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Lovisa S, Zeisberg M, Kalluri R. Partial Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Other New Mechanisms of Kidney Fibrosis. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2016; 27:681-695. [PMID: 27372267 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2016.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Revised: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Kidney fibrosis is the unavoidable consequence of chronic kidney disease irrespective of the primary underlying insult. It is a complex phenomenon governed by the interplay between different cellular components and intricate networks of signaling pathways, which together lead to loss of renal functionality and replacement of kidney parenchyma with scar tissue. An immense effort has recently been made to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to kidney fibrosis. The cellular protagonists of this process include myofibroblasts, tubular epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells. We discuss here the most recent findings, including partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in the initiation and progression of tissue fibrosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD). A deep understanding of these mechanisms will allow the development of effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lovisa
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Michael Zeisberg
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Raghu Kalluri
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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52
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Tampe B, Steinle U, Tampe D, Carstens JL, Korsten P, Zeisberg EM, Müller GA, Kalluri R, Zeisberg M. Low-dose hydralazine prevents fibrosis in a murine model of acute kidney injury-to-chronic kidney disease progression. Kidney Int 2016; 91:157-176. [PMID: 27692563 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2016.07.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Revised: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI) and progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) are intrinsically tied syndromes. In this regard, the acutely injured kidney often does not achieve its full regenerative capacity and AKI directly transitions into progressive CKD associated with tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Underlying mechanisms of such AKI-to-CKD progression are still incompletely understood and specific therapeutic interventions are still elusive. Because epigenetic modifications play a role in maintaining tissue fibrosis, we used a murine model of ischemia-reperfusion injury to determine whether aberrant promoter methylation of RASAL1 contributes causally to the switch between physiological regeneration and tubulointerstitial fibrogenesis, a hallmark of AKI-to-CKD progression. It is known that the antihypertensive drug hydralazine has demethylating activity, and that its optimum demethylating activity occurs at concentrations below blood pressure-lowering doses. Administration of low-dose hydralazine effectively induced expression of hydroxylase TET3, which catalyzed RASAL1 hydroxymethylation and subsequent RASAL1 promoter demethylation. Hydralazine-induced CpG promoter demethylation subsequently attenuated renal fibrosis and preserved excretory renal function independent of its blood pressure-lowering effects. In comparison, RASAL1 demethylation and inhibition of tubulointerstitial fibrosis was not detected upon administration of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor Ramipril in this model. Thus, RASAL1 promoter methylation and subsequent transcriptional RASAL1 suppression plays a causal role in AKI-to-CKD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Tampe
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Steinle
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Désirée Tampe
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julienne L Carstens
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Peter Korsten
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth M Zeisberg
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard A Müller
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Raghu Kalluri
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael Zeisberg
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Göttingen, Germany.
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Dowson C, O'Reilly S. DNA methylation in fibrosis. Eur J Cell Biol 2016; 95:323-30. [PMID: 27346523 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2016.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is characterised by an exuberant wound healing response and the major cell type responsible is the myofibroblast. The myofibroblast is typified by excessive ECM production and contractile activity and is demarcated by alpha-smooth muscle actin expression. What has recently come to light is that the activation of the fibroblast to myofibroblast may be under epigenetic control, specifically methylation. Methylation of DNA is a conserved mechanism to precisely regulate gene expression in a specific context. Hypermethylation leads to gene repression and hypomethylation results in gene induction. Methylation abnormalities have recently been uncovered in fibrosis, both organ specific and widespread fibrosis. The fact that these methylation changes are rapid and reversible lends themselves amenable to therapeutic intervention. This review considers the role of methylation in fibrosis and the activation of the myofibroblasts and how this could be targeted for fibrosis. Fibrosis is of course currently intractable to therapeutics and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and is an urgent unmet clinical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Dowson
- Cell Biology Group, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3HY, United Kingdom
| | - Steven O'Reilly
- Cell Biology Group, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3HY, United Kingdom.
