Tim-1 alleviates lupus nephritis-induced podocyte injury via regulating autophagy.
Cent Eur J Immunol 2021;
46:305-313. [PMID:
34764802 PMCID:
PMC8574111 DOI:
10.5114/ceji.2021.109827]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction
Lupus nephritis (LN) is a complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which seriously threatens the health of people. Tim-1 is known to be associated with the pathogenesis of SLE. However, the role of Tim-1 in LN is still unclear.
Aim of the study
To explore the expression and the potential regulatory molecular mechanism of Tim-1 in LN-induced podocyte injury.
Material and methods
An in vivo model of LN was established to detect the expression of Tim-1, inflammatory cytokines and autophagy-related proteins. Podocytes were treated with immunoglobulin G (IgG) to establish the LN in vitro model and then treated with an autophagy inhibitor. RT-qPCR and western blot were performed to investigate the effect of Tim-1 on inflammatory responses as well as autophagy in podocytes. The function of Tim-1 in IgG-induced podocytes was detected by CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively.
Results
Tim-1, L3BII/L3BI ratio and inflammatory cytokines were upregulated in LN mice. Tim-1 notably inhibited IgG-induced inflammatory responses in podocytes via reducing tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β expression, and it could protect podocytes against LN-induced injury via inducing autophagy. Meanwhile, Tim-1 significantly promoted the proliferation of IgG-induced podocytes via inhibiting apoptosis. The autophagy inhibitor reversed the effect of Tim-1 on inflammatory cytokines and autophagy-related proteins in IgG-treated podocytes.
Conclusions
Tim-1 protects podocytes against LN-induced injury via mediating autophagy, which might serve as a new target for the treatment of LN.
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