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Liu T, Zhang Y, Wu Z, Zhao CJ, Dong X, Gong HX, Jin B, Han MM, Wu JJ, Fan YK, Li N, Xiong YX, Zhang ZQ, Dong ZQ. Novel glucomannan-like polysaccharide from Lycium barbarum L. ameliorates renal fibrosis via blocking macrophage-to-myofibroblasts transition. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 278:134491. [PMID: 39111495 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
The macrophage to myofibroblasts transition (MMT) has been reported as a newly key target in renal fibrosis. Lycium barbarum L. is a traditional Chinese medicine for improving renal function, in which its polysaccharides (LBPs) are the mainly active components. However, whether the role of LBPs in treating renal fibrosis is related to MMT process remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the regulating effect on MMT process and the anti-fibrotic effect of LBPs. Initially, small molecular weight LBPs fractions (LBP-S) were firstly isolated via Sephadex G-100 column. Then, the potent inhibitory effect of LBP-S on MMT process was revealed on bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) model induced by TGF-β. Subsequently, the chemical structure of LBP-S was elucidated through monosaccharide, methylation and NMR spectrum analysis. In vivo biodistribution characteristics studies demonstrated that LBP-S exhibited effectively accumulation in kidney via intraperitoneal administration. Finally, LBP-S showed a satisfactory anti-renal fibrotic effect on unilateral ureteral obstruction operation (UUO) mice, which was significantly reduced following macrophage depletion. Overall, our findings indicated that LPB-S could alleviate renal fibrosis through regulating MMT process and providing new candidate agents for chronic kidney disease (CKD) related fibrosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Liu
- IMPLAD, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine from Ministry of Education, CAMS, Beijing 100193, China; IMPLAD, Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, CAMS, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China; IMPLAD, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine from Ministry of Education, CAMS, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ze Wu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chen-Jing Zhao
- IMPLAD, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine from Ministry of Education, CAMS, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xi Dong
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - He-Xin Gong
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Bing Jin
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Miao-Miao Han
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jin-Jia Wu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yi-Kai Fan
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Nan Li
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ying-Xia Xiong
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zi-Qian Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zheng-Qi Dong
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), State Key Laboratory of Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di herbs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS), Beijing 100193, China; IMPLAD, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine from Ministry of Education, CAMS, Beijing 100193, China.
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Li Q, Liu J, Su R, Zhen J, Liu X, Liu G. Small extracellular vesicles-shuttled miR-23a-3p from mesenchymal stem cells alleviate renal fibrosis and inflammation by inhibiting KLF3/STAT3 axis in diabetic kidney disease. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 139:112667. [PMID: 39018690 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells-derived small extracellular vesicles (MSC-sEV) provide a pragmatic solution as a cell-free therapy for patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, the underlying protective mechanisms of MSC-sEV remain largely unknown in DKD. Invivo and in vitro analyses demonstrated that MSC-sEV attenuated renal fibrosis and inflammation of DKD. The underlying mechanism of the MSC-sEV-induced therapeutic effect was explored by high-throughput sequencing, which identified the unique enrichment of a set of miRNAs in MSC-sEV compared with human skin fibroblasts-sEV (HSF-sEV). Vitro experiments demonstrated that the protective potential was primarily attributed to miR-23a-3p, one of the most abundant miRNAs in MSC-sEV. Further, overexpression or knockdown analyses revealed that miR-23a-3p, and its target Krüppel-like factor 3 (KLF3) suppressed the STAT3 signaling pathway in high glucose (HG) induced HK-2 cells were essential for the renal-protective property of MSC-sEV. Moreover, we found that miR-23a-3p was packaged into MSC-sEV by RNA Binding Motif Protein X-Linked (RBMX) and transmitted to HG-induced HK-2 cells. Finally, inhibiting miR-23a-3p could mitigate the protective effects of MSC-sEV in db/db mice. These findings suggest that a systemic administration of sEV derived from MSC, have the capacity to incorporate into kidney where they can exert renal-protective potential against HG-induced injury through delivery of miR-23a-3p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhua Li
- Nephrology Research Institute of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Department of Nephrology, Multidisciplinary Innovation Center for Nephrology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China
| | - Jiaxi Liu
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Columbia University, USA
| | - Rongyun Su
- Nephrology Research Institute of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Department of Nephrology, Multidisciplinary Innovation Center for Nephrology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China
| | - Junhui Zhen
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Xiangchun Liu
- Nephrology Research Institute of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Department of Nephrology, Multidisciplinary Innovation Center for Nephrology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Nephrology Research Institute of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Department of Nephrology, Multidisciplinary Innovation Center for Nephrology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong,250012, China.