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Xu X, Tan X, Hulshoff MS, Wilhelmi T, Zeisberg M, Zeisberg EM. Hypoxia-induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition is associated with RASAL1 promoter hypermethylation in human coronary endothelial cells. FEBS Lett 2016; 590:1222-33. [PMID: 27012941 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is integral in chronic heart disease, and one of the cellular processes contributing to cardiac fibrosis is endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). We recently found that hypoxia efficiently induces human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) to undergo EndMT through a hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF1α)-dependent pathway. Promoter hypermethylation of Ras-Gap-like protein 1 (RASAL1) has also been recently associated with EndMT progression and cardiac fibrosis. Our findings suggest that HIF1α and transforming growth factor (TGF)/SMAD signalling pathways synergistically regulate hypoxia-induced EndMT through both DNMT3a-mediated hypermethylation of RASAL1 promoter and direct SNAIL induction. The findings indicate that multiple cascades may be activated simultaneously to mediate hypoxia-induced EndMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingbo Xu
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xiaoying Tan
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Melanie S Hulshoff
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tim Wilhelmi
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Zeisberg
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth M Zeisberg
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Göttingen, Germany
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Tan X, Xu X, Zeisberg EM, Zeisberg M. High inorganic phosphate causes DNMT1 phosphorylation and subsequent fibrotic fibroblast activation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 472:459-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.01.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Tan X, Xu X, Zeisberg M, Zeisberg EM. DNMT1 and HDAC2 Cooperate to Facilitate Aberrant Promoter Methylation in Inorganic Phosphate-Induced Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147816. [PMID: 26815200 PMCID: PMC4729486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
While phosphorus in the form of inorganic or organic phosphate is critically involved in most cellular functions, high plasma levels of inorganic phosphate levels have emerged as independent risk factor for cardiac fibrosis, cardiovascular morbidity and decreased life-expectancy. While the link of high phosphate and cardiovascular disease is commonly explained by direct cellular effects of phospho-regulatory hormones, we here explored the possibility of inorganic phosphate directly eliciting biological responses in cells. We demonstrate that human coronary endothelial cells (HCAEC) undergo an endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) when exposed to high phosphate. We further demonstrate that such EndMT is initiated by recruitment of aberrantly phosphorylated DNMT1 to the RASAL1 CpG island promoter by HDAC2, causing aberrant promoter methylation and transcriptional suppression, ultimately leading to increased Ras-GTP activity and activation of common EndMT regulators Twist and Snail. Our studies provide a novel aspect for known adverse effects of high phosphate levels, as eukaryotic cells are commonly believed to have lost phosphate-sensing mechanisms of prokaryotes during evolution, rendering them insensitive to extracellular inorganic orthophosphate. In addition, our studies provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying specific targeting of select genes in context of fibrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Tan
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xingbo Xu
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Zeisberg
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth M. Zeisberg
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Göttingen University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Göttingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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57
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Dihazi GH, Jahn O, Tampe B, Zeisberg M, Müller C, Müller GA, Dihazi H. Proteomic analysis of embryonic kidney development: Heterochromatin proteins as epigenetic regulators of nephrogenesis. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13951. [PMID: 26359909 PMCID: PMC4566080 DOI: 10.1038/srep13951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the nephrogenesis will boost enormously the regenerative medicine. Here we performed 2-D gel-based comparative proteome analyses of rat embryonic kidney from different developmental stages. Out of 288 non-redundant identified proteins, 102 were common in all developmental stages. 86% of the proteins found in E14 and E16 were identical, in contrast only 37% of the identified proteins overlap between E14 and P1. Bioinformatics analysis suggests developmental stage-specific pathway activation and highlighted heterochromatin protein 1 (Cbx1, Cbx3, Cbx5) and Trim28 as potential key players in nephrogenesis. These are involved in the epigenetic regulation of gene silencing and were down-regulated in the course of kidney development. Trim28 is a potential epigenetic regulator of the branching inhibitor Bmp4. Silencing of Trim28 in cultured kidneys resulted in branching arrest. In contrast knockdown of Cbx5 was associated with abnormal ureteric bud growth and slight impairment of branching. ChIP analysis showed that the H3K9me3 distribution on Bmp4 promoters at E14 and E19 inversely correlate with mRNA expression levels. The concentrated expression-pattern of heterochromatin proteins and the negative impact of their silencing on kidney development, suggest an important role in reciprocal and inductive signaling between the ureteric bud and the metanephric mesenchyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gry H Dihazi
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Jahn
- Proteomics Group, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Strasse 3, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany.,Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Humboldtallee 23, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Björn Tampe
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Zeisberg
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Müller
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany.,Section for Transplantation- Immunology and Immunohematology, ZMF, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard A Müller
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hassan Dihazi
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
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Zeisberg M, Zeisberg EM. Precision renal medicine: a roadmap towards targeted kidney fibrosis therapies. FIBROGENESIS & TISSUE REPAIR 2015; 8:16. [PMID: 26330891 PMCID: PMC4556008 DOI: 10.1186/s13069-015-0033-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Based on extensive pre-clinical achievements over the past decades, it appears to be due time for a successful clinical translation in the renal fibrosis field-but what is the quickest road to get there? In light of the recent launch of the Precision Medicine Initiative and success of molecularly informed drugs in oncology, we here discuss what it may take to bring molecularly targeted anti-fibrotic to clinical use in chronic progressive kidney disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Zeisberg
- />Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University, Robert Koch Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth M. Zeisberg
- />Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
- />German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Robert Koch Street 40, Göttingen, Germany
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