title: Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis for the Enumeration and Characterization of Mineralo-Organic Nanoparticles in Feline Urine.
abstract: Urinary stone disease, particularly calcium oxalate, is common in both humans and cats. Calcifying nanoparticles (CNP) are spherical nanocrystallite material, and are composed of proteins (fetuin, albumin) and inorganic minerals. CNP are suggested to play a role in a wide array of pathologic mineralization syndromes including urolithiasis. We documented the development of a clinically relevant protocol to assess urinary CNP in 9 healthy cats consuming the same diet in a controlled environment using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA®). NTA® is a novel method that allows for characterization of the CNP in an efficient, accurate method that can differentiate these particles from other urinary submicron particulates. The predominant nanoscale particles in feline urine are characteristic of CNP in terms of their size, their ability to spontaneously form under suitable conditions, and the presence of an outer layer that is rich in calcium and capable of binding to hydroxyapatite binders such as alendronate and osteopontin. The expansion of this particle population can be suppressed by the addition of citrate to urine samples. Further, compounds targeting exosomal surfaces do not label these particulates. As CNP have been associated with a number of significant urologic maladies, the method described herein may prove to be a useful adjunct in evaluating lithogenesis risk in mammals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Surgical and Radiological Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mellema
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoller
authors.affiliation: Royal Canin Research & Development Center, Aimargues, France.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Queau
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Passlack
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fascetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Westropp
mesh_terms: D019386:Alendronate / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D059587:Calcifying Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D002415:Cats; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D052878:Urolithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D059587:Calcifying Nanoparticles; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D053495:Osteopontin; D019343:Citric Acid; D017886:Durapatite; D019386:Alendronate