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Xia Z, Wei Z, Li X, Liu Y, Gu X, Huang S, Zhang X, Wang W. C/EBPα aggravates renal fibrosis in CKD through the NOX4-ROS-apoptosis pathway in tubular epithelial cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167039. [PMID: 38281712 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167039] [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: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent renal disorder with various risk factors. Emerging evidence indicates that the transcriptional factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) may be associated with renal fibrosis. However, the precise role of C/EBPα in CKD progression remains unexplored. METHODS We investigated the involvement of C/EBPα in CKD using two distinct mouse models induced by folic acid (FA) and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Additionally, we used RNA sequencing and KEGG analysis to identify potential downstream pathways governed by C/EBPα. FINDINGS Cebpa knockout significantly shielded mice from renal fibrosis and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in both the FA and UUO models. Primary tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) lacking Cebpa exhibited reduced apoptosis and ROS accumulation following treatment with TGF-β. RNA sequencing analysis suggested that apoptosis is among the primary pathways regulated by C/EBPα, and identified NADPH oxidoreductase 4 (NOX4) as a key protein upregulated upon C/EBPα induction (ICCB280). Treatment with l-Theanine, a potential NOX4 inhibitor, mitigated renal fibrosis and inflammation in both the FA and UUO mouse models. INTERPRETATION Our study unveils a role for C/EBPα in suppressing renal fibrosis, mitigating ROS accumulation, and reducing cell apoptosis. Furthermore, we investigate whether these protective effects are mediated by C/EBPα's regulation of NOX4 expression. These findings present a promising therapeutic target for modulating ROS and apoptosis in renal tubular cells, potentially offering an approach to treating CKD and other fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziru Xia
- Department of Nephrology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; Institute of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaonan Wei
- Department of Nephrology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; Institute of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Nephrology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; Institute of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunzi Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; Institute of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangchen Gu
- Department of Nephrology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; Institute of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Nephrology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyi Huang
- Department of Nephrology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; Institute of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyue Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; Institute of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiming Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China; Institute of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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Yao W, Tao R, Xu Y, Chen ZS, Ding X, Wan L. AR/RKIP pathway mediates the inhibitory effects of icariin on renal fibrosis and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in type 2 diabetic nephropathy. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 320:117414. [PMID: 37977422 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Herba epimedium brevicornu maxim is traditionally known as a sexual enhancement, and has the effect of tonifying kidney yang. Icariin is a flavonoid extracted from epimedium brevicornu maxim, and has been shown to improve nephropathy disease. AIM OF THE STUDY This study investigated the possible role of icariin in regulating renal EndMT in type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN). MATERIALS AND METHODS Male type 2 diabetic Sprague Dawley rats, Male D2.BKS(D)-Leprdb/J (db/db) mice, and mouse glomerular endothelial cells were utilized to evaluate the effect of icariin. Western blotting, Q-PCR, immunohistochemistry, H&E, Masson staining, immunofluorescence, and siRNA transfection, were performed in this study. RESULTS The inhibitory function of icariin in renal fibrosis and renal EndMT was verified in type 2 diabetic animals. Methyltestosterone suppressed renal fibrosis and EndMT in db/db mice. Androgen receptor (AR), the major receptor of testosterone, was upregulated by icariin. The AR antagonist MDV3100, blocked the inhibition by icariin in renal EndMT, revealing that icariin repressed renal EndMT by activating AR. In addition, icariin and methyltestosterone upregulated the Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) in db/db mice. Furthermore, siRNA-RKIP inhibited the effect of icariin on EndMT. The MEK/ERK pathway, as the downstream pathway of RKIP, was suppressed by icariin and methyltestosterone. Of note, the effect of icariin on the MEK/ERK pathway was abolished by MDV3100 or siRNA-RKIP. CONCLUSIONS These results supported that icariin targeted AR/RKIP/MEK/ERK pathway to suppress renal fibrosis and EndMT in T2DN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Yao
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rongpin Tao
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue Xu
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, New York, NY, 11439, USA
| | - Xuansheng Ding
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China; Precision Medicine Laboratory, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Lisheng Wan
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
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Xuan X, Pu X, Yang Y, Yang J, Li Y, Wu H, Xu J. Plasma MCP-1 and TGF-β1 Levels are Associated with Kidney Injury in Children with Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12010-023-04808-z. [PMID: 38244151 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-023-04808-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are primarily causal for end-stage renal disease and have significant implications for long-term survival. A total of 39 healthy controls and 94 children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were enrolled (3-12 years old as children, 13-18 years old as adolescents), who were divided into CAKUT and Non-CAKUT according to the etiology of CKD. CKD group was further classified according to estimating glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Circulating levels of inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemokine-1 (MCP-1), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were analyzed. The relationship between these inflammatory markers with eGFR and the kidney injury parameter (urine protein) was investigated to assess their potential as early markers of disease progression. All circulating levels of these inflammatory cytokines were increased in CKD patients (including CAKUT and Non-CAKUT) compared with healthy subjects. The circulating levels of MCP-1 and TGF-β1 were increased in CAKUT adolescents compared with CAKUT children. In CAKUT children, levels of MCP-1 and TGF-β1 increased as CKD progressed, and MCP-1 and TGF-β1 were negatively and significantly correlated with eGFR and positively with urine protein. MCP-1 and TGF-β1 may contribute to the early detection of CKD and disease stage/progression in CAKUT children.