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Wang B, Wang X, Dong Y, Liu X, Xu L, Liu Y, Wu Y, Wang C, Liu H. PDGFβ receptor-targeted delivery of truncated transforming growth factor β receptor type II for improving the in vitro and in vivo anti-renal fibrosis activity via strong inactivation of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:237-252. [PMID: 37401970 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02594-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Truncated transforming growth factor β receptor type II (tTβRII), serving as a trap for binding excessive transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) by means of competing with wild-type TβRII, is a promising strategy for the treatment of kidney fibrosis. Platelet-derived growth factor β receptor (PDGFβR) is highly expressed in interstitial myofibroblasts in kidney fibrosis. This study identified the interaction between a novel tTβRII variant Z-tTβRII (PDGFβR-specific affibody ZPDGFβR fused to the N-terminus of tTβRII) and TGF-β1. Moreover, Z-tTβRII highly targeted to TGF-β1-activated NIH3T3 cells and UUO-induced fibrotic kidney, but less to normal cells, tissues, and organs. Furthermore, Z-tTβRII significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration, and reduced fibrosis markers expression and phosphorylation level of Smad2/3 in activated NIH3T3 cells. Meanwhile, Z-tTβRII markedly alleviated the kidney histopathology and fibrotic responses, and inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in UUO mice. Besides, Z-tTβRII showed good safety performance in the treatment of UUO mice. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that Z-tTβRII may be a potential candidate for a targeting therapy on renal fibrosis due to the high potential of fibrotic kidney-targeting and strong anti-renal fibrosis activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-Fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, People's Republic of China
- Department of Cell Biology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohua Wang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-Fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, People's Republic of China
| | - Yixin Dong
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-Fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohui Liu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-Fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, People's Republic of China
| | - Liming Xu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-Fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Liu
- Medical Research Center, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Wu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-Fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuntao Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, People's Republic of China.
| | - Haifeng Liu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory for Anti-Fibrosis Biotherapy, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, People's Republic of China.
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Hu J, Zhang X, Ma F, Huang C, Jiang Y. LncRNA CASC2 Alleviates Renal Interstitial Inflammation and Fibrosis through MEF2C Downregulation-Induced Hinderance of M1 Macrophage Polarization. Nephron Clin Pract 2023; 148:245-263. [PMID: 38142674 DOI: 10.1159/000531919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) cancer susceptibility candidate 2 (CASC2) alleviates the progression of diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting inflammation and fibrosis. This study investigated how CASC2 impacts renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) through regulating M1 macrophage (M1) polarization. METHOD Nine-week-old mice underwent unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) establishment. Macrophages were induced toward M1 polarization using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro and cocultured with fibroblasts to examine how M1 polarization influences RIF. LnCeCell predicted that CASC2 interacted with myocyte enhancer factor 2 C (MEF2C), which was validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. CASC2/MEF2C overexpression was achieved by lentivirus-expressing lncRNA CASC2 injection in vivo or CASC2 and MEF2C transfection in vitro. Renal injury was evaluated through biochemical analysis and hematoxylin-eosin/Masson staining. Macrophage infiltration and M1 polarization in the kidney and/or macrophages were detected by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and/or quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Expressions of CASC2, MEF2C, and markers related to inflammation/M1/fibrosis in the kidney/macrophages/fibroblasts were analyzed by qRT-PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and/or Western blot. RESULT In the kidneys of mice, CASC2 was downregulated and macrophage infiltration was promoted time-dependently from days 3 to 14 post-UUO induction; CASC2 overexpression alleviated renal histological abnormalities, hindered macrophage infiltration and M1 polarization, downregulated renal function markers serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen and inflammation/M1/fibrosis-related makers, and offset UUO-induced MEF2C upregulation. LncRNA CASC2 overexpression inhibited fibroblast fibrosis and M1 polarization in cocultured fibroblasts with LPS-activated macrophages. Also, CASC2 bound to MEF2C and inhibited its expression in LPS-activated macrophages. Furthermore, MEF2C reversed the inhibitory effects of lncRNA CASC2 overexpression. CONCLUSION CASC2 alleviates RIF by inhibiting M1 polarization through directly downregulating MEF2C expression. CASC2 might represent a promising value of future investigations on treatment for RIF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinping Hu
