1
|
Yun QS, Bao YX, Jiang JB, Guo Q. Mechanisms of norcantharidin against renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Pharmacol Rep 2024; 76:263-272. [PMID: 38472637 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-024-00578-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis (RTIF) is a common feature and inevitable consequence of all progressive chronic kidney diseases, leading to end-stage renal failure regardless of the initial cause. Although research over the past few decades has greatly improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of RTIF, until now there has been no specific treatment available that can halt the progression of RTIF. Norcantharidin (NCTD) is a demethylated analogue of cantharidin, a natural compound isolated from 1500 species of medicinal insect, the blister beetle (Mylabris phalerata Pallas), traditionally used for medicinal purposes. Many studies have found that NCTD can attenuate RTIF and has the potential to be an anti-RTIF drug. This article reviews the recent progress of NCTD in the treatment of RTIF, with emphasis on the pharmacological mechanism of NCTD against RTIF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qin-Su Yun
- Department of Pharmacy, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou and the 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 185 Juqian Street, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu-Xin Bao
- Research Center for Medicine and Biology, Zunyi Medical University, 6 West Xuefu Road, Zunyi, 563000, Guizhou, China.
| | - Jie-Bing Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Qian Guo
- Institute of Geriatrics (Shanghai University), Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People's Hospital of Nantong), School of Medicine, Shanghai University, 881 Yonghe Road, Nantong, 226001 , Jiangsu, China.
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tian J, Xiao Z, Wei J, Shan Y, Zeng D, Tao Y, Fang X, Tang C, Chen X, Li Y. NCTD Prevents Renal Interstitial Fibrosis via Targeting Sp1/lncRNA Gm26669 Axis. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:3118-3132. [PMID: 34421354 PMCID: PMC8375230 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.59195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In our previous study, we demonstrated that norcantharidin (NCTD) is a potential therapeutic agent for renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF). Recently, we found that lncRNA Gm26669 (Gm26669) contributed to the development of RIF and could be regulated by NCTD. However, the upstream mechanisms of Gm26669 and whether the anti-RIF effects of NCTD are related to its regulatory action on Gm26669 remain unclear. Our bioinformatics analysis indicated that special protein1 (Sp1), a transcription factor, may bind to the promoter of Gm26669. In the present study, we observed a significant increase in the nuclear translocation of Sp1 using both in vivo and in vitro models of RIF. Furthermore, the knockdown of Sp1 inhibited the expression of collagen type I (CoL-I) and fibronectin (Fn). Mechanistically, Sp1 promoted the expression levels of CoL-I and Fn by directly binding to the promoter of Gm26669 to elevate its expression level. Moreover, we found that NCTD alleviated RIF by inhibiting Gm26669 and the nuclear translocation of Sp1. Collectively, above results suggested that NCTD might prevent RIF via targeting the Sp1/Gm26669 axis, thus providing a new theoretical basis for the clinical application of NCTD in the treatment of RIF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Tian
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.,Key laboratory of kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Zheng Xiao
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.,Key laboratory of kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Ju Wei
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.,Key laboratory of kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Yi Shan
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.,Key laboratory of kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Dong Zeng
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.,Key laboratory of kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Yilin Tao
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.,Key laboratory of kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Xi Fang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.,Key laboratory of kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Chengyuan Tang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.,Key laboratory of kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Xiaojun Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.,Key laboratory of kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.,Key laboratory of kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Luo H, Yin D, Xiao Z, Wen L, Liao Y, Tang C, Zeng D, Xiao H, Li Y. Anti‐renal interstitial fibrosis effect of norcantharidin is exerted through inhibition of PP2Ac‐mediated C‐terminal phosphorylation of Smad3. Chem Biol Drug Des 2020; 97:293-304. [PMID: 32896083 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Han‐wen Luo
- Department of Nephrology Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan The Second Xiangya Hospital Central South University Hunan China
| | - Dan‐dan Yin
- Jiangsu Province Hospital Nanjing Medical University First Affiliated Hospital Nanjing Jiangsu China
| | - Zheng Xiao
- Department of Nephrology Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan The Second Xiangya Hospital Central South University Hunan China
| | - Lu Wen
- Department of Nephrology Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan The Second Xiangya Hospital Central South University Hunan China
| | - Ying‐jun Liao
- Department of Nephrology Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan The Second Xiangya Hospital Central South University Hunan China
| | - Cheng‐yuan Tang
- Department of Nephrology Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan The Second Xiangya Hospital Central South University Hunan China
| | - Dong Zeng
- Department of Nephrology Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan The Second Xiangya Hospital Central South University Hunan China
| | - Heng‐ting Xiao
- Department of Nephrology Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan The Second Xiangya Hospital Central South University Hunan China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Nephrology Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan The Second Xiangya Hospital Central South University Hunan China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Protein Phosphatase 2A Inhibiting β-Catenin Phosphorylation Contributes Critically to the Anti-renal Interstitial Fibrotic Effect of Norcantharidin. Inflammation 2020; 43:878-891. [DOI: 10.1007/s10753-019-01173-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
