Urinary CD133+ extracellular vesicles are decreased in kidney transplanted patients with slow graft function and vascular damage

PLoS One. 2014 Aug 6;9(8):e104490. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104490. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) present in the urine are mainly released from cells of the nephron and can therefore provide information on kidney function. We here evaluated the presence of vesicles expressing the progenitor marker CD133 in the urine of normal subjects and of patients undergoing renal transplant. We found that EV expressing CD133 were present in the urine of normal subjects, but not of patients with end stage renal disease. The first day after transplant, urinary CD133+ EVs were present at low levels, to increase thereafter (at day 7). Urinary CD133(+) EVs significantly increased in patients with slow graft function in respect to those with early graft function. In patients with a severe pre-transplant vascular damage of the graft, CD133(+) EVs did not increase at day 7. At variance, the levels of EVs expressing the renal exosomal marker CD24 did not vary in the urine of patients with end stage renal disease or in transplanted patients in respect to controls. Sorted CD133(+) EVs were found to express glomerular and proximal tubular markers. These data indicate that urinary CD133(+) EVs are continuously released during the homeostatic turnover of the nephron and may provide information on its function or regenerative potential.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AC133 Antigen
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens, CD / urine*
  • Cell-Derived Microparticles / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / urine*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / pathology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / physiopathology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / urine
  • Kidney Glomerulus* / metabolism
  • Kidney Glomerulus* / physiopathology
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Kidney Tubules* / metabolism
  • Kidney Tubules* / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptides / urine*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • AC133 Antigen
  • Antigens, CD
  • Glycoproteins
  • PROM1 protein, human
  • Peptides

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Regione Piemonte, PISTEM project. Dr. Dimuccio was recipient of a long term Fellowship from the ERA-EDTA. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.