Intrarenal distribution of clusterin following reduction of renal mass.

Clusterin is a multifunctional protein isolated from a number of tissues in several different species. In a variety of renal diseases, clusterin appears in the glomerulus and tubules in association with the membrane attack complex of complement. It is also transiently expressed after several forms of acute renal injury. In this study, we examined the expression and intrarenal distribution of clusterin following subtotal renal ablation. Male rats were subjected to either 1-1/3 nephrectomy (1-1/3 NX), uninephrectomy (UNX) or sham operation (SHAM). Two weeks after surgery, clusterin mRNA was elevated in the 1-1/3 NX group (1-1/3 NX: 1215 +/- 88; UNX: 208 +/- 11; SHAM: 207 +/- 19 OD units; P less than 0.001). Clusterin mRNA increased between 3 and 24 hours after 1-1/3 NX, plateaued, and remained elevated for at least seven weeks. The increased clusterin mRNA in 1-1/3 NX was localized to the tissue adjacent to the infarctive scar (scar 858 +/- 173 vs. non-scar 98 +/- 27 OD units; P less than 0.001). Clusterin protein followed a similar pattern of localization, being increased in most tubules and some peritubular capillaries in the peri-infarct zone. Only occasional tubules were positive for clusterin in the renal tissue distant from the scar or in the kidneys of sham operated rats. Co-localization of clusterin and C5b-9 was not detected. Evidence for apoptosis was found in the peri-infarct zone but not elsewhere in 1-1/3 NX kidney or in the normal kidney following sham operation. Infarction of 1/3 of the left kidney without contralateral nephrectomy, a maneuver which eliminates the compensatory growth, and uremia seen with 1-1/3 NX still resulted in increased clusterin mRNA in the infarcted left kidney compared to the intact right kidney (LK: 790 +/- 112 vs. RK: 128 +/- 25 OD units; P less than 0.001), although the amount of clusterin mRNA was less than that found following 1-1/3 NX. In conclusion, persistently increased clusterin mRNA and protein was seen in the peri-infarct zone following 1-1/3 NX. This increased expression of clusterin may be playing a role in the ischemia-related apoptosis present in the scar-adjacent tissue.