A novel method for assessing the renal biopsy specimens using an activatable fluorescent probe

Gamma-glutamyl hydroxymethyl rhodamine green (gGlu-HMRG) is an activatable fluorescent probe that can be activated by γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT). The expression of GGT in the kidney, which is one of the major organs exhibiting enhanced GGT expression, is exclusively localised to the cortex. Here, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of gGlu-HMRG as a probe for the on-site assessment of renal biopsy specimens. gGlu-HMRG fluorescent probe was applied to the renal proximal tubular epithelial cells and cortical collecting duct cells in vitro, mouse kidneys ex vivo, and human biopsy specimens. In addition, the fluorescence intensities in the cortex and the medulla were comparatively evaluated in the biopsy specimens. The fluorescence signal was rapidly detected in the renal proximal tubular epithelial cells, whereas that in the cortical collecting duct cells was not detected. The fluorescence signal was detected in the mouse kidneys ex vivo without markedly affecting the tissue morphology. In the human biopsy specimens, the fluorescence signal in the cortex was significantly distinct from that in the medulla (p < 0.05). Thus, this fluorescent probe can be used to distinctly identify the renal cortex in the biopsy specimens.