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Cai S, Zhu H, Chen L, Yu C, Su L, Chen K, Li Y. Berberine Inhibits KLF4 Promoter Methylation and Ferroptosis to Ameliorate Diabetic Nephropathy in Mice. Chem Res Toxicol 2024. [PMID: 39264844 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.4c00263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
Inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and ferroptosis play important roles in diabetic nephropathy development. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a transcriptional factor, which regulates multiple cell processes and is involved in diabetic nephropathy. Berberine has various biological activities, including anti-inflammation, antioxidative stress, and antiferroptosis. Berberine has been shown to inhibit diabetic nephropathy, but whether it involves KLF4 and ferroptosis remains unknown. We established a diabetic nephropathy mice model and administered berberine to the mice. The kidney function, renal structure and fibrosis, expression of KLF4 and DNA methylation enzymes, DNA methylation of the KLF4 promoter, mitochondria structure, and expression of oxidative stress and ferroptosis markers were analyzed. Berberine rescued kidney function and renal structure and prevented renal fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy mice. Berberine suppressed the expression of DNMT1 and DNMT2 and upregulated KLF4 expression by preventing KLF4 promoter methylation. Berberine inhibited the expression of oxidative stress and ferroptosis markers, maintained mitochondria structure, and prevented ferroptosis. Berberine ameliorates diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting Klf4 promoter methylation and ferroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengyu Cai
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Huizheng Zhu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Lingling Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Congcong Yu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Liyuan Su
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Kaihua Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Yousheng Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, China
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Liang M, Zhu X, Zhang D, He W, Zhang J, Yuan S, He Q, Jin J. Yi-Shen-Hua-Shi granules inhibit diabetic nephropathy by ameliorating podocyte injury induced by macrophage-derived exosomes. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:962606. [PMID: 36506555 PMCID: PMC9732029 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.962606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of Yi-Shen-Hua-Shi (YSHS) granule in podocyte damage and diabetic nephropathy (DN) proteinuria and to explore the corresponding mechanism. Methods: The db/db mice were used to establish the DN model. Serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and 24 h urinary proteinuria were detected with specific kits. Glomerular structural lesions and podocyte apoptosis were detected through HE staining, TUNEL assay, and immunofluorescence. The medicated serum of YSHS granule (YSHS-serum) or control serum was prepared. Macrophage-derived exosomes were extracted using an exosome extraction kit. Morphology and the protein concentration of exosomes were evaluated by a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and BCA kit. The activity and apoptosis of podocyte MPC5 cells, the M1 macrophage polarization, and the protein expression of an exosome marker and cleaved caspase were detected by the CCK8 experiment, flow cytometry, and Western blot, respectively. The miR-21a-5p expression in podocytes and the exosomes from macrophages were measured by qRT-PCR. The effect of YSHS granule on the infiltration of M1 macrophages in the kidney tissue in db/db mice was measured by immunofluorescence. Results: The YSHS granule could improve renal function, reduce proteinuria, and inhibit glomerular structural lesions and podocyte apoptosis in db/db mice. High-glucose (HG) stimulation and YSHS granule treatment did not affect the protein concentration in macrophage-derived exosomes. Macrophage-derived exosomes could inhibit the cell viability and increase apoptosis of podocytes, especially the exosomes from macrophages treated with HG and control serum. Compared with the exosomes secreted by macrophages after an HG treatment, the exosome from macrophages treated with HG and YSHS granule showed lower inhibitory effects on podocyte activity, accompanied by the decreased upregulating effects of macrophage-derived exosomes on the miR-21a-5p in podocytes. miR-21a-5p mimics could reduce podocyte activity and promote caspase-3 shearing. M1 polarization of macrophages could change the content of miR-21a-5p in macrophage-derived exosomes. In addition, YSHS granule could inhibit HG-induced M1 polarization of macrophages and M1 macrophage infiltration in renal tissues. Conclusion: The YSHS granule could improve the podocyte injury induced by macrophage-derived exosomes and alleviate the progression of DN. This regulation might be related to the inhibition of M1 macrophage polarization by YSHS granule and the reduction of the miR-21a-5p content in macrophage-derived exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Liang
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China,Department of Nephrology, The Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhu
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Di Zhang
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenfang He
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinshi Zhang
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shizhu Yuan
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiang He
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Qiang He, ; Juan Jin,
| | - Juan Jin
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Qiang He, ; Juan Jin,
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Synthetic Non-Coding RNA for Suppressing mTOR Translation to Prevent Renal Fibrosis Related to Autophagy in UUO Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911365. [PMID: 36232665 PMCID: PMC9569483 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The global burden of chronic kidney disease is increasing, and the majority of these diseases are progressive. Special site-targeted drugs are emerging as alternatives to traditional drugs. Oligonucleotides (ODNs) have been proposed as effective therapeutic tools in specific molecular target therapies for several diseases. We designed ring-type non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), also called mTOR ODNs to suppress mammalian target rapamycin (mTOR) translation. mTOR signaling is associated with excessive cell proliferation and fibrogenesis. In this study, we examined the effects of mTOR suppression on chronic renal injury. To explore the regulation of fibrosis and inflammation in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced injury, we injected synthesized ODNs via the tail vein of mice. The expression of inflammatory-related markers (interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α), and that of fibrosis (α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin), was decreased by synthetic ODNs. Additionally, ODN administration inhibited the expression of autophagy-related markers, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3, Beclin1, and autophagy-related gene 5-12. We confirmed that ring-type ODNs inhibited fibrosis, inflammation, and autophagy in a UUO mouse model. These results suggest that mTOR may be involved in the regulation of autophagy and fibrosis and that regulating mTOR signaling may be a therapeutic strategy against chronic renal injury.
