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Folguieri MS, Franco ATB, Vieira AS, Gontijo JAR, Boer PA. Transcriptome and morphological analysis on the heart in gestational protein-restricted aging male rat offspring. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:892322. [PMID: 36353510 PMCID: PMC9638007 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.892322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Adverse factors that influence embryo/fetal development are correlated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), type-2 diabetes, arterial hypertension, obesity, insulin resistance, impaired kidney development, psychiatric disorders, and enhanced susceptibility to oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in adulthood. Human and experimental studies have demonstrated a reciprocal relationship between birthweight and cardiovascular diseases, implying intrauterine adverse events in the onset of these abnormalities. In this way, it is plausible that confirmed functional and morphological heart changes caused by gestational protein restriction could be related to epigenetic effects anticipating cardiovascular disorders and reducing the survival time of these animals. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into two groups according to the protein diet content offered during the pregnancy: a normal protein diet (NP, 17%) or a Low-protein diet (LP, 6%). The arterial pressure was measured, and the cardiac mass, cardiomyocytes area, gene expression, collagen content, and immunostaining of proteins were performed in the cardiac tissue of male 62-weeks old NP compared to LP offspring. Results: In the current study, we showed a low birthweight followed by catch-up growth phenomena associated with high blood pressure development, increased heart collagen content, and cardiomyocyte area in 62-week-old LP offspring. mRNA sequencing analysis identified changes in the expression level of 137 genes, considering genes with a p-value < 0.05. No gene was. Significantly changed according to the adj-p-value. After gene-to-gene biological evaluation and relevance, the study demonstrated significant differences in genes linked to inflammatory activity, oxidative stress, apoptosis process, autophagy, hypertrophy, and fibrosis pathways resulting in heart function disorders. Conclusion: The present study suggests that gestational protein restriction leads to early cardiac diseases in the LP progeny. It is hypothesized that heart dysfunction is associated with fibrosis, myocyte hypertrophy, and multiple abnormal gene expression. Considering the above findings, it may suppose a close link between maternal protein restriction, specific gene expression, and progressive heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina S. Folguieri
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, FCM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Ana Teresa Barufi Franco
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, FCM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - André Schwambach Vieira
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - José Antonio Rocha Gontijo
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, FCM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Patricia Aline Boer
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, FCM, Campinas, Brazil
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Grigoletti-Lima GB, Lopes MG, Franco ATB, Damico AM, Boer PA, Rocha Gontijo JA. Severe Gestational Low-Protein Intake Impacts Hippocampal Cellularity, Tau, and Amyloid-β Levels, and Memory Performance in Male Adult Offspring: An Alzheimer-Simile Disease Model? J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2022; 6:17-30. [PMID: 35243209 PMCID: PMC8842744 DOI: 10.3233/adr-210297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal undernutrition has been associated with psychiatric and neurological disorders characterized by learning and memory impairment. OBJECTIVE Considering the lack of evidence, we aimed to analyze the effects of gestational protein restriction on learning and memory function associated with hippocampal cell numbers and neurodegenerative protein content later in life. METHODS Experiments were conducted in gestational low- (LP, 6% casein) or regular-protein (NP, 17% casein) diet intake offspring. Behavioral tests, isolated hippocampal isotropic fractionator cell studies, immunoblotting, and survival lifetime were observed. RESULTS The birthweight of LP males is significantly reduced relative to NP male progeny, and hippocampal mass increased in 88-week-old LP compared to age-matched NP offspring. The results showed an increased proximity measure in 87-week-old LP compared to NP offspring. Also, LP rats exhibited anxiety-like behaviors compared to NP rats at 48 and 86-wk of life. The estimated neuron number was unaltered in LP rats; however, non-neuron cell numbers increased compared to NP progeny. Here, we showed unprecedented hippocampal deposition of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), and tau protein in 88-week-old LP relative to age-matched NP offspring. CONCLUSION To date, no predicted studies showed changes in hippocampal morphological structure in maternal protein-restricted elderly offspring. The current data suggest that gestational protein restriction may accelerate hippocampal function loss, impacting learning/memory performance, and supposedly developing diseases similar to Alzheimer's disease (AD) in elderly offspring. Thus, we propose that maternal protein restriction could be an elegant and novel method for constructing an AD-like model in adult male offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Boer Grigoletti-Lima
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte MetabolismLaboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at StateUniversity of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Gustavo Lopes
