Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli

Summary

Changes in the intracellular calcium levels in the podocytes are one of the most important means to control the filtration function of glomeruli. Here we explain a high-throughput approach that allows detection of real-time calcium handling and single ion channels activity in the podocytes of the freshly isolated glomeruli.

Abstract

Podocytes (renal glomerular epithelial cells) are known to regulate glomerular permeability and maintain glomerular structure; a key role for these cells in the pathogenesis of various renal diseases has been established since podocyte injury leads to proteinuria and foot process effacement. It was previously reported that various endogenous agents may cause a dramatic overload in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration in podocytes, presumably leading to albuminuria, and this likely occurs via calcium-conducting ion channels. Therefore, it appeared important to study calcium handling in the podocytes both under normal conditions and in various pathological states. However, available experimental approaches have remained somewhat limited to cultured and transfected cells. Although they represent a good basic model for such studies, they are essentially extracted from the native environment of the glomerulus. Here we describe the methodology of studying podocytes as a part of the freshly isolated whole glomerulus. This preparation retains the functional potential of the podocytes, which are still attached to the capillaries; therefore, podocytes remain in the environment that conserves the major parts of the glomeruli filtration apparatus. The present manuscript elaborates on two experimental approaches that allow 1) real-time detection of calcium concentration changes with the help of ratiometric confocal fluorescence microscopy, and 2) the recording of the single ion channels activity in the podocytes of the freshly isolated glomeruli. These methodologies utilize the advantages of the native environment of the glomerulus that enable researchers to resolve acute changes in the intracellular calcium handling in response to applications of various agents, measure basal concentration of calcium within the cells (for instance, to evaluate disease progression), and assess and manipulate calcium conductance at the level of single ion channels.

Introduction

Kidneys maintain homeostatic balance for various substances and regulate blood volume in a way that determines total blood pressure. Disturbances in the renal filtration, reabsorption or secretion lead to or accompany pathological states, ranging from hyper- or hypotension to end stage renal disease that eventually requires kidney transplantation. The renal filtering unit (glomerulus) consists of three layers – the capillary endothelium, basement membrane and a single-cell layer of epithelial cells – podocytes, which play a major role in the maintenance of the slit-diaphragm integrity and function¹. Dysfunction in the permselective glomerular fi....

Protocol

Animal use and welfare should adhere to the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals following protocols reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

1. Kidney Flush

1. Use 8 to 12 week old male rat (suggested is a Sprague Dawley strain, however other strains of different age and gender can be used with appropriate changes).
2. Anesthetize the animal according to the procedure allowed by IACUC protocol; monitor depth of anesthesia and inspect the animal. The detailed description of the surgery to be performed in 1.3 - 1.8 can be found in Ilatovskaya et al.⁷....

Results

Here we addressed the problem of measuring acute changes in the calcium levels in the podocytes. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the experimental protocol designed in order to perform high resolution live fluorescence confocal imaging and single ion channel activity recordings in the podocytes of the freshly isolated rodent glomeruli. Briefly, after the rat is anaesthetized, the kidneys should be flushed with PBS to clear them of blood. Then, the kidneys are excised and decapsulated, and glo.......

Discussion

The approach described here allows for the analysis of calcium handling by the podocytes of the rodent glomeruli. This technique allows application of patch-clamp single channel electrophysiology and fluorescence ratiometric confocal imaging. However, both approaches can be used separately, on their own. The proposed protocol has several relatively simple steps, including 1) kidney flush; 2) isolation of the glomeruli by differential sieving; 3) performing patch-clamp electrophysiological experiments, or incubation of th.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Fluo4 AM	Life Technologies	F14217	500 µl in DMSO
FuraRed AM	Life Technologies	F-3020
Poly-ʟ-lysine	Sigma-Aldrich	P4707
Pluronic acid	Sigma-Aldrich	F-68	solution
Ionomycin	Sigma-Aldrich	I3909-1ML
Tube rotator	Miltenyi Biotec GmbH	130-090-753	Germany
Nikon confocal microscope (inverted)	Nikon	Nikon A1R	Laser exitation 488 nm. Emission filters 500-550 nm and 570-620 nm
Objective	Nikon	Plan Apo 60x/NA 1.4 Oil
Cover Glass	Thermo Scientific	6661B52
High vacuum grease	Dow Corning		Silicone Compound
Software	Nikon	Nikon NIS-Elements
Recording/perfusion chamber	Warner Instruments	RC-26
Patch clamp amplifier	Molecular Devices	MultiClamp 700B
Data acquisition system	Molecular Devices	Digidata 1440A	Axon Digidata® System
Low pass filter	Warner Instruments	LPF-8	8 pole Bessel
Borosilicate glass capillaries	World Precision Instruments	1B150F-4
Micropipette puller	Sutter Instrument Co	P-97	Flaming/Brown type micropipette puller
Microforge	Narishige	MF-830	Japan
Motorized micromanipulator	Sutter Instrument Co	MP-225
Inverted microscope	Nikon	Eclipse Ti
Microvibration isolation table	TMC		equipped with Faraday cage
Multichannel valve perfusion system	AutoMake Scientific	Valve Bank II
Recording/perfusion chamber	Warner Instruments	RC-26
Software	Molecular Devices	pClamp 10.2
Nicardipine	Sigma-Aldrich	N7510
Iberiotoxin	Sigma	I5904-5UG
Niflumic acid	Sigma-Aldrich	N0630
DIDS	Sigma-Aldrich	D3514-25MG
TEA chloride	Tocris	T2265
RPMI 1640	Life Technologies	11835030	without antibiotics
BSA	Sigma-Aldrich	A8327	30% albumin solution
Temperature controlled surgical table	MCW core		for rodents
Steel sieves:			#100 (150 μm), 140 (106 μm)
Gilson, Inc SIEVE 3 SS FH NO200	Fisher Sci	50-871-316
Gilson, Inc SIEVE 3 SS FH NO270	Fisher Sci	50-871-318
Gilson, Inc SIEVE 3 SS FH NO400	Fisher Sci	50-871-320
mesh 200	Sigma-Aldrich	s4145	screen for CD-1
Binocular microscope	Nikon	Eclipse TS100
Binocular microscope	Nikon	SMZ745
Syringe pump-based perfusion system	Harvard Apparatus
Polyethylene tubing	Sigma-Aldrich	PE50
Isofluorane anesthesia	VetEquip, Inc.	911103
Other basic reagents	Sigma-Aldrich