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Fang XD, He JK, Chen YX, Ke B, Zhu SY, Fan CQ, Tu WP, Li P. MiR-449a downregulation alleviates the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis by mediating the KLF4/MFN2 axis. Int Urol Nephrol 2023:10.1007/s11255-023-03503-6. [PMID: 36781680 DOI: 10.1007/s11255-023-03503-6] [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: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) seriously threatens the health of individuals. MiRNAs regulate the progression of fibrosis. Nevertheless, the detailed function of miR-449a in RIF is largely unknown. METHODS In vitro and in vivo models of RIF were developed to evaluate the function of miR-449a. The relationship among miR-449a, KLF4, and MFN2 was explored using a dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Additionally, the pathological changes in the mice were detected using Masson staining. The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. RESULTS TGF-β1 downregulated the expressions of KLF4 and MFN2 in TCMK-1 cells, but upregulated the level of miR-449a. The downregulation of miR-449a significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced upregulation of fibrotic proteins in TCMK-1 cells. Meanwhile, miR-449a directly targeted KLF4. Moreover, KLF4 overexpression activated MFN2 transcription and reversed TGF-β1-induced fibrosis by positively regulating MFN2. Furthermore, the downregulation of miR-449a could obviously alleviate the symptoms of RIF in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction. CONCLUSION MiR-449a downregulation attenuated the development of RIF by mediating the KLF4/MFN2 axis. Therefore, miR-449a might act as a target in treating RIF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Dong Fang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jia-Ke He
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Yan-Xia Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Ben Ke
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Shu-Ying Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Chu-Qiao Fan
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Wei-Ping Tu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
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Matrix Metalloproteinase-10 in Kidney Injury Repair and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042131. [PMID: 35216251 PMCID: PMC8877639 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) is a zinc-dependent endopeptidase with the ability to degrade a broad spectrum of extracellular matrices and other protein substrates. The expression of MMP-10 is induced in acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). During the different stages of kidney injury, MMP-10 may exert distinct functions by cleaving various bioactive substrates including heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and pro-MMP-1, -7, -8, -9, -10, -13. Functionally, MMP-10 is reno-protective in AKI by promoting HB-EGF-mediated tubular repair and regeneration, whereas it aggravates podocyte dysfunction and proteinuria by disrupting glomerular filtration integrity via degrading ZO-1. MMP-10 is also involved in cancerous invasion and emerges as a promising therapeutic target in patients with RCC. As a secreted protein, MMP-10 could be detected in the circulation and presents an inverse correlation with renal function. Due to the structural similarities between MMP-10 and the other MMPs, development of specific inhibitors targeting MMP-10 is challenging. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the role of MMP-10 in kidney diseases and discuss the potential mechanisms of its actions.
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