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Zhang Z, Sun Y, Xue J, Jin D, Li X, Zhao D, Lian F, Qi W, Tong X. The critical role of dysregulated autophagy in the progression of diabetic kidney disease. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:977410. [PMID: 36091814 PMCID: PMC9453227 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.977410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the major public health problems in society today. It is a renal complication caused by diabetes mellitus with predominantly microangiopathy and is a major cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Autophagy is a metabolic pathway for the intracellular degradation of cytoplasmic products and damaged organelles and plays a vital role in maintaining homeostasis and function of the renal cells. The dysregulation of autophagy in the hyperglycaemic state of diabetes mellitus can lead to the progression of DKD, and the activation or restoration of autophagy through drugs is beneficial to the recovery of renal function. This review summarizes the physiological process of autophagy, illustrates the close link between DKD and autophagy, and discusses the effects of drugs on autophagy and the signaling pathways involved from the perspective of podocytes, renal tubular epithelial cells, and mesangial cells, in the hope that this will be useful for clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Yuting Sun
- Department of Endocrinology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaojiao Xue
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - De Jin
- Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiangyan Li
- Northeast Asia Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Active Substances and Biological Mechanisms of Ginseng Efficacy, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Daqing Zhao
- Northeast Asia Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Active Substances and Biological Mechanisms of Ginseng Efficacy, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Fengmei Lian
- Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Fengmei Lian, ; Wenxiu Qi, ; Xiaolin Tong,
| | - Wenxiu Qi
- Northeast Asia Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Active Substances and Biological Mechanisms of Ginseng Efficacy, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Fengmei Lian, ; Wenxiu Qi, ; Xiaolin Tong,
| | - Xiaolin Tong
- Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Fengmei Lian, ; Wenxiu Qi, ; Xiaolin Tong,
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Jung HJ, An HJ, Gwon MG, Gu H, Bae S, Lee SJ, Kim YA, Leem J, Park KK. Anti-Fibrotic Effect of Synthetic Noncoding Oligodeoxynucleotide for Inhibiting mTOR and STAT3 via the Regulation of Autophagy in an Animal Model of Renal Injury. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27030766. [PMID: 35164031 PMCID: PMC8840279 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27030766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a common process of various kidney diseases. Autophagy is an important cell biology process to maintain cellular homeostasis. In addition, autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of various renal disease, including acute kidney injury, glomerular diseases, and renal fibrosis. However, the functional role of autophagy in renal fibrosis remains poorly unclear. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a negative regulatory role in autophagy. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an important intracellular signaling that may regulate a variety of inflammatory responses. In addition, STAT3 regulates autophagy in various cell types. Thus, we synthesized the mTOR/STAT3 oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to regulate the autophagy. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effect of mTOR/STAT3 ODN via the regulation of autophagy appearance on unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis. This study showed that UUO induced inflammation, tubular atrophy, and tubular interstitial fibrosis. However, mTOR/STAT3 ODN suppressed UUO-induced renal fibrosis and inflammation. The autophagy markers have no statistically significant relation, whereas mTOR/STAT3 ODN suppressed the apoptosis in tubular cells. These results suggest the possibility of mTOR/STAT3 ODN for preventing renal fibrosis. However, the role of mTOR/STAT3 ODN on autophagy regulation needs to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Jin Jung
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea;
| | - Hyun-Jin An
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea; (H.-J.A.); (M.-G.G.); (H.G.); (S.B.); (S.-J.L.); (Y.-A.K.)
