Detection and characterization of mineralo-organic nanoparticles in human kidneys.
Ectopic calcification is associated with various human diseases, including atherosclerosis, cancer, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus. Although mineral nanoparticles have been detected in calcified blood vessels, the nature and role of these particles in the human body remain unclear. Here we show for the first time that human kidney tissues obtained from end-stage chronic kidney disease or renal cancer patients contain round, multilamellar mineral particles of 50 to 1,500 nm, whereas no particles are observed in healthy controls. The mineral particles are found mainly in the extracellular matrix surrounding the convoluted tubules, collecting ducts and loops of Henle as well as within the cytoplasm of tubule-delineating cells, and consist of polycrystalline calcium phosphate similar to the mineral found in bones and ectopic calcifications. The kidney mineral nanoparticles contain several serum proteins that inhibit ectopic calcification in body fluids, including albumin, fetuin-A, and apolipoprotein A1. Since the mineralo-organic nanoparticles are found not only within calcified deposits but also in areas devoid of microscopic calcifications, our observations indicate that the nanoparticles may represent precursors of calcification and renal stones in humans.
Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Tsui-Yin
TY
Wong
Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Research Center of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Cheng-Yeu
CY
Wu
Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Jan
J
Martel
Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Cheng-Wei
CW
Lin
Department of Materials Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taishan, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Fu-Yung
FY
Hsu
Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of the Pacific, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco, California, USA.
David M
DM
Ojcius
Department of Pathology, Chia-Yi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Puzi, Chia-Yi, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Paul Y
PY
Lin
Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Gueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.|Biochemical Engineering Research Center, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taishan, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China.
John D
JD
Young
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism*
D008903:Minerals; D009930:Organic Chemicals