Acetaminophen attenuates glomerulosclerosis in obese Zucker rats via reactive oxygen species/p38MAPK signaling pathways

MicroRNA-126 in dogs with immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis

BACKGROUND

Most proteinuric dogs with naturally occurring chronic kidney disease have amyloidosis (AMYL), glomerulosclerosis (GS), or immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis (ICGN), each with different treatment and prognosis. A noninvasive and disease-specific biomarker is lacking.

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesized that the expression pattern of biofluid microRNA (miRNAs and miRs) would correlate with disease progression and categorization.

ANIMALS

Archived serum and urine samples from 18 dogs with glomerular disease and 6 clinically healthy dogs; archived urine samples from 49 dogs with glomerular disease and 13 clinically healthy dogs.

METHODS

Retrospective study. Archived biofluid samples from adult dogs with biopsy-confirmed glomerular disease submitted to the International Veterinary Renal Pathology Service between 2008 and 2016 were selected. Serum and urinary miRNAs were isolated and profiled using RNA sequencing. Urinary miR-126, miR-21, miR-182, and miR-486 were quantified using quantitative reverse transcription PCR.

RESULTS

When comparing more advanced disease with earlier disease, no serum miRNAs were differentially expressed, but urinary miR-21 and miR-182 were 1.63 (95% CI: .86-3.1) and 1.45 (95% CI: .82-2.6) times higher in azotemic dogs, respectively (adjusted P < .05) and weakly correlated with tubulointerstitial fibrosis (miR-21: r = .32, P = .03; miR-182: r = .28, P = .05). Expression of urinary miR-126 was 10.5 (95% CI: 4.1-26.7), 28.9 (95% CI: 10.5-79.8), and 126.2 (95% CI: 44.7-356.3) times higher in dogs with ICGN compared with dogs with GS, AMYL, and healthy controls, respectively (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

The miR-126 could help identify dogs that might benefit from immunosuppressive therapy in the absence of a biopsy. MiR-21 and miR-182 are potential markers of disease severity and fibrosis.

Neutralizing MIP3α Reduces Renal Immune Cell Infiltration and Progressive Renal Injury in Young Obese Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats

Recently, we reported that the early progression of renal injury in obese Dahl salt-sensitive leptin receptor mutant (SSLepRmutant) rats was associated with increased macrophage inflammatory protein 3-α (MIP3α) expression prior to puberty. Therefore, this study tested the hypothesis that MIP3α plays a role in recruiting immune cells, thereby triggering renal inflammation and early progressive renal injury in SSLepRmutant rats prior to puberty. Four-week-old Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) and SSLepRmutant rats either served as control (IgG; intraperitoneal, every other day) or received MIP3α-neutralizing antibody (MNA; 100 µg/kg) for 4 weeks. MNA reduced circulating and renal MIP3α levels and proinflammatory immune cells by 50%. Although MNA treatment did not affect blood glucose and plasma cholesterol levels, MNA markedly decreased insulin resistance and triglyceride levels in SSLepRmutant rats. We observed no differences in mean arterial pressure (MAP) between SS and SSLepRmutant rats, and MNA had no effect on MAP in either strain. Proteinuria was significantly increased in SSLepRmutant rats versus SS rats over the course of the study. Treatment with MNA markedly decreased proteinuria in SSLepRmutant rats while not affecting SS rats. Also, MNA decreased glomerular and tubular injury and renal fibrosis in SSLepRmutant rats while not affecting SS rats. Overall, these data indicate that MIP3α plays an important role in renal inflammation during the early progression of renal injury in obese SSLepRmutant rats prior to puberty. These data also suggest that MIP3α may be a novel therapeutic target to inhibit insulin resistance and prevent progressive proteinuria in obese children. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate and is now being associated with renal disease. Although most studies have focused on the mechanisms of renal injury associated with adult obesity, few studies have examined the mechanisms of renal injury involved during childhood obesity. In the current study, we observed that the progression of renal injury in obese Dahl salt-sensitive leptin receptor mutant rats was associated with an increase in MIP3α, a chemokine, before puberty, and inhibition of MIP3α markedly reduced renal injury.

