Adhesion of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals to anionic sites
on the surface of renal epithelial cells .
Lieske, John C., Rebbecca Leonard, Hewson Swift, and F. Gary Toback.
Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology,
The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
APStracts 2:0135F, 1995.
Adhesion of microcrystals to the apical surface of renal tubular cells
could be a critical step in the formation of kidney stones. The role
of membrane surface charge as a determinant of the interaction
between renal epithelial cells (BSC-1 line) and the most common
crystal in kidney stones, calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM), was
studied in a tissue culture model system. Adhesion of COM crystals to
cells was blocked by cationized ferritin. Other cations that bind to
cells including cetylpyridinium chloride and polylysine, as well as
cationic dyes such as alcian blue also inhibited adhesion of COM
crystals, but not all polycations shared this effect. Specific
lectins including Triticum vulgaris (wheat germ agglutinin) blocked
crystal binding to the cells. Furthermore, treatment of cells with
neuraminidase inhibited binding of crystals. Therefore, anionic cell
surface sialic acid residues appear to function as COM crystal
receptors that can be blocked by specific cations or lectins. In
vivo, alterations in the structure, function, quantity or
availability of these anionic cell surface molecules could lead to
crystal retention and formation of renal calculi.
Received 18 May 1995; accepted in final form 31 July 1995.
APS Manuscript Number F160-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Renal Fluid Electrolyte
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 14 August 1995.