- Department of Nephrology, HongHui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Feng Ma
- Department of Nephrology, HongHui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chen Huang
- Department of Nephrology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yali Jiang
- Department of Nephrology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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Lu T, Chen S, Xu J. RGS1 mediates renal interstitial fibrosis through activation of the inflammatory response. Arch Biochem Biophys 2023; 750:109744. [PMID: 37696381 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is considered as a common pathway for all patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to progress to end-stage kidney disease (ESRD). The basic pathological manifestation is the increase of matrix component in the tubular interstitium, while the injury of tubular epithelial cells in the renal interstitium and the excessive accumulation of matrix will eventually lead to tubular atrophy and obstruction, loss of effective renal units, and finally impaired renal filtration function. The relevant mechanism of RIF remains unclear. The present study will investigate the function and relevant mechanism of RGS1 in RIF. The RIF-related microarrays GSE22459 and GSE76882 were downloaded and analyzed. Renal parenchymal atrophic calyx tissues were collected from clinical RIF patients. Cellular inflammation, fibrosis and animal RIF models were constructed using Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TGF-β1 and unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO). HE and Masson staining were performed to detect morphological alterations of renal tissue samples. qRT-PCR, Western blot and ELISA were carried out to detect the expression of relevant genes/proteins. RGS1 is a gene co-differentially expressed by GSE22459 and GSE76882. RGS1 expression was elevated in renal tissues of RIF patients, cells and animal RIF models. Knockdown of RGS1 inhibited renal cell inflammatory response, fibrosis and renal fibrosis in RIF mice. Overexpression of RGS1 plays the opposite role. Knockdown of RGS1 inhibited the inflammatory response in the RIF cell and mouse model. Targeting RGS1 might be a potential therapeutic strategy for RIF treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tefei Lu
- Department of Urology, Ningbo Medical Central Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Urology, Ningbo Medical Central Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianting Xu
- Department of Urology, Ningbo Medical Central Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, China.
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Zhang H, Yang Y, Liu Z, Xu H, Zhu H, Wang P, Liang G. Significance of methylation-related genes in diagnosis and subtype classification of renal interstitial fibrosis. Hereditas 2023; 160:32. [PMID: 37496082 PMCID: PMC10373342 DOI: 10.1186/s41065-023-00295-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RNA methylation modifications, such as N1-methyladenosine/N6-methyladenosine /N5-methylcytosine (m1A/m6A/m5C), are the most common RNA modifications and are crucial for a number of biological processes. Nonetheless, the role of RNA methylation modifications of m1A/m6A/m5C in the pathogenesis of renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) remains incompletely understood. METHODS Firstly, we downloaded 2 expression datasets from the GEO database, namely GSE22459 and GSE76882. In a differential analysis of these datasets between patients with and without RIF, we selected 33 methylation-related genes (MRGs). We then applied a PPI network, LASSO analysis, SVM-RFE algorithm, and RF algorithm to identify key MRGs. RESULTS We eventually obtained five candidate MRGs (WTAP, ALKBH5, YTHDF2, RBMX, and ELAVL1) to forecast the risk of RIF. We created a nomogram model derived from five key MRGs, which revealed that the nomogram model may be advantageous to patients. Based on the selected five significant MRGs, patients with RIF were classified into two MRG patterns using consensus clustering, and the correlation between the five MRGs, the two MRG patterns, and the genetic pattern with immune cell infiltration was shown. Moreover, we conducted GO and KEGG analyses on 768 DEGs between MRG clusters A and B to look into their different involvement in RIF. To measure the MRG patterns, a PCA algorithm was developed to determine MRG scores for each sample. The MRG scores of the patients in cluster B were higher than those in cluster A. CONCLUSIONS Ultimately, we concluded that cluster A in the two MRG patterns identified on these five key m1A/m6A/m5C regulators may be associated with RIF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanchao Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Affilated Hospital and Clinical Medical College of Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Urology, The Affilated Hospital and Clinical Medical College of Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Zhengdao Liu
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Hong Xu
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Han Zhu
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Peirui Wang
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Guobiao Liang
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China.