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte MetabolismLaboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at StateUniversity of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Tereza Barufi Franco
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte MetabolismLaboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at StateUniversity of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Aparecida Marcela Damico
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte MetabolismLaboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at StateUniversity of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Patrìcia Aline Boer
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte MetabolismLaboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at StateUniversity of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - José Antonio Rocha Gontijo
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte MetabolismLaboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at StateUniversity of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Mariano VS, Boer PA, Gontijo JAR. Fetal Undernutrition Programming, Sympathetic Nerve Activity, and Arterial Hypertension Development. Front Physiol 2021; 12:704819. [PMID: 34867434 PMCID: PMC8635863 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.704819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A wealth of evidence showed that low birth weight is associated with environmental disruption during gestation, triggering embryotic or fetal adaptations and increasing the susceptibility of progeny to non-communicable diseases, including metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and arterial hypertension. In addition, dietary disturbance during pregnancy in animal models has highlighted mechanisms that involve the genesis of arterial hypertension, particularly severe maternal low-protein intake (LP). Functional studies demonstrated that maternal low-protein intake leads to the renal decrease of sodium excretion and the dysfunction of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system signaling of LP offspring. The antinatriuretic effect is accentuated by a reduced number of nephron units and glomerulosclerosis, which are critical in establishing arterial hypertension phenotype. Also, in this way, studies have shown that the overactivity of the central and peripheral sympathetic nervous system occurs due to reduced sensory (afferent) renal nerve activity. As a result of this reciprocal and abnormal renorenal reflex, there is an enhanced tubule sodium proximal sodium reabsorption, which, at least in part, contributes directly to arterial hypertension development in some of the programmed models. A recent study has observed that significant changes in adrenal medulla secretion could be involved in the pathophysiological process of increasing blood pressure. Thus, this review aims to compile studies that link the central and peripheral sympathetic system activity mechanisms on water and salt handle and blood pressure control in the maternal protein-restricted offspring. Besides, these pathophysiological mechanisms mainly may involve the modulation of neurokinins and catecholamines pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius Schiavinatto Mariano
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Aline Boer
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Antônio Rocha Gontijo
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
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Lamana GL, Ferrari ALL, Gontijo JAR, Boer PA. Gestational and Breastfeeding Low-Protein Intake on Blood Pressure, Kidney Structure, and Renal Function in Male Rat Offspring in Adulthood. Front Physiol 2021; 12:658431. [PMID: 33967827 PMCID: PMC8100335 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.658431] [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: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Our previous studies demonstrated that maternal protein-restricted (low-protein, LP) 16-week-old offspring had pronounced nephron number reduction and arterial hypertension associated with an unchanged glomerular filtration rate (GFR). An enhanced gomerular area may be related to increased glomerular filtration and overflow, which accounts for glomerular filtration barrier breakdown and early glomerulosclerosis. The effect of protein restriction during gestational and breastfeeding periods is unknown. Method: The functional e-structural kidney evaluation was obtained using lithium and creatinine clearance, kidney morphometry, immunoblotting, and immunostaining analysis in 16 and 24-week-old LP offspring compared to age-matched NP progeny. Results: Low protein rats' progeny had significantly reduced birth weight, without previous catch-up growth phenomena, in parallel with a decreased adiposity index. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) glomerular expression was significantly enhanced in the LP group. Also, the LP offspring had a 38% lower nephron number and an increased glomerular volume. They also presented with a higher cardiac index and arterial blood pressure compared with age-matched NP offspring. The LP rats exhibited augmented Na+/K+-ATPase in the proximal segments, and NOS1 immunoreactivity in whole renal tissue was associated with sodium retention in the proximal nephron segments. We also found significantly enhanced collagen content associated with increased TGFβ1 and ZEB1/2 renal immunoreactivity in LP offspring compared with NP offspring. Increased hypertrophy markers in LP podocytes were associated with an amplified IL-6/STAT3 pathway activity. Conclusion: To our knowledge, these are the first data demonstrating renal functional and structural changes in protein restriction during gestation and lactation model of fetal programming. The fetal-programmed adult offspring showed pronounced structural glomerular disorders with an accentuated and advanced fibrosis stage, without a change in the GFR. These findings suggest that the glomerular enhanced TGF-β1 action may induce ZEB1/2 expression that may cause glomeruli epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Besides, decreased nephron number in the LP offspring with preserved glomerular function may be related to protective or even attenuate the activated IL-6/STAT3 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Leme Lamana