5
|
Ye K, Wei Q, Gong Z, Huang Y, Liu H, Li Y, Peng X. Effect of norcantharidin on the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of human mesangial cells. Ren Fail 2017; 39:458-464. [PMID: 28393592 PMCID: PMC6014529 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2017.1308257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Norcantharidin (NCTD) regulates immune system function and reduces proteinuria. We sought to investigate the effect of NCTD on proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of cultured human mesangial cells (HMC) in vitro. METHODS HMC cells were divided into a normal control group, and various concentrations of NCTD group (2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 40 μg/mL). Cell proliferation was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) assays, and morphological analysis was performed by Hoechest 33258 staining. Finally, cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS NCTD dose and time dependently inhibits HMC proliferation significantly (p < .05). Apoptosis dose and time dependently increased after NCTD treatment. Cell-cycle analysis revealed that the number of cells in the G2 phase increased significantly, whereas the fraction of cells in the S phase decreased, especially 24 h after 5 μg/ml NCTD treatment. CONCLUSION NCTD inhibits HMC cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, and affects the cell cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kun Ye
- a Department of Nephrology , The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region , Guangxi , China
| | - Qiaoyu Wei
- a Department of Nephrology , The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region , Guangxi , China
| | - Zhifeng Gong
- a Department of Nephrology , The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region , Guangxi , China
| | - Yunfeng Huang
- a Department of Nephrology , The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region , Guangxi , China
| | - Hong Liu
- b Department of Nephrology , The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University , Hunan , China
| | - Ying Li
- b Department of Nephrology , The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University , Hunan , China
| | - Xiaomei Peng
- a Department of Nephrology , The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region , Guangxi , China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang X, Yu S, Jia Q, Chen L, Zhong J, Pan Y, Shen P, Shen Y, Wang S, Wei Z, Cao Y, Lu Y. NiaoDuQing granules relieve chronic kidney disease symptoms by decreasing renal fibrosis and anemia. Oncotarget 2017; 8:55920-55937. [PMID: 28915563 PMCID: PMC5593534 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
NiaoDuQing (NDQ) granules, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been clinically used in China for over fourteen years to treat chronic kidney disease (CKD). To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic benefits of NDQ, we designed an approach incorporating chemoinformatics, bioinformatics, network biology methods, and cellular and molecular biology experiments. A total of 182 active compounds were identified in NDQ granules, and 397 putative targets associated with different diseases were derived through ADME modelling and target prediction tools. Protein-protein interaction networks of CKD-related and putative NDQ targets were constructed, and 219 candidate targets were identified based on topological features. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that the candidate targets were mostly related to the TGF-β, the p38MAPK, and the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor signaling pathways, which are known contributors to renal fibrosis and/or renal anemia. A rat model of CKD was established to validate the drug-target mechanisms predicted by the systems pharmacology analysis. Experimental results confirmed that NDQ granules exerted therapeutic effects on CKD and its comorbidities, including renal anemia, mainly by modulating the TGF-β and EPO signaling pathways. Thus, the pharmacological actions of NDQ on CKD symptoms correlated well with in silico predictions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Suyun Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Qi Jia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Lichuan Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Jinqiu Zhong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Yanhong Pan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Peiliang Shen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Yin Shen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Siliang Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Zhonghong Wei
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Yuzhu Cao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Yin Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Qiao Y, Gao K, Wang Y, Wang X, Cui B. Resveratrol ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in rats through negative regulation of the p38 MAPK/TGF-β1 pathway. Exp Ther Med 2017; 13:3223-3230. [PMID: 28588674 PMCID: PMC5450784 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2017.4420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Resveratrol (RSV) has been shown to have a renoprotective effect against diabetic nephropathy, but the underlying mechanisms of this have not been fully elucidated. The aim of the current study was to explore the mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of RSV in rat mesangial cells in vitro and in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy. The viability of CRL-2573 rat mesangial cells and their expression levels of p38, phosphorylated (p)-p38, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and fibronectin were assessed in response to treatment with high glucose, with or without RSV. Diabetic nephropathy was also induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by streptozotocin treatment. At 8 weeks, basic biochemical parameters and histopathological abnormalities as well as the expression of p38, p-p38, TGF-β1 and fibronectin in rat kidneys were compared between control diabetic rats and those treated with 20 mg/kg RSV daily for 4 weeks. In the mesangial cell line, RSV inhibited high glucose-induced increases in cell viability and fibronectin expression by significantly reducing p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and TGF-β1 expression (P<0.05). In diabetic rats, RSV significantly decreased blood glucose, serum creatinine and urinary albumin levels, as well as the kidney weight and ratio of kidney weight/body weight compared with the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, RSV ameliorated renal histological changes and downregulated the expression of p-p38, TGF-β1 and fibronectin in the kidneys of diabetic rats. These data suggested that RSV protected renal tissue from diabetes-induced injury and that this activity may be via inhibition of the p38 MAPK/TGF-β1 signaling pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Qiao