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Deng L, Xu G, Huang Q. Comprehensive analyses of the microRNA-messenger RNA-transcription factor regulatory network in mouse and human renal fibrosis. Front Genet 2022; 13:925097. [PMID: 36457754 PMCID: PMC9705735 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.925097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to construct a microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA)-transcription factor (TF) regulatory network and explore underlying molecular mechanisms, effective biomarkers, and drugs in renal fibrosis (RF). Methods: A total of six datasets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus. "Limma" and "DESeq2" packages in R software and GEO2R were applied to identify the differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs (DEmiRNAs and DEmRNAs, respectively). The determination and verification of DEmiRNAs and DEmRNAs were performed through the integrated analysis of datasets from five mouse 7 days of unilateral ureteral obstruction datasets and one human chronic kidney disease dataset and the Human Protein Atlas (http://www.proteinatlas.org). Target mRNAs of DEmiRNAs and TFs were predicted by prediction databases and the iRegulon plugin in Cytoscape, respectively. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using STRING, Cytoscape v3.9.1, and CytoNCA. Functional enrichment analysis was performed by DIANA-miRPath v3.0 and R package "clusterProfiler." A miRNA-mRNA-TF network was established using Cytoscape. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to examine the diagnostic value of the key hub genes. Finally, the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and Drug-Gene Interaction database were applied to identify potential drugs. Results: Here, 4 DEmiRNAs and 11 hub genes were determined and confirmed in five mouse datasets, of which Bckdha and Vegfa were further verified in one human dataset and HPA, respectively. Moreover, Bckdha and Vegfa were also predicted by miR-125a-3p and miR-199a-5p, respectively, in humans as in mice. The sequences of miR-125a-3p and miR-199a-5p in mice were identical to those in humans. A total of 6 TFs were predicted to regulate Bckdha and Vegfa across mice and humans; then, a miRNA-mRNA-TF regulatory network was built. Subsequently, ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve value of Vegfa was 0.825 (p = 0.002). Finally, enalapril was identified to target Vegfa for RF therapy. Conclusion: Pax2, Pax5, Sp1, Sp2, Sp3, and Sp4 together with Bckdha-dependent miR-125a-3p/Vegfa-dependent miR-199a-5p formed a co-regulatory network enabling Bckdha/Vegfa to be tightly controlled in the underlying pathogenesis of RF across mice and humans. Vegfa could act as a potential novel diagnostic marker and might be targeted by enalapril for RF therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Deng
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Gaosi Xu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qipeng Huang
- Department of Nephrology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Heyuan, China
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Ram C, Gairola S, Syed AM, Verma S, Mugale MN, Sahu BD. Carvacrol preserves antioxidant status and attenuates kidney fibrosis via modulation of TGF-β1/Smad signaling and inflammation. Food Funct 2022; 13:10587-10600. [PMID: 36156620 DOI: 10.1039/d2fo01384c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) with diverse aetiologies is emerging as a challenging kidney disorder associated with inflammation and interstitial fibrosis. Carvacrol (CVL) is a bioactive monoterpenoid found abundantly in oregano, thyme, and bergamot, having diverse pharmacological benefits. However, the effect of CVL against fibrotic changes in the kidneys is poorly defined. In the current study, a robust mouse model of renal fibrosis induced through unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is used to investigate the anti-fibrotic activity of CVL. The mice were treated with two different oral doses of CVL (25 mg kg-1 and 50 mg kg-1 body weight) for 14 consecutive days. The UUO induction resulted in impaired renal function, severe histological damage, and collagen deposition in the obstructed kidney. Our findings revealed profound activation of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and NF-κB (p65) signaling along with the downregulation of antioxidant proteins, nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the obstructed kidney. CVL administration markedly recovered antioxidant proteins and kidney histological changes. In addition, CVL blunted the NF-κB (p65) phosphorylation and reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) compared to the UUO control group. CVL also alleviated the increased fibrotic protein levels of TGF-β1, pSmad2/3, collagen I, collagen III, fibronectin, and myofibroblast activation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, including alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), E-cadherin, and vimentin in the kidneys. Findings from in vitro study also confirmed that CVL inhibits the EMT process in TGF-β1 stimulated renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK 52E cells). Collectively, our findings indicate that CVL administration attenuates kidney fibrosis by targeting oxidative stress and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chetan Ram
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Guwahati, Changsari, PIN-781101, Assam, India.
| | - Shobhit Gairola
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Guwahati, Changsari, PIN-781101, Assam, India.
| | - Abu Mohammad Syed
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Guwahati, Changsari, PIN-781101, Assam, India.
| | - Shobhit Verma
- Toxicology & Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow-226 031, India
| | - Madhav Nilakanth Mugale
- Toxicology & Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow-226 031, India
| | - Bidya Dhar Sahu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Guwahati, Changsari, PIN-781101, Assam, India.