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Ana Leticia Luchiari Ferrari
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - José Antonio Rocha Gontijo
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Aline Boer
- Fetal Programming and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
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Argeri R, Thomazini F, Lichtenecker DCK, Thieme K, do Carmo Franco M, Gomes GN. Programmed Adult Kidney Disease: Importance of Fetal Environment. Front Physiol 2020; 11:586290. [PMID: 33101064 PMCID: PMC7546361 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.586290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Barker hypothesis strongly supported the influence of fetal environment on the development of chronic diseases in later life. Multiple experimental and human studies have identified that the deleterious effect of fetal programming commonly leads to alterations in renal development. The interplay between environmental insults and fetal genome can induce epigenetic changes and lead to alterations in the expression of renal phenotype. In this review, we have explored the renal development and its functions, while focusing on the epigenetic findings and functional aspects of the renin-angiotensin system and its components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogério Argeri
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Thomazini
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Karina Thieme
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria do Carmo Franco
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guiomar Nascimento Gomes
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Torreggiani M, Fois A, D’Alessandro C, Colucci M, Orozco Guillén AO, Cupisti A, Piccoli GB. Of Mice and Men: The Effect of Maternal Protein Restriction on Offspring's Kidney Health. Are Studies on Rodents Applicable to Chronic Kidney Disease Patients? A Narrative Review. Nutrients 2020; 12:E1614. [PMID: 32486266 PMCID: PMC7352514 DOI: 10.3390/nu12061614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In the almost 30 years that have passed since the postulation of the "Developmental Origins of Health and Disease" theory, it has been clearly demonstrated that a mother's dietary habits during pregnancy have potential consequences for her offspring that go far beyond in utero development. Protein malnutrition during pregnancy, for instance, can cause severe alterations ranging from intrauterine growth retardation to organ damage and increased susceptibility to hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease (CKD) later in life both in experimental animals and humans. Conversely, a balanced mild protein restriction in patients affected by CKD has been shown to mitigate the biochemical derangements associated with kidney disease and even slow its progression. The first reports on the management of pregnant CKD women with a moderately protein-restricted plant-based diet appeared in the literature a few years ago. Today, this approach is still being debated, as is the optimal source of protein during gestation in CKD. The aim of this report is to critically review the available literature on the topic, focusing on the similarities and differences between animal and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Torreggiani
- Nephrology and Dialysis, Centre Hospitalier Le Mans, Avenue Roubillard 194, 72000 Le Mans, France; (A.F.); (G.B.P.)
| | - Antioco Fois
- Nephrology and Dialysis, Centre Hospitalier Le Mans, Avenue Roubillard 194, 72000 Le Mans, France; (A.F.); (G.B.P.)
| | - Claudia D’Alessandro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.D.); (A.C.)
| | - Marco Colucci
- Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, ICS Maugeri S.p.A. SB, Via S. Maugeri 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | | | - Adamasco Cupisti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.D.); (A.C.)
| | - Giorgina Barbara Piccoli
- Nephrology and Dialysis, Centre Hospitalier Le Mans, Avenue Roubillard 194, 72000 Le Mans, France; (A.F.); (G.B.P.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università di Torino, 10100 Torino, Italy
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Cardoso BV, Custódio AH, Boer PA, Gontijo JAR. Effect of intracerebroventricular epinephrine microinjection on blood pressure and urinary sodium handling in gestational protein-restricted male adult rat offspring. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.038562. [PMID: 30936071 PMCID: PMC6503991 DOI: 10.1242/bio.038562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we hypothesized that blunting of the natriuresis response to intracerebroventricularly (ICV) microinjected adrenergic agonists is involved in the development of hypertension in maternal low-protein intake (LP) offspring. A stainless steel cannula was stereotaxically implanted into the right lateral ventricle (LV), then we evaluated the ICV administration of adrenergic agonists at increasing concentrations, and of α1 and α2-adrenoceptor antagonists on blood pressure and urinary sodium handling in LP offspring relative to an age-matched normal-protein intake (NP) group. We confirmed that epinephrine (Epi) microinjected into the LV of conscious NP rats leads to enhanced natriuresis followed by a reduction in arterial pressure. This response is associated with increased proximal and post-proximal sodium excretion accompanied by an