Light chain effects on alanine and glucose uptake by renal brush border membranes.

Effect of varying concentrations (0 to 800 microM) of three different light chains on sodium-dependent L-(14C)alanine and D-(14C)glucose uptake by rat renal brush border membrane vesicles were studied. One kappa and two lambda type light chains (lambda-1 and lambda-2) were isolated from urines of patients with multiple myeloma. At maximal inhibitory concentrations the kappa chain reduced alanine uptake from 206 +/- 18 to 77 +/- 18 pmole/mg protein (P less than 0.005) and glucose uptake from 357 +/- 22 to 146 +/- 8 pmole/mg protein (P less than 0.001). lambda-1 reduced alanine uptake from 136 +/- 17 to 60 +/- 8 pmole/mg protein (P less than 0.005) and glucose uptake from 354 +/- 17 to 77 +/- 14 pmole/mg protein (P less than 0.001). lambda-2 reduced alanine uptake from 105 +/- 9 to 28 +/- 5 pmole/mg protein (P less than 0.001) and glucose uptake from 194 +/- 7 to 66 +/- 7 pmole/mg protein (P less than 0.001). The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (I50) of kappa, lambda-1 and lambda-2 light chains were 68, 76 and 140 microM for alanine uptake and 120, 70 and 105 microM for glucose uptake. Control experiments using bovine serum albumin and beta-lactoglobulin showed no inhibitory effect on alanine and glucose uptake by either protein. These data reveal brush border membrane effects by myeloma light chains and confirm that direct Bence Jones protein nephrotoxicity may play an important role in the pathogenesis of kidney dysfunction associated with multiple myeloma.