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Wei J, Xu Z, Yan X. The role of the macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition in renal fibrosis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:934377. [PMID: 35990655 PMCID: PMC9389037 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.934377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal fibrosis causes structural and functional impairment of the kidney, which is a dominant component of chronic kidney disease. Recently, a novel mechanism, macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition (MMT), has been identified as a crucial component in renal fibrosis as a response to chronic inflammation. It is a process by which bone marrow-derived macrophages differentiate into myofibroblasts during renal injury and promote renal fibrosis. Here, we summarized recent evidence and mechanisms of MMT in renal fibrosis. Understanding this phenomenon and its underlying signal pathway would be beneficial to find therapeutic targets for renal fibrosis in chronic kidney disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wei
- *Correspondence: Jia Wei, ; Xiang Yan,
| | | | - Xiang Yan
- *Correspondence: Jia Wei, ; Xiang Yan,
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Hsieh YH, Tsai JP, Ting YH, Hung TW, Chao WW. Rosmarinic acid ameliorates renal interstitial fibrosis by inhibiting the phosphorylated-AKT mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and in vivo. Food Funct 2022; 13:4641-4652. [PMID: 35373225 DOI: 10.1039/d2fo00204c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Indoxyl sulfate (IS), a uremic toxin, causes chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression via renal fibrosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial feature of renal fibrosis. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid with a wide range of desirable biological activities. In this study, we investigated whether RA exerted anti-renal fibrosis effects and its related mechanisms in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model. C57BL/6 mice were orally administered RA (10 and 20 mg kg-1 d-1) for 7 consecutive days before and after UUO surgery. The mice were then sacrificed to collect the blood and kidneys. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining were used to evaluate the renal injury and function. Immunohistochemical analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and western blotting were used to detect the expression levels of EMT markers. In vitro studies were performed using the IS-stimulated NRK-52E cell line. Here, the pathological changes, collagen deposition, and mRNA and protein expression levels of profibrotic factors and fibrotic markers were found to be significantly elevated in the kidneys of UUO mice. We found that RA administration significantly ameliorated UUO-induced kidney damage by reversing abnormal serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. It was found that RA treatment decreased the expression levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, fibronectin, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, vimentin and phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) while increasing the E-cadherin expression in both UUO kidneys and IS-treated NRK-52E cells. Our results demonstrate that RA may be a promising therapeutic agent for renal interstitial fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsien Hsieh
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Pi Tsai
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Ting
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Wei Hung
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Wan Chao
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Kainan University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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Meng T, Chang H, Meng H. Exploring the mechanism of Shendi Bushen capsule in anti-renal fibrosis using metabolomics theory and network analysis. Mol Omics 2022; 18:873-883. [DOI: 10.1039/d2mo00141a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Shendi Bushen capsule (SDBS) is a Chinese patent medicine used for the treatment of renal fibrosis (RF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianwei Meng
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150036, China
| | - Hong Chang
- Department of Pharmacy, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, 014040, China
| | - Hongyu Meng
- Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100027, China
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12
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Miyano T, Suzuki A, Sakamoto N. Hyperosmotic stress induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition through rearrangements of focal adhesions in tubular epithelial cells. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261345. [PMID: 34932568 PMCID: PMC8691603 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tubular epithelial cells is a hallmark of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and is associated with chronic renal injury as well as acute renal injury. As one of the incidences and risk factors for acute renal injury, increasing the osmolality in the proximal tubular fluid by administration of intravenous mannitol has been reported, but the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Hyperosmotic conditions caused by mannitol in the tubular tissue may generate not only osmotic but also mechanical stresses, which are known to be able to induce EMT in epithelial cells, thereby contributing to renal injury. Herein, we investigate the effect of hyperosmolarity on EMT in tubular epithelial cells. Normal rat kidney (NRK)-52E cells were exposed to mannitol-induced hyperosmotic stress. Consequently, the hyperosmotic stress led to a reduced expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin and an enhanced expression of the mesenchymal marker, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), which indicates an initiation of EMT in NKR-52E cells. The hyperosmotic condition also induced time-dependent disassembly and rearrangements of focal adhesions (FAs) concomitant with changes in actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, prevention of FAs rearrangements by cotreatment with Y-27632, a Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor, could abolish the effects of hyperosmotic mannitol treatment, thus attenuating the expression of α-SMA to the level in nontreated cells. These results suggest that hyperosmotic stress may induce EMT through FAs rearrangement in proximal tubular epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Miyano
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Suzuki
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoya Sakamoto
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
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Is the Macrophage Phenotype Determinant for Fibrosis Development? Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9121747. [PMID: 34944564 PMCID: PMC8698841 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is a pathophysiological process of wound repair that leads to the deposit of connective tissue in the extracellular matrix. This complication is mainly associated with different pathologies affecting several organs such as lung, liver, heart, kidney, and intestine. In this fibrotic process, macrophages play an important role since they can modulate fibrosis due to their high plasticity, being able to adopt different phenotypes depending on the microenvironment in which they are found. In this review, we will try to discuss whether the macrophage phenotype exerts a pivotal role in the fibrosis development in the most important fibrotic scenarios.
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