| | - Mi-Gyeong Gwon
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea; (H.-J.A.); (M.-G.G.); (H.G.); (S.B.); (S.-J.L.); (Y.-A.K.)
| | - Hyemin Gu
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea; (H.-J.A.); (M.-G.G.); (H.G.); (S.B.); (S.-J.L.); (Y.-A.K.)
| | - Seongjae Bae
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea; (H.-J.A.); (M.-G.G.); (H.G.); (S.B.); (S.-J.L.); (Y.-A.K.)
| | - Sun-Jae Lee
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea; (H.-J.A.); (M.-G.G.); (H.G.); (S.B.); (S.-J.L.); (Y.-A.K.)
| | - Young-Ah Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea; (H.-J.A.); (M.-G.G.); (H.G.); (S.B.); (S.-J.L.); (Y.-A.K.)
| | - Jaechan Leem
- Department of Immunology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea;
| | - Kwan-Kyu Park
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea; (H.-J.A.); (M.-G.G.); (H.G.); (S.B.); (S.-J.L.); (Y.-A.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-53-650-4149; Fax: +82-53-650-4834
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Li T, Quan H, Zhang H, Lin L, Ou Q, Chen K. Silencing cyclophilin A improves insulin secretion, reduces cell apoptosis, and alleviates inflammation as well as oxidant stress in high glucose-induced pancreatic β-cells via MAPK/NF-kb signaling pathway. Bioengineered 2021; 11:1047-1057. [PMID: 32970961 PMCID: PMC8291783 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2020.1823729] [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] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclophilin A is increased in the plasm of diabetic patients, while its effects on high glucose (HG)-stimulated pancreatic β-cells are still pending. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of cyclophilin A inhibition on HG-challenged pancreatic β-cells. For investigating the effects of cyclophilin A decrease on HG-induced pancreatic β-cells, the cells were separated into normal glucose (NG), Mannitol, HG, HG + shRNA-NC, and HG + shRNA-Cyclophilin A-1 groups. The protein and mRNA expression were detected via Western blot and qRT-PCR. CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were employed for assessing cell viability and apoptosis. The levels of oxidative stress, inflammation, and insulin secretion were detected by corresponding kits. The cyclophilin A was higher in HG group. Knockdown of cyclophilin A was able to increase insulin secretion, decrease cell apoptosis, and alleviate inflammation as well as oxidant stress in HG-treated pancreatic β-cells via MAPK/NF-kb pathway. Taken together, Cyclophilin A, highly expressed in pancreatic β-cells induced by HG, is a promising therapeutic target for diabetes. Knockdown of cyclophilin A has protective effects against HG-challenged pancreatic β-cells via regulation of MAPK/NF-kb pathway. The findings in this study provided a new strategy for diabetic treatment and paved the way for future researches on diabetes treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tangying Li
- Department of Health Care Centre, Hainan General Hospital , Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Huibiao Quan
- Department of Endocrinology, Hainan General Hospital , Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Huachuan Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology Laboratory, Hainan General Hospital , Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Leweihua Lin
- Department of Endocrinology, Hainan General Hospital , Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Qianying Ou
- Department of Endocrinology, Hainan General Hospital , Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Kaining Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Hainan General Hospital , Haikou, Hainan, China
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Zhu Z, Liu Q, Sun J, Bao Z, Wang W. Silencing of PFKFB3 protects podocytes against high glucose‑induced injury by inducing autophagy. Mol Med Rep 2021; 24:765. [PMID: 34490476 PMCID: PMC8430303 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.12405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a diabetic complication that threatens the health of patients with diabetes. In addition, podocyte injury can lead to the occurrence of DN. The protein 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) may be associated with diabetes; however, the effects of PFKFB3 knockdown by small interfering (si)RNA on the growth of podocytes remains unknown. To investigate the mechanism by which PFKFB3 mediates podocyte injury, MPC5 mouse podocyte cells were treated with high-glucose (HG), and cell viability and apoptosis were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. In addition, the expression of autophagy-related proteins were measured using western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Cell migration was investigated using a Transwell assay and phalloidin staining was performed to observe the cytoskeleton. The results revealed that silencing of PFKFB3 significantly promoted MPC5 cell viability and inhibited apoptosis. In addition, the migration of the MPC5 cells was notably downregulated by siPFKFB3. Moreover, PFKFB3 silencing notably reversed the HG-induced decrease in oxygen consumption rate, and the HG-induced increase in extracellular acidification rate was rescued by PFKFB3 siRNA. Furthermore, silencing of PFKFB3 induced autophagy in HG-treated podocytes through inactivating phosphorylated (p-)mTOR, p-AMPKα, LC3 and sirtuin 1, and activating p62. In conclusion, silencing of PFKFB3 may protect podocytes from HG-induced injury by inducing autophagy. Therefore, PFKFB3 may serve as a potential target for treatment of DN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengming Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310007, P.R. China
