Sulfated HNK-1 Epitope in Developing and Mature Kidney: A New Marker for Thin Ascending Loop of Henle and Tubular Injury in Acute Tubular Necrosis

Yves Allory ¹, Frédéric Commo ¹, Liliane Boccon-Gibod ¹, Mathilde Sibony ¹, Patrice Callard ¹, Pierre Ronco ¹ and Hanna Debiec ^1*

¹ INSERM U702, Paris, France (YA,PR,HD); Paris 6 University, Paris, France (YA,LB-G,MS,PC,PR,HD); Departments of Pathology, Tenon hospital (FC,MS,PC) and Trousseau hospital (LB-G), Assistance-Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: hanna.debiec{at}chusa.jussieu.fr.

Submitted on July 25, 2005
Accepted on 18 December 2005

	Abstract

The HNK-1 carbohydrate epitope is a 3-sulfo-glucuronyl residue attached to lactosamine structures on glycoproteins, proteoglycans or glycolipids mostly expressed in the nervous system. Here, using monoclonal antibodies against the sulfated HNK-1 carbohydrate epitope, we first examined its distribution in developing and adult kidneys, then its expression in kidneys with tubular necrosis and renal neoplasms. This HNK-1 epitope was expressed in the human, rabbit, rat, but not mouse kidney. It was detected within a subset of epithelial cells in the renal vesicle, and in comma and S-shaped bodies during early stages of nephrogenesis. In ureteral bud derivatives, the epitope was present transiently in the area where the collecting duct fused with the nephron. In the adult kidney, expression of the HNK-1 epitope became mainly restricted to the thin ascending loop of Henle where this epitope was carried by heparan- and chondro-proteoglycan. In pathological conditions, the HNK-1 epitope expression increased dramatically in proximal epithelial tubule cells in kidneys with acute tubular necrosis. In tumors, the HNK-1 epitope was expressed in the epithelial component of nephroblastomas and in a subgroup of papillary renal cell carcinomas. These data suggest that molecules carrying the sulfated HNK-1 carbohydrate epitope may play an important role in critical stages of renal development and in the physiology of thin ascending loop of Henle.

Key Words: HNK-1, kidney, loop of Henle, acute tubular necrosis, renal neoplasms

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. Morita, Y. Kizuka, S. Kakuda, and S. Oka Expression and Function of the HNK-1 Carbohydrate J. Biochem., June 1, 2008; 143(6): 719 - 724. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Guidelines | Subscriptions | About | exPRESS - Current - Archive | Business Information | Contact

The Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry is owned, published, and licensed by The Histochemical Society © 2006