼠中，IαI免疫反应性主要位于近端小管。然而，在肾结石大鼠中，除近端小管外，染色强烈扩展至皮质髓质交界处的小管。此外，通过使用聚合酶链反应技术，我们证明了在肾结石大鼠的肾脏中，编码比基尼蛋白的基因被激活。我们之前已经证明，在大鼠肾脏中，与草酸钙晶体沉积相关的骨桥蛋白染色增加。其他人已经表明，肾上皮细胞在接触草酸钙晶体后骨桥蛋白的产生会增加。基于这些观察结果，我们得出结论，肾细胞拥有针对草酸钙结晶和结石形成的自身防御系统，其中IαI家族成员可能密切参与其中。
