Endocytosis provides a major alternative pathway for lysosomal biogenesis in kidney proximal tubular cells

Rikke Nielsen, Pierre J. Courtoy, Christian Jacobsen, Geneviève Dom, Wânia Rezende Lima, Michel Jadot, Thomas E. Willnow, Olivier Devuyst, Erik I. Christensen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Recruitment of acid hydrolases to lysosomes generally occurs by intracellular sorting based on recognition of a common mannose 6-phosphate signal in the transGolgi network and selective transport to late endosomes/lysosomes. Here we provide evidence for an alternative, efficient secretion-recapture pathway mediated by megalin and exemplified by cathepsin B in kidney proximal convoluted tubules (PCT). We found that in mouse kidneys with defective megalin expression [megalin knockout (KO)] or apical PCT trafficking (ClC-5 KO), the (pro)cathepsin B mRNA level was essentially preserved, but the protein content was greatly decreased and the enzyme was excreted in the urine as mannose 6-phosphate-devoid species. In polarized PCT-derived cells, purified cathepsin B was avidly and selectively taken up at the apical membrane, and uptake was abolished by the megalin competitor, receptor-associated protein. Direct interaction of cathepsin B with megalin was demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance. Procathepsin B was detected in normal mouse serum. Purified cathepsin B injected into mice was efficiently taken up by kidneys (≈10% of injection) and targeted to lysosomes where it remained active, as shown by autoradiography and subcellular fractionation. A single cathepsin B injection into cathepsin B KO mice could reconstitute full lysosomal enzyme activity in the kidneys. These findings demonstrate a pathway whereby circulating lysosomal enzymes are continuously filtered in glomeruli, reabsorbed by megalin-mediated endocytosis, and transferred into lysosomes to exert their function, providing a major source of enzymes to PCT. These results also extend the significance of megalin in PCT and have several physiopathological and clinical implications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5407-5412
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume104
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Mar 2007

Keywords

  • Cathepsin B
  • Lysosomes
  • Mannose 6-phosphate
  • Megalin

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