- Department of Endocrinology, Shaanxi Provincial Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710068, P.R. China
| | - Ke Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Yangwei Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shaanxi Provincial Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710068, P.R. China
| | - Xueliang Wang
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Bo Cui
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang Y, Wang Y, Luo M, Wu H, Kong L, Xin Y, Cui W, Zhao Y, Wang J, Liang G, Miao L, Cai L. Novel curcumin analog C66 prevents diabetic nephropathy via JNK pathway with the involvement of p300/CBP-mediated histone acetylation. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2014; 1852:34-46. [PMID: 25446993 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2014.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2014] [Revised: 11/01/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis represent the key events in development of diabetic nephropathy (DN), with connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and fibronectin 1 (FN-1) playing important roles in these pathogenic processes. To investigate whether the plant metabolite curcumin, which exerts epigenetic modulatory properties when applied as a pharmacological agent, may prevent DN via inhibition of the JNK pathway and epigenetic histone acetylation, diabetic and age-matched non-diabetic control mice were administered a 3-month course of curcumin analogue (C66), c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor (JNKi, sp600125), or vehicle alone. At treatment end, half of the mice were sacrificed for analysis and the other half were maintained without treatment for an additional 3 months. Renal JNK phosphorylation was found to be significantly increased in the vehicle-treated diabetic mice, but not the C66- and JNKi-treated diabetic mice, at both the 3-month and 6-month time points. C66 and JNKi treatment also significantly prevented diabetes-induced renal fibrosis and dysfunction. Diabetes-related increases in histone acetylation, histone acetyl transferases' (HATs) activity, and the p300/CBP HAT expression were also significantly attenuated by C66 or JNKi treatment. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that C66 and JNKi treatments decreased H3-lysine9/14-acetylation (H3K9/14Ac) level and p300/CBP occupancy at the CTGF, PAI-1 and FN-1 gene promoters. Thus, C66 may significantly and persistently prevent renal injury and dysfunction in diabetic mice via down-regulation of diabetes-related JNK activation and consequent suppression of the diabetes-related increases in HAT activity, p300/CBP expression, and histone acetylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yangwei Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics of University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Yonggang Wang
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics of University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA; Cardiovascular Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Manyu Luo
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics of University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics of University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Lili Kong
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics of University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Ying Xin
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics of University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA; Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wenpeng Cui
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics of University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Yunjie Zhao
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jingying Wang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Guang Liang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Lining Miao
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
| | - Lu Cai
- Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics of University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li Y, Sun Y, Liu F, Sun L, Li J, Duan S, Liu H, Peng Y, Xiao L, Liu Y, Xi Y, You Y, Li H, Wang M, Wang S, Hou T. Norcantharidin inhibits renal interstitial fibrosis by blocking the tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66356. [PMID: 23825538 PMCID: PMC3692527 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2012] [Accepted: 05/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to contribute to the progression of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Norcantharidin (NCTD) is a promising agent for inhibiting renal interstitial fibrosis. However, the molecular mechanisms of NCTD are unclear. In this study, a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rat model was established and treated with intraperitoneal NCTD (0.1 mg/kg/day). The UUO rats treated with NCTD showed a reduction in obstruction-induced upregulation of α-SMA and downregulation of E-cadherin in the rat kidney (P<0.05). Human renal proximal tubule cell lines (HK-2) stimulated with TGF-β1 were treated with different concentrations of NCTD. HK-2 cells stimulated by TGF-β1 in vitro led to downregulation of E-cadherin and increased de novo expression of α-SMA; co-treatment with NCTD attenuated all of these changes (P<0.05). NCTD reduced TGF-β1-induced expression and phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and downregulated the expression of Snail1 (P<0.05). These results suggest that NCTD antagonizes tubular EMT by inhibiting the Smad pathway. NCTD may play a critical role in preserving the normal epithelial phenotype and modulating tubular EMT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Division of Nephrology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, PR China. mail:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Li Y, Ge Y, Liu FY, Peng YM, Sun L, Li J, Chen Q, Sun Y, Ye K. Norcantharidin, a protective therapeutic agent in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Mol Cell Biochem 2011; 361:79-83. [DOI: 10.1007/s11010-011-1091-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2011] [Accepted: 09/16/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|