Deficits in the Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome and Mitochondrial Coupling in Progressive Diabetes-Induced CKD Relate to Functional Decline

Novel coenzyme Q6 genetic variant increases susceptibility to pneumococcal disease

Acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) remains a major worldwide cause of childhood mortality, compelling innovation in prevention and treatment. Children in Papua New Guinea (PNG) experience profound morbidity from ALRI caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. As a result of evolutionary divergence, the human PNG population exhibits profound genetic variation and diversity. To address unmet health needs of children in PNG, we tested whether genetic variants increased ALRI morbidity. Whole-exome sequencing of a pilot child cohort identified homozygosity for a novel single-nucleotide variant (SNV) in coenzyme Q6 (COQ6) in cases with ALRI. COQ6 encodes a mitochondrial enzyme essential for biosynthesis of ubiquinone, an electron acceptor in the electron transport chain. A significant association of SNV homozygosity with ALRI was replicated in an independent ALRI cohort (P = 0.036). Mice homozygous for homologous mouse variant Coq6 exhibited increased mortality after pneumococcal lung infection, confirming causality. Bone marrow chimeric mice further revealed that expression of variant Coq6 in recipient (that is, nonhematopoietic) tissues conferred increased mortality. Variant Coq6 maintained ubiquinone biosynthesis, while accelerating metabolic remodeling after pneumococcal challenge. Identification of this COQ6 variant provides a genetic basis for increased pneumonia susceptibility in PNG and establishes a previously unrecognized role for the enzyme COQ6 in regulating inflammatory-mediated metabolic remodeling.

A tryptophan-derived uremic metabolite/Ahr/Pdk4 axis governs skeletal muscle mitochondrial energetics in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes accumulation of uremic metabolites that negatively affect skeletal muscle. Tryptophan-derived uremic metabolites are agonists of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), which has been shown to be activated in CKD. This study investigated the role of the AHR in skeletal muscle pathology of CKD. Compared with controls with normal kidney function, AHR-dependent gene expression (CYP1A1 and CYP1B1) was significantly upregulated in skeletal muscle of patients with CKD, and the magnitude of AHR activation was inversely correlated with mitochondrial respiration. In mice with CKD, muscle mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) was markedly impaired and strongly correlated with the serum level of tryptophan-derived uremic metabolites and AHR activation. Muscle-specific deletion of the AHR substantially improved mitochondrial OXPHOS in male mice with the greatest uremic toxicity (CKD + probenecid) and abolished the relationship between uremic metabolites and OXPHOS. The uremic metabolite/AHR/mitochondrial axis in skeletal muscle was verified using muscle-specific AHR knockdown in C57BL/6J mice harboring a high-affinity AHR allele, as well as ectopic viral expression of constitutively active mutant AHR in mice with normal renal function. Notably, OXPHOS changes in AHRmKO mice were present only when mitochondria were fueled by carbohydrates. Further analyses revealed that AHR activation in mice led to significantly increased pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4) expression and phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme. These findings establish a uremic metabolite/AHR/Pdk4 axis in skeletal muscle that governs mitochondrial deficits in carbohydrate oxidation during CKD.

MANF stimulates autophagy and restores mitochondrial homeostasis to treat autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease in mice

Misfolded protein aggregates may cause toxic proteinopathy, including autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease due to uromodulin mutations (ADTKD-UMOD), a leading hereditary kidney disease. There are no targeted therapies. In our generated mouse model recapitulating human ADTKD-UMOD carrying a leading UMOD mutation, we show that autophagy/mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis are impaired, leading to cGAS-STING activation and tubular injury. Moreover, we demonstrate that inducible tubular overexpression of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF), a secreted endoplasmic reticulum protein, after the onset of disease stimulates autophagy/mitophagy, clears mutant UMOD, and promotes mitochondrial biogenesis through p-AMPK enhancement, thus protecting kidney function in our ADTKD mouse model. Conversely, genetic ablation of MANF in the mutant thick ascending limb tubular cells worsens autophagy suppression and kidney fibrosis. Together, we have discovered MANF as a biotherapeutic protein and elucidated previously unknown mechanisms of MANF in the regulation of organelle homeostasis, which may have broad therapeutic applications to treat various proteinopathies.

MANF stimulates autophagy and restores mitochondrial homeostasis to treat toxic proteinopathy

Misfolded protein aggregates may cause toxic proteinopathy, including autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease due to uromodulin mutations (ADTKD- UMOD ), one of the leading hereditary kidney diseases, and Alzheimer’s disease etc. There are no targeted therapies. ADTKD is also a genetic form of renal fibrosis and chronic kidney disease, which affects 500 million people worldwide. For the first time, in our newly generated mouse model recapitulating human ADTKD- UMOD carrying a leading UMOD deletion mutation, we show that autophagy/mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis are severely impaired, leading to cGAS- STING activation and tubular injury. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a novel endoplasmic reticulum stress-regulated secreted protein. We provide the first study that inducible tubular overexpression of MANF after the onset of disease stimulates autophagy/mitophagy and clearance of the misfolded UMOD, and promotes mitochondrial biogenesis through p-AMPK enhancement, resulting in protection of kidney function. Conversely, genetic ablation of endogenous MANF upregulated in the mutant mouse and human tubular cells worsens autophagy suppression and kidney fibrosis. Together, we discover MANF as a novel biotherapeutic protein and elucidate previously unknown mechanisms of MANF in regulating organelle homeostasis to treat ADTKD, which may have broad therapeutic application to treat various proteinopathies.

