Detection and characterization of mineralo-organic nanoparticles in human kidneys

Abstract

Ectopic calcification is associated with various human diseases, including atherosclerosis, cancer, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus. Although mineral nanoparticles have been detected in calcified blood vessels, the nature and role of these particles in the human body remain unclear. Here we show for the first time that human kidney tissues obtained from end-stage chronic kidney disease or renal cancer patients contain round, multilamellar mineral particles of 50 to 1,500 nm, whereas no particles are observed in healthy controls. The mineral particles are found mainly in the extracellular matrix surrounding the convoluted tubules, collecting ducts and loops of Henle as well as within the cytoplasm of tubule-delineating cells, and consist of polycrystalline calcium phosphate similar to the mineral found in bones and ectopic calcifications. The kidney mineral nanoparticles contain several serum proteins that inhibit ectopic calcification in body fluids, including albumin, fetuin-A, and apolipoprotein A1. Since the mineralo-organic nanoparticles are found not only within calcified deposits but also in areas devoid of microscopic calcifications, our observations indicate that the nanoparticles may represent precursors of calcification and renal stones in humans.

Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis for the Enumeration and Characterization of Mineralo-Organic Nanoparticles in Feline Urine

“…The predominant nanoscale particulates in feline urine have the characteristics of CNP based on their size, their ability to spontaneously form under suitable condition, and the presence of an outer layer that is rich in calcium and capable of binding to hydroxyapatite binders such as alendronate and osteopontin. As CNP have been associated with a number of significant urologic maladies, including nephrolithiasis [38], the method described herein may prove to be a useful adjunct in evaluating lithogenesis risk in mammals. We propose that urinary CNP indices may prove to be a useful adjunct in the evaluation of lithogenic risk and future studies evaluating CNP formation in cats and humans with urolithiasis are warranted…”

Black swimming dots in cell culture: the identity, detection method and judging criteria

“…Of note, some of “tiny black dots”, even if they are very like BSDs in appearance 5,8 , may not be BSDs. Sometimes nanoscale biominerals might exist in normal organisms 8,10,19 , so only the black dots meeting the above criteria could be identified as BSDs.…”

“…Kajander group observed biotic properties of NB, yet regrettably, their explanation to NB was too subjective 12 . Cisar et al and Young group only focused on the dots, so they obtained correct but biased conclusion, namely, inorganic nanoparticles 2,3,8,19 . Therefore, Ciftcioglu and McKay argued nonbiogenic crystallization cannot explain the biogenic-like properties of NB 15 .…”

Bacterial Effect on the Crystallization of Mineral Phases in a Solution Simulating Human Urine

“…The presence of bacteria did not practically affect the whewellite/weddellite ratio, as well as the content of "zeolite" water (x). Moreover, the results obtained for the syntheses with bacteria were close to the effect of proteins that stabilize calcium oxalate dihydrate crystallization [1,30].…”