Aberrant heparan sulfate profile in the human diabetic kidney offers new clues for therapeutic glycomimetics.
BACKGROUND
Diabetic nephropathy poses an increasing health problem in the Western world, and research to new leads for diagnosis and therapy therefore is warranted. In this respect, heparan sulfates (HSs) offer new possibilities because crude mixtures of these polysaccharides are capable of ameliorating proteinuria. The aim of this study is to immuno(histo)chemically profile HSs from microalbuminuric kidneys from patients with type 1 diabetes and identify specific structural HS alterations associated with early diabetic nephropathy.


METHODS
Renal cryosections of control subjects and patients with type 1 diabetes were analyzed immunohistochemically by using a set of 10 unique phage display-derived anti-HS antibodies. HS structures defined by relevant antibodies were characterized chemically by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and probed for growth factor binding and presence in HS/heparin-containing drugs.


RESULTS
In all patients, HS structure defined by the antibody LKIV69 consistently increased in basement membranes of proximal tubules. This structure contained N- and 2-O-sulfates and was involved in fibroblast growth factor 2 binding. It was present in HS/heparin-containing drugs shown to decrease albuminuria in patients with diabetes. The HS structure defined by the antibody HS4C3 increased in the renal mesangium of some patients, especially those who developed macroalbuminuria within 8 to 10 years. This structure contained N- and 6-O-sulfates. For 8 other antibodies, no major differences were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Specific structural alterations in HSs are associated with early diabetic nephropathy and may offer new leads for early diagnosis and the rational design of therapeutic glycomimetics.
Wijnhoven
Tessa J M
TJ
Department of Matrix Biochemistry and Nephrology Research Laboratory, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, The Netherlands. t.wijnhoven@ncmls.ru.nl
Lensen
Joost F M
JF
Rops
Angelique L W M M
AL
van der Vlag
Johan
J
Kolset
Svein O
SO
Bangstad
Hans-Jacob
HJ
Pfeffer
Per
P
van den Hoven
Mabel J W
MJ
Berden
Jo H M
JH
van den Heuvel
Lambert P W J
LP
van Kuppevelt
Toin H
TH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria; D000906:Antibodies; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000502:physiology*; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male
D000906:Antibodies; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006497:Heparan Sulfate