Endocytic delivery of lipocalin-siderophore-iron complex rescues the kidney from ischemia-reperfusion injury

Kiyoshi Mori, H. Thomas Lee, Dana Rapoport, Ian R. Drexler, Kirk Foster, Jun Yang, Kai M. Schmidt-Ott, Xia Chen, Yi Li Jau, Stacey Weiss, Jaya Mishra, Faisal H. Cheema, Glenn Markowitz, Takayoshi Suganami, Kazutomo Sawai, Masashi Mukoyama, Cheryl Kunis, Vivette D'Agati, Prasad Devarajan, Jonathan Barasch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

862 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (Ngal), also known as siderocalin, forms a complex with iron-binding siderophores (Ngal:siderophore: Fe). This complex converts renal progenitors into epithelial tubules. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Ngal:siderophore:Fe protects adult kidney epithelial cells or accelerates their recovery from damage. Using a mouse model of severe renal failure, ischemia-reperfusion injury, we show that a single dose of Ngal (10 μg), introduced during the initial phase of the disease, dramatically protects the kidney and mitigates azotemia. Ngal activity depends on delivery of the protein and its siderophore to the proximal tubule. Iron must also be delivered, since blockade of the siderophore with gallium inhibits the rescue from ischemia. The Ngal:siderophore:Fe complex upregulates heme oxygenase-1, a protective enzyme, preserves proximal tubule N-cadherin, and inhibits cell death. Because mouse urine contains an Ngal-dependent siderophore-like activity, endogenous Ngal might also play a protective role. Indeed, Ngal is highly accumulated in the human kidney cortical tubules and in the blood and urine after nephrotoxic and ischemic injury. We reveal what we believe to be a novel pathway of iron traffic that is activated in human and mouse renal diseases, and it provides a unique method for their treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)610-621
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume115
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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