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Prominin-2 is a novel marker of distal tubules and collecting ducts of the human and murine kidney

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Abstract

Prominin-1 (CD133) and its paralogue, prominin-2, are pentaspan membrane glycoproteins that are strongly expressed in the kidney where they have been originally cloned from. Previously, we have described the localization of prominin-1 in proximal tubules of the nephron. The spatial distribution of prominin-2, however, has not yet been documented in the kidney. We therefore examined the expression of this molecule along distinct tubular segments of the human and murine nephron using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Our findings indicated that human prominin-2 transcripts and protein were confined to distal tubules of the nephron including the thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop and the distal convoluted tubule, the connecting duct and to the collecting duct system. Therein, this glycoprotein was enriched at the basolateral plasma membrane of the tubular epithelial cells with exception of the thick ascending limb where it was also found in the apical domain. This is in contrast with the exclusive apical localization of prominin-1 in epithelial cells of proximal nephron tubules. The distribution of murine prominin-2 transcripts was reminiscent of its human orthologue. In addition, a marked enrichment in the epithelium covering the papilla and in the urothelium of the renal pelvis was noted in mice. Finally, our biochemical analysis revealed that prominin-2 was released into the clinically healthy human urine as a constituent of small membrane vesicles. Collectively our data show the distribution and subcellular localization of prominin-2 within the kidney in situ and its release into the urine. Urinary detection of this protein might offer novel diagnostic approaches for studying renal diseases affecting distal segments of the nephron.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Sylvi Graupner and Suzanne Manthey for the skillful assistance for preparing the cryosection samples. W. B. H. and D. C. were supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB/TR 83 #6, SFB 655 A2 (W. B. H.) and B3 (D. C.)).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tissue Engineering Laboratories (BIOTEC), DFG Research Center and Cluster of Excellence for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47-49, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    József Jászai, Christine A. Fargeas, Peggy Janich & Denis Corbeil

  2. Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Lilla M. Farkas & Wieland B. Huttner

  3. Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Michael Haase

  4. Department of Children’s Surgery, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Michael Haase

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  1. József Jászai
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  2. Lilla M. Farkas
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  3. Christine A. Fargeas
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  4. Peggy Janich
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  6. Wieland B. Huttner
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Correspondence to József Jászai or Denis Corbeil.

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Figure S1. Detection of recombinant

prominin-2by indirect immunofluorescence using mouse monoclonal antibody 2024. PFA-fixed, saponin-permeabilized human prominin-2–transfected CHO cells were processed for immunofluorescence with mAb 2024 directed against prominin-2 (PROM2) followed by Cy2-conjugated goat anti-mouse antibody (green). Nuclei and F-actin were labelled with DAPI (blue) and phalloidin (red), respectively. Single optical x-y section at the level of the coverslip is shown. Note that not all CHO cells expressed the recombinant prominin-2 (asterisks). Scale bar, 10 μm (TIFF 2348 kb)

Figure S2. Localization of human

prominin-2in the adult renal cortex. Cryosections of normal adult human kidney were double immunolabeled for prominin-2 using mAb 2024 (PROM2; A, A”; B; green) and Solute Carrier 12A1 (SLC12A1; A’,A”; red) followed by appropriate fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies. The 2024 immunoreactive structures are scattered all over the cortical labyrinth (CL), and display a parallel array in the medullary ray (MR, bundled with white dashed line). Note that in CL the expression of prominin-2 partially coincides with SLC12A labeling terminal segments of thick ascending limbs, whereas in the MRprominin-2 coincides with, but not restricted to, thick ascending limbs highlighted by SLC12A1. Panel B displays a capture of a prominin-2–positive branching cortical collecting duct. Scale bars, (A-A”) 250 μm, (B) 50 μm (TIFF 6986 kb)

Figure S3. Localization of human

prominin-2along the thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop. Cryosections of adult human kidney were double immunolabeled for prominin-2 using mAb 2024 (PROM2; A, A”; B, B”; green) and Solute Carrier 12A1(SLC12A1; A’, A”; B’, B”; red) followed by appropriate fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies. To visualize nuclear architecture of various structures, sections were counterstained with DAPI (A-A”, B’; blue). White hollow arrows indicate the prominin-2 immunoreactivity at the apical domain of tubular epithelial cells of the thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop, within the cortical labyrinth (A-A”) in close proximity of a renal corpuscle (RC; white dashed line; A-A”), and in the renal medulla (B-B”) highlighted by the apical expression of SLC12A1 (white arrowhead; A-B”). The inset in panels A-A” displays an enlargement of the thick ascending limb segment with coincident prominin-2 and SLC12A1 reactivity. Note the absence of SLC12A1 immunoreactivity in collecting ducts displaying a basolaterally-restricted prominin-2–immunoreactivity (B, B”; white arrow). Scale bars, 25 μm (TIFF 6820 kb)

Figure S4. Localization of human

prominin-2within the terminal segment of the thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop. Cryosections of adult human kidney were double immunolabeled for prominin-2 using mAb 2024 (PROM2; A, A”; green) and Nitric Oxide Synthase 1 (NOS 1; A’, A”; red) followed by appropriate fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies. To visualize nuclear architecture of various structures, sections were counterstained with DAPI (A”; blue). White hollow arrow indicates a prominin-2–positive thick ascending limb segment within the cortical labyrinth being in close proximity of a renal corpuscle (RC, dashed line), highlighted by the expression of NOS 1 (white arrowhead). Note that expression of prominin-2 is not restricted to the thick ascending limb segment within the cortical labyrinth (white arrows). Scale bars, 25 μm (TIFF 5339 kb)

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Jászai, J., Farkas, L.M., Fargeas, C.A. et al. Prominin-2 is a novel marker of distal tubules and collecting ducts of the human and murine kidney. Histochem Cell Biol 133, 527–539 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-010-0690-1

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