unchanged glomerular filtration rate. The current study showed, in both NP and LP offspring, that the natriuretic effect of Epi injection into the LV was abolished by prior local microinjection of an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist (prazosin). Conversely, LV α2-adrenoceptor antagonist (yohimbine) administration potentiated the action of Epi. The LV yohimbine pretreatment normalized urinary sodium excretion and reduced the blood pressure in LP compared with age-matched NP offspring. These are, as far as we are aware, the first results showing the role of central adrenergic receptors’ interaction on hypertension pathogenesis in maternal LP fetal-programming offspring. This study also provides good evidence for the existence of central nervous system adrenergic mechanisms consisting of α1 and α2-adrenoceptors, which work reciprocally on the control of renal sodium excretion and blood pressure. Although the precise mechanism of the different natriuretic response of NP and LP rats is still uncertain, these results lead us to speculate that inappropriate neural adrenergic pathways might have significant effects on tubule sodium transport, resulting in the inability of the kidneys to control hydrosaline balance and, consequently, an increase in blood pressure. Summary: We evaluated the effect of intracerebroventricular microinjections of adrenergic agonists at increasing concentrations, and μ1 and μ2-adrenergic receptors antagonists on blood pressure and urinary sodium in hypertensive low- and normal-protein rat offdpring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Vaccari Cardoso
- Fetal Programming Laboratory and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-894, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Augusto Henrique Custódio
- Fetal Programming Laboratory and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-894, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Aline Boer
- Fetal Programming Laboratory and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-894, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Antonio Rocha Gontijo
- Fetal Programming Laboratory and Hydroelectrolyte Metabolism Laboratory, Nucleus of Medicine and Experimental Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences at State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-894, São Paulo, Brazil
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Sene LB, Rizzi VHG, Gontijo JAR, Boer PA. Gestational low-protein intake enhances whole-kidney miR-192 and miR-200 family expression and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in rat adult male offspring. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:221/10/jeb171694. [PMID: 29789348 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.171694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Studies have shown that adult offspring of mothers fed a protein-restricted diet during pregnancy present a pronounced reduction of nephron number associated with decreased fractional urinary sodium excretion and arterial hypertension. Additionally, recent advances in our understanding of the molecular pathways that govern the association of gestational nutritional restriction, intrauterine growth retardation and inflammation with impaired nephrogenesis, nephron underdosing and kidney fibrosis point to the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) as a common factor. In the current study, protein and sodium urinary excretion rates were evaluated in rats, and immunohistochemistry and western blot techniques were used to characterize kidney structure changes in 16 week old male offspring of mothers fed a low-protein diet during pregnancy (LP group) compared with age-matched (NP) controls. We also verified the expression of miRNA, mRNA and protein markers of fibrosis and the EMT in whole kidney prepared from LP offspring. We found, surprisingly, that arterial hypertension and long-term hyperfiltration, manifest by proteinuria, were associated with increased renal miR-192 and miR-200 family expression in 16 week old LP relative to age-matched NP rats. Measurement of kidney fibrosis and EMT-related protein markers, by histochemistry and immunoblot techniques, showed a significant rise of TGF-β1 and type-I collagen content in glomeruli and tubulointerstitial areas, accompanied by enhanced fibronectin and ZEB1 and decreased E-cadherin immunoreactivity in 16 week old LP offspring. The results were partially confirmed by increased gene (mRNA) expression of collagen 1α1, collagen 1α2 and ZEB1 in LP whole kidneys compared with those of age-matched NP offspring. In view of the presumed functional overload in the remaining nephrons, we suggest that hypertension and proteinuria development following maternal protein restriction may be a preponderant factor for EMT and structural kidney changes in LP offspring. However, our study was not wholly able to establish the precise role of miRNAs in LP kidney disorders. Thus, further studies will be required to assess the contribution of the miR family to renal injury in a gestational protein-restricted model of fetal programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letícia B Sene
- Morphology Department, Bioscience Institute at São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo 18618-290, Brazil
| | - Victor Hugo Gonçalves Rizzi
- Morphology Department, Bioscience Institute at São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo 18618-290, Brazil
| | - José A R Gontijo
- Hydrossaline Metabolism and Fetal Programming Laboratory, School of Medicine at Campinas State University (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo 13083-894, Brazil
| | - Patricia A Boer
- Hydrossaline Metabolism and Fetal Programming Laboratory, School of Medicine at Campinas State University (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo 13083-894, Brazil
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