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Affiliation(s)
- XiaoQi Xuan
- Department of Pediatric, Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University (Wuxi Children's Hospital), No.299-1, Qingyang Road, Liangxi District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214023, China
| | - Xiao Pu
- Department of Pediatric, Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University (Wuxi Children's Hospital), No.299-1, Qingyang Road, Liangxi District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214023, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Pediatric, Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University (Wuxi Children's Hospital), No.299-1, Qingyang Road, Liangxi District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214023, China
| | - JinLong Yang
- Department of Pediatric, Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University (Wuxi Children's Hospital), No.299-1, Qingyang Road, Liangxi District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214023, China
| | - YongLe Li
- Department of Pediatric, Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University (Wuxi Children's Hospital), No.299-1, Qingyang Road, Liangxi District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214023, China
| | - Hang Wu
- Department of Pediatric, Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University (Wuxi Children's Hospital), No.299-1, Qingyang Road, Liangxi District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214023, China
| | - JianGuo Xu
- Department of Pediatric, Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University (Wuxi Children's Hospital), No.299-1, Qingyang Road, Liangxi District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, 214023, China.
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Ning Y, Zhou X, Wang G, Zhang L, Wang J. Exosome miR-30a-5p Regulates Glomerular Endothelial Cells' EndMT and Angiogenesis by Modulating Notch1/VEGF Signaling Pathway. Curr Gene Ther 2024; 24:159-177. [PMID: 37767799 DOI: 10.2174/0115665232258527230919071328] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the microvascular complications of diabetes. Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and endothelial damage lead to abnormal angiogenesis in DN. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the role of exosome miR-30a-5p in high glucose (HG)-induced glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) dysfunction and explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS GECs were cultured in normal glucose (5.5 mM) and HG (30 mM) conditions. The recipient GECs were transfected with exosome or miR-30a-5p mimic/inhibitor and then detected by using CCK-8 and flow cytometry assay. Luciferase analysis was used to verify miR-30a-5p acted on notch homolog protein 1 (Notch1). RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of VE-cadherin, α-SMA, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Notch1. In vivo, exosome miR-30a-5p was administered to DN mice, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, UTP levels, and HbA1c levels were measured. RESULTS The expression of miR-30a-5p was downregulated in HG-treated GECs. Exosome miR-30a-5p significantly promoted cell proliferation, and migration and reduced apoptosis of GECs under HG conditions. MiR-30a-5p directly targeted the 3-UTR region of Notch1. Exosome miR-30a-5p reduced the expression levels of Notch1 and VEGF, both at mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, exosome miR-30a-5p inhibited HG-induced EndMT, as evidenced by increased VE-cadherin and reduced α-SMA. In vivo studies demonstrated that exosome miR-30a-5p reduced serum HbA1c levels and 24-hour urine protein quantification. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence that exosome miR-30a-5p suppresses EndMT and abnormal angiogenesis of GECs by modulating the Notch1/VEGF signaling pathway. These findings suggest that exosome miR-30a-5p could be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of DN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxian Ning
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu, China
| | - Xiaochun Zhou
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu, China
| | - Gouqin Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu, China
| | - Jianqin Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu, China
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Hong Y, Li J, Zhong Y, Yang S, Pei L, Huang Z, Chen X, Wu H, Zheng G, Zeng C, Wu H, Wang T. Elabela inhibits TRAF1/NF-κB induced oxidative DNA damage to promote diabetic foot ulcer wound healing. iScience 2023; 26:107601. [PMID: 37664606 PMCID: PMC10469767 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107601] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a serious complication of diabetes. Elabela (ELA), a ligand of apelin receptor (APJ), was shown to promote angiogenesis and suppress inflammation. This study aimed to illustrate the role of ELA in DFU wound healing. A whole-skin defect model was constructed using db/m and db/db mice to observe the effects of ELA on wound healing. The function of ELA in endothelial cells cultured in high glucose medium was investigated. Administration of ELA in peri-wound area of db/db mice accelerated wound closure and reduced inflammatory infiltration. Indicators of DNA damage, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and tail DNA amounts, were downregulated by ELA but compromised after TRAF1 overexpression. ELA-mediated inhibition of NF-κB phosphorylation improved cell migration and angiogenesis, which were blocked by APJ silencing. The findings imply that ELA suppresses TRAF1-mediated NF-κB signal activation, reducing ROS-related oxidative DNA damage and improving protection of endothelial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghui Hong
- Department of Emergency, the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518003, P.R. China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Emergency, the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518003, P.R. China
| | - Yinsheng Zhong
- Department of Emergency, the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518003, P.R. China
| | - Shujun Yang
- Department of Emergency, the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518003, P.R. China
| | - Liying Pei
- Department of Emergency, the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518003, P.R. China
| | - Zijie Huang
- Department of Emergency, the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518003, P.R. China
| | - Xuxiang Chen
- Department of Emergency, the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518003, P.R. China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Emergency, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Guanghui Zheng
- Department of Emergency, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Chaotao Zeng
- Department of Emergency, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Haidong Wu
- Department of Emergency, the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518003, P.R. China
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Emergency, the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518003, P.R. China
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