Mouse glomerular epithelial cells in culture with features of podocytes in vivo express aminopeptidase A and angiotensinogen but not other components of the renin-angiotensin system.

The binding of antibodies to podocytic antigens such as the Heymann antigen or aminopeptidase A may lead to the induction of a membranous glomerulonephritis in several species. To study the possible future interactions of antibodies with antigens on these podocytes, epithelial cells from isolated mouse glomeruli were cultured. By indirect immunofluorescence, the cells were positive for cytokeratin, vimentin, desmin, and the ZO-1 protein, a component of the tight junction complex. When rat monoclonal antibodies were used, the cells were also positive for the hydrolases aminopeptidase A and dipeptidyl peptidase IV, and they stained with ASD-33, a monoclonal antibody that recognized an epitope only present on the cell membranes of mouse podocytes. They were negative for the von Willebrand factor and did not stain with a monoclonal antibody (ASD-13) that binds to endothelial cells of glomeruli and peritubular capillaries. By electron microscopy, the cells showed tight junctions but lacked Weibel Palade bodies (endothelium), desmosomes, and cilia (parietal epithelium). The mRNA expression of several components of the renin-angiotensin system was also examined, and some factors indirectly coupled to the renin-angiotensin system component angiotensin II in this podocytic culture by RT-PCR analysis. mRNA Expression for the angiotensin II degrading hydrolase aminopeptidase A and angiotensinogen was found, but this was not found for any other component of this system, such as renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme, or the angiotensin II receptors AT1a, AT1b, and AT2. Low mRNA expression for dipeptidyl peptidase IV was observed. In addition, expression of the growth factors transforming growth factor-beta and interleukin-7, and the extracellular matrix components fibronectin, laminin B2, perlecan, and collagen IV alpha 1, was observed. Given these characteristics, a glomerular epithelial cell culture with features of podocytes in vivo that will allow future studies on the interaction of anti-aminopeptidase A monoclonal antibodies and angiotensin II with aminopeptidase A was established. This is of interest in light of the observation that injection of mice with anti-aminopeptidase A antibodies causes an acute albuminuria.