| | - Qingsheng Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310007, P.R. China
| | - Jianshi Sun
- Department of Nephrology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, P.R. China
| | - Ziyang Bao
- Department of Nephrology, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310007, P.R. China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310007, P.R. China
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Su J, Gao C, Xie L, Fan Y, Shen Y, Huang Q, Wang N, Xu Y, Yang N, Gui D. Astragaloside II Ameliorated Podocyte Injury and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:638422. [PMID: 33796024 PMCID: PMC8008105 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.638422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Astragaloside II (AS II), a novel saponin purified from Astragalus membranes, has been reported to modulate the immune response, repair tissue injury, and prevent inflammatory response. However, the protective effects of AS II on podocyte injury in diabetic nephropathy (DN) have not been investigated yet. In this study, we aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of AS II on podocyte injury and mitochondrial dysfunction in DN. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (STZ) by intraperitoneal injection at 55 mg/kg in rats. Diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups, namely, diabetic rats and diabetic rats treated with losartan (10 mg·kg−1·d−1) or AS II (3.2 and 6.4 mg·kg−1·d−1) for 9 weeks. Normal Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen as nondiabetic control group. Urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), biochemical parameters, renal histopathology and podocyte apoptosis, and morphological changes were evaluated. Expressions of mitochondrial dynamics-related and autophagy-related proteins, such as Mfn2, Fis1, P62, and LC3, as well as Nrf2, Keap1, PINK1, and Parkin, were examined by immunohistochemistry, western blot, and real-time PCR, respectively. Our results indicated that AS II ameliorated albuminuria, renal histopathology, and podocyte foot process effacement and podocyte apoptosis in diabetic rats. AS II also partially restored the renal expression of mitochondrial dynamics-related and autophagy-related proteins, including Mfn2, Fis1, P62, and LC3. AS II also increased the expression of PINK1 and Parkin associated with mitophagy in diabetic rats. Moreover, AS II facilitated antioxidative stress ability via increasing Nrf2 expression and decreasing Keap1 protein level. These results suggested that AS II ameliorated podocyte injury and mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetic rats partly through regulation of Nrf2 and PINK1 pathway. These important findings might provide an innovative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of DN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Su
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Chongting Gao
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Xie
- Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Fan
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yilan Shen
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Qunwei Huang
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Niansong Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Youhua Xu
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, China
| | - Nizhi Yang
- Department of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dingkun Gui
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
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SGLT2 Inhibitor Empagliflozin and DPP4 Inhibitor Linagliptin Reactivate Glomerular Autophagy in db/db Mice, a Model of Type 2 Diabetes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082987. [PMID: 32340263 PMCID: PMC7215949 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent data have indicated the emerging role of glomerular autophagy in diabetic kidney disease. We aimed to assess the effect of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin, the DPP4 inhibitor linagliptin, and their combination, on glomerular autophagy in a model of type 2 diabetes. Eight-week-old male db/db mice were randomly assigned to treatment with empagliflozin, linagliptin, empagliflozin–linagliptin or vehicle for 8 weeks. Age-matched non-diabetic db/+ mice acted as controls. To estimate glomerular autophagy, immunohistochemistry for beclin-1 and LAMP-1 was performed. Podocyte autophagy was assessed by counting the volume density (Vv) of autophagosomes, lysosomes and autolysosomes by transmission electron microscopy. LC3B and LAMP-1, autophagy markers, and caspase-3 and Bcl-2, apoptotic markers, were evaluated in renal cortex by western blot. Vehicle-treated db/db mice had weak glomerular staining for beclin-1 and LAMP-1 and reduced Vv of autophagosomes, autolysosomes and lysosomes in podocytes. Empagliflozin and linagliptin, both as monotherapy and in combination, enhanced the areas of glomerular staining for beclin-1 and LAMP-1 and increased Vv of autophagosomes and autolysosomes in podocytes. Renal LC3B and Bcl-2 were restored in actively treated animals. LAMP-1 expression was enhanced in the empagliflozin group; caspase-3 expression decreased in the empagliflozin–linagliptin group only. Mesangial expansion, podocyte foot process effacement and urinary albumin excretion were mitigated by both agents. The data provide further explanation for the mechanism of the renoprotective effect of SGLT2 inhibitors and DPP4 inhibitors in diabetes.
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