Bonaccini, Laura

Cosenza, Laura

Donati, Alice

Pacini, Alessandra

Sgambati, Eleonora

Tani, Alessia

Università degli Studi del Molise: IRIS

Sialic acid changes in permeability alterations of the glomerular barrier during
experimental sepsis

Firenze University Press: E-Journals

IJAE Vol. 115, n. 1/2 (Supplement), 2010
22
Sialic acid changes in permeability alterations of the 
glomerular barrier during experimental sepsis
Laura Bonaccini1, Alessia Tani1, Alessandra Pacini1, Alice Donati2, Laura Cosenza2, Eleonora Sgambati3
1 Department of Anatomy Histology and Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Italy
2 Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Florence, Italy
3 Department of Health Sciences, University of Molise, Italy
Several studies have demonstrated that sialic acids are glycocalix components that 
contribute to maintain the architecture and the functions of the glomerular charge bar-
rier, preventing the passage of anionic proteins such as albumin. Experimental investi-
gations on sialic acid synthesis gene mutants, on induced nephrosis, on diabetes, and 
on glomerular injury after desialylation demonstrated charge barrier dysfunction that 
seems to be related to decrease of these carbohydrate components rich in anions. To 
our knowledge, no study has examined whether sepsis-related change in permeability 
of glomerular barrier is associated with sialic acid altered expression. The aim of this 
study was to evaluate changes of sialic acid in glomerular barrier, in the early stages of 
an experimental animal model of polymicrobial sepsis. For this purpose experiments 
were performed on adult male rats which were randomly assigned to two groups: 1) 
sham-injured (n=6); 2) Caecal Ligation and Puncture (CLP) (clinically relevant model of 
polymicrobial infection that mimics human sepsis) (n=8). CLP group was also divided 
into 3 subgroups related to 3 time points: t1=3 h, t2=7 h and t3=15 h. The presence of 
sepsis, was releaved by TNF-a plasma level and microbiology of peritoneal fluid was 
examined with bacteriologic techniques. Urinary albumin levels were evaluated to test 
the functional damage of the glomerular barrier. Sialic acids in glomerular barrier were 
investigated using MAA, SNA and PNA lectins, in combination with enzymatic and 
chemical treatments in order to characterize different glycosidic linkages of the sialode-
rivatives and to obtain information on their structure. The results showed plasma TNF-a 
level significantly increased after the CLP induction as compared to sham-injured ani-
mals. Bacteriologic techniques revealed a polymicrobial infection after the CLP surgical 
procedures. The albuminuria was significantly increased in CLP group. Lectin histo-
chemistry showed presence of sialic acids with different glycosidic linkage (α-2,3, α-2,6) 
in the glomerular barrier of both the study groups, but with lesser exent during sepsis. 
Moreover, the amount of sialic acids with acetylic groups was major in sepsis group. 
These findings suggest that altered glomerular permeability in the sepsis might be re-
lated to the decrease of sialic acids. In addition, the increase of acetylic groups could be a 
compensatory mechanism in attempt to prevent desialylation by bacterial sialidase and 
probably to hinder the action of circulating proinflammatory molecules during sepsis. 
Key words
Sialic acids, lectins, sepsis, glomerular barrier


Sialic acid changes in permeability alterations of the glomerular barrier during experimental sepsis

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Sialic acid changes in permeability alterations of the glomerular barrier during experimental sepsis

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