Therapeutic Implications of Ferroptosis in Renal Fibrosis

Renal fibrosis is a common feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and can lead to the destruction of normal renal structure and loss of kidney function. Little progress has been made in reversing fibrosis in recent years. Ferroptosis is more immunogenic than apoptosis due to the release and activation of damage-related molecular patterns (DAMPs) signals. In this paper, the relationship between renal fibrosis and ferroptosis was reviewed from the perspective of iron metabolism and lipid peroxidation, and some pharmaceuticals or chemicals associated with both ferroptosis and renal fibrosis were summarized. Other programmed cell death and ferroptosis in renal fibrosis were also firstly reviewed for comparison and further investigation.

Quercetin suppresses glomerulosclerosis and TGF‑β signaling in a rat model

The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway is an important regulatory pathway in renal fibrosis and is abnormally activated in glomerulosclerosis. Quercetin is a common Chinese herbal medicine and has been reported to inhibit TGF-β signaling pathway activation. In the present study a glomerulosclerosis rat model was constructed and mice were treated with different concentrations of quercetin. Biochemical parameters, pathological indices and expression levels of TGF-β signaling pathway-associated proteins were detected using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. It was demonstrated that quercetin significantly improved physiological indices and altered the expression levels of TGF-β signaling pathway-associated proteins in rats with glomerulosclerosis. In conclusion, quercetin can regulate the TGF-β signaling pathway and reduce the progression of glomerulosclerosis.

Corosolic acid inhibits the proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells and protects against diabetic renal damage

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aimed to explore the effects of corosolic acid (CA) on the renal damage of DM and the mechanisms behind these effects. The renoprotective effect of CA was investigated in type 1 diabetic rats and db/db mice. The kidneys and glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) were used to study the proliferation of GMCs by immunostaining and MTT assay. Further immunoblotting, siRNA, qPCR analysis, and detecting of NADPH oxidase activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were performed to explore relevant molecular mechanisms. In CA-treated diabetic animals, diabetes-induced albuminuria, increased serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were significantly attenuated, and glomerular hypertrophy, mesangial expansion and fibrosis were ameliorated. Furthermore, CA significantly inhibited proliferation of GMCs and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK in both diabetic animals and high glucose (HG)-induced GMCs. CA also normalized Δψm and inhibited HG-induced NADPH oxidase activity, ROS generation and NOX4, NOX2, p22(phox) and p47(phox) expression. More importantly, CA inhibited GMC proliferation mediated by NADPH/ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. These findings suggest that CA exert the protective effect on DN by anti-proliferation resulted from inhibition of p38 MAPK- and NADPH-mediated inactivation of ERK1/2.

Dexmedetomidine Pretreatment Attenuates Kidney Injury and Oxidative Stress during Orthotopic Autologous Liver Transplantation in Rats

This paper aims to explore whether pretreatment with dexmedetomidine (Dex) has antioxidative and renal protective effects during orthotopic autologous liver transplantation (OALT) and its impact on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into groups that include sham-operated (group S), model (group M), low dose Dex (group D1), high dose Dex (group D2), atipamezole (a nonspecific α₂ receptor blocker) + high dose Dex (group B1), ARC239 (a specific α_2B/c receptor blocker) + high dose Dex (group B2), and BRL-44408 (a specific α_2A receptor blocker) + high dose Dex (group B3). Then histopathologic examination of the kidneys and measurement of renal function, the renal Nrf2 protein expression, and oxidants and antioxidants were performed 8 hours after OALT. We found that pretreatment with Dex activated Nrf2 in glomerular cells and upregulated antioxidants but reduced oxidants (all P < 0.01, group D2 versus group M). Atipamezole and BRL-44408, but not ARC239, reversed these protective effects. In conclusion, pretreatment with Dex activates Nrf2 through α_2A receptor, increases the antioxidant levels, and attenuates renal injury during OALT.

Oxidative stress response and Nrf2 signaling in aging

Increasing oxidative stress, a major characteristic of aging, has been implicated in a variety of age-related pathologies. In aging, oxidant production from several sources is increased, whereas antioxidant enzymes, the primary lines of defense, are decreased. Repair systems, including the proteasomal degradation of damaged proteins, also decline. Importantly, the adaptive response to oxidative stress declines with aging. Nrf2/EpRE signaling regulates the basal and inducible expression of many antioxidant enzymes and the proteasome. Nrf2/EpRE activity is regulated at several levels, including transcription, posttranslation, and interactions with other proteins. This review summarizes current studies on age-related impairment of Nrf2/EpRE function and discusses the changes in Nrf2 regulatory mechanisms with aging.