Open AccessProteomic Analysis of Urine Exosomes Reveals Renal Tubule Response to Leptospiral Colonization in Experimentally Infected Rats
Author(s) -
Satish P. RamachandraRao,
Michael Matthias,
Chanthel-Kokoy Mondrogon,
Eamon Aghania,
Cathleen Park,
C. Kong,
Michelle Ishaya,
Assael Madrigal,
Jennifer Horng,
Roni Khoshaba,
Anousone Bounkhoun,
Fabrizio Basilico,
Antonella De Palma,
Anna Maria Agresta,
Linda Awdishu,
Robert K. Naviaux,
Joseph M. Vinetz,
Pierluigi Mauri
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plos neglected tropical diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.99
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1935-2735
pISSN - 1935-2727
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003640
Subject(s) - urine , microvesicles , exosome , leptospira , biology , urinary system , proteomics , proteome , nanoparticle tracking analysis , leptospirosis , virology , endocrinology , biochemistry , microrna , gene
Background Infectious Leptospira colonize the kidneys of reservoir (e.g. rats) and accidental hosts such as humans. The renal response to persistent leptospiral colonization, as measured by urinary protein biosignatures, has not been systematically studied. Urinary exosomes--bioactive membrane-bound nanovesicles--contain cell-state specific cargo that additively reflect formation all along the nephron. We hypothesized that Leptospira -infection will alter the content of urine exosomes, and further, that these Leptospira -induced alterations will hold clues to unravel novel pathways related to bacterial-host interactions. Methodology/Principal findings Exosome protein content from 24 hour urine samples of Leptospira -infected rats was compared with that of uninfected rats using SDS-PAGE and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Statistical models were used to identify significantly dysregulated proteins in Leptospira -infected and uninfected rat urine exosomes. In all, 842 proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS proteomics of total rat urine and 204 proteins associated specifically with exosomes. Multivariate analysis showed that 25 proteins significantly discriminated between uninfected control and infected rats. Alanyl (membrane) aminopeptidase, also known as CD13 topped this list with the highest score, a finding we validated by Western immunoblotting. Whole urine analysis showed Tamm-Horsfall protein level reduction in the infected rat urine. Total urine and exosome proteins were significantly different in male vs. female infected rats. Conclusions We identified exosome-associated renal tubule-specific responses to Leptospira infection in a rat chronic colonization model. Quantitative differences in infected male and female rat urine exosome proteins vs. uninfected controls suggest that urine exosome analysis identifies important differences in kidney function that may be of clinical and pathological significance.