Nomogram to predict rapid kidney function decline in population at risk of cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND

To develop a reliable model to predict rapid kidney function decline (RKFD) among population at risk of cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, key monitoring residents including the elderly, and patients with hypertension or diabetes of China National Basic Public Health Service who underwent community annual physical examinations from January 2015 to December 2020 were included. Healthy records were extracted from regional chronic disease management platform. RKFD was defined as the reduction of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 40% during follow-up period. The entire cohort were randomly assigned to a development cohort and a validation cohort in a 2:1 ratio. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors. A nomogram was established based on the development cohort. The concordance index (C-index) and calibration plots were calculated. Decision curve analysis was applied to evaluate the clinical utility.

RESULTS

A total of 8455 subjects were included. During the median follow-up period of 3.72 years, the incidence of RKFD was 11.96% (n = 1011), 11.98% (n = 676) and 11.92% (n = 335) in the entire cohort, development cohort and validation cohort, respectively. Age, eGFR, hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, and diabetes were identified as predictors for RKFD. Good discriminating performance was observed in both the development (C-index, 0.73) and the validation (C-index, 0.71) cohorts, and the AUCs for predicting 5-years RKFD was 0.763 and 0.740 in the development and the validation cohort, respectively. Decision curve analysis further confirmed the clinical utility of the nomogram.

CONCLUSIONS

Our nomogram based on five readily accessible variables (age, eGFR, hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, and diabetes) is a useful tool to identify high risk patients for RKFD among population at risk of cardiovascular disease in primary care. Whereas, further external validations are needed before clinical generalization.

Relationship between physical performance and mild cognitive impairment in elderly hemodialysis patients is modified by the presence of diabetes: A multicenter cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to observe the relationship between physical performance and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes in elderly hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

In this multicenter cross-sectional study, 396 clinically stable and aged ≥60 years hemodialysis patients (255 men; mean age: 68.3 ± 5.9 years) were included from seven dialysis units in Shanghai, China. The Chinese version of the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale were utilized to assess MCI. The performance-based assessments consisted of three physical tests, grip strength (GS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), and 4-m walking test, which respectively represent muscle strength, mobility, and walking speed (WS). Logistic regression and multivariate linear regression were used for analysis.

RESULTS

Hemodialysis patients with diabetes had a high prevalence of MCI (20.6%). The odds ratio (OR) of MCI for the interacted items [(TUGT) * (diabetes) and (WS) * (diabetes)] was significant (p < 0.05). In diabetes patients, TUGT was positively associated with MCI, and WS was negatively associated with MCI after adjusting covariates [OR = 0.129; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.028-0.704, p = 0.021]. However, no significant association was found between physical performance and MCI in the non-diabetes hemodialysis patients (p > 0.05). Further analysis showed that TUGT was negatively associated with attention and calculation and language. WS was positively associated with recall and language in diabetic hemodialysis patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical performance was associated with MCI in diabetic hemodialysis patients rather than the non-diabetes group. Whether increasing mobility or WS can positively influence MCI in individuals with type 2 diabetes requires further study.

Simple model of arch support: Relevance to Charcot Neuroarthropathy

BACKGROUND

Charcot neuropathy is a common complication resulting from poorly controlled diabetes and peripheral neuropathy leading to the collapse, and ultimately the breakdown, of the midfoot. Mechanically, it is likely that a compromised arch support in this, or any other patient group that experiences foot flattening, would be associated with slippage at the distal and proximal interface regions of the plantar surface of the foot and the adjacent support surface. This slippage, although difficult to quantify with standard motion capture systems used in a gait laboratory, could potentially be assessed with systems for monitoring interface shear stresses. However, before investing in such systems, a correlation between arch flattening and interface shear stresses needs to be verified.

METHODS

For this purpose, a sagittal plane model of a foot was developed using a multi-body dynamics package (MSC Adams). This model mimicked a subject swaying back and forth, and was constructed to show the dependence of interface stresses on altered arch support.

FINDINGS

The model's predictions matched typical FootSTEPS data: lengthening of the arch of 1-2 mm, sway oscillations of 0.22-0.33 s and frictional force differences (calcaneus relative to forefoot) of 60 N. Of clinical relevance, when the stiffness of the plantar spring (representing aponeurosis and intrinsic muscles) was reduced by 10%, the frictional force difference increased by about 6.5%.

INTERPRETATION

The clinical implications of this study are that, while arch lengthening of less than 2 mm might be difficult to measure reliably in a gait lab, using shear sensors under the forefoot and hindfoot should allow arch support to be assessed in a repeatable manner.