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Feng L, Lin Z, Tang Z, Zhu L, Xu S, Tan X, Wang X, Mai J, Tan Q. Emodin improves renal fibrosis in chronic kidney disease by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis through the mediation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α). Eur J Histochem 2024; 68. [PMID: 38742403 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2024.3917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading public health issue associated with high morbidity worldwide. However, there are only a few effective therapeutic strategies for CKD. Emodin, an anthraquinone compound from rhubarb, can inhibit fibrosis in tissues and cells. Our study aims to investigate the antifibrotic effect of emodin and the underlying molecular mechanism. A unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced rat model was established to evaluate the effect of emodin on renal fibrosis development. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and immunohistochemistry staining were performed to analyze histopathological changes and fibrotic features after emodin treatment. Subsequently, a transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced cell model was used to assess the inhibition of emodin on cell fibrosis in vitro. Furthermore, Western blot analysis and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were performed to validate the regulatory mechanism of emodin on renal fibrosis progression. As a result, emodin significantly improved histopathological abnormalities in rats with UUO. The expression of fibrosis biomarkers and mitochondrial biogenesis-related proteins also decreased after emodin treatment. Moreover, emodin blocked TGF-β1-induced fibrotic phenotype, lipid accumulation, and mitochondrial homeostasis in NRK-52E cells. Conversely, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) silencing significantly reversed these features in emodin-treated cells. Collectively, emodin plays an important role in regulating PGC-1α-mediated mitochondria function and energy homeostasis. This indicates that emodin exhibits great inhibition against renal fibrosis and acts as a promising inhibitor of CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuchang Feng
- Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen.
| | - Zaoqiang Lin
- Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen.
| | - Zeyong Tang
- Department of Nephrology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou.
| | - Lin Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen Hospital; Department of Nephrology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen.
| | - Shu Xu
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen.
| | - Xi Tan
- Medicopsychology, Shenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen.
| | - Xinyuan Wang
- Medicopsychology, School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing.
| | - Jianling Mai
- Department of Hemodialysis, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou.
| | - Qinxiang Tan
- Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen.
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Hao J, Qiang P, Fan L, Xiong Y, Chang Y, Yang F, Wang X, Shimosawa T, Mu S, Xu Q. Eplerenone reduces lymphangiogenesis in the contralateral kidneys of UUO rats. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9976. [PMID: 38693148 PMCID: PMC11063175 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60636-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation and fibrosis often occur in the kidney after acute injury, resulting in chronic kidney disease and consequent renal failure. Recent studies have indicated that lymphangiogenesis can drive renal inflammation and fibrosis in injured kidneys. However, whether and how this pathogenesis affects the contralateral kidney remain largely unknown. In our study, we uncovered a mechanism by which the contralateral kidney responded to injury. We found that the activation of mineralocorticoid receptors and the increase in vascular endothelial growth factor C in the contralateral kidney after unilateral ureteral obstruction could promote lymphangiogenesis. Furthermore, mineralocorticoid receptor activation in lymphatic endothelial cells resulted in the secretion of myofibroblast markers, thereby contributing to renal fibrosis. We observed that this process could be attenuated by administering the mineralocorticoid receptor blocker eplerenone, which, prevented the development of fibrotic injury in the contralateral kidneys of rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction. These findings offer valuable insights into the intricate mechanisms underlying kidney injury and may have implications for the development of therapeutic strategies to mitigate renal fibrosis in the context of kidney disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Hao
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Shijiazhuang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Panpan Qiang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Lili Fan
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yunzhao Xiong
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yi Chang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiangting Wang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Tatsuo Shimosawa
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Narita, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shengyu Mu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
| | - Qingyou Xu
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China.
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China.
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China.
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Zhang J, Feng X, Yang R, Bai J, Gao F, Zhang B. Beclin-1-Derived Peptide MP1 Attenuates Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting the Wnt/ β-Catenin Pathway. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2024; 389:208-218. [PMID: 38453525 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.001994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is distinguished by the abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix and progressive loss of nephron function, with a lack of effective treatment options in clinical practice. In this study, we discovered that the Beclin-1-derived peptide MP1 significantly inhibits the abnormal expression of fibrosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related markers, including α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, collagen I, matrix metallopeptidase 2, Snail1, and vimentin both in vitro and in vivo. H&E staining was employed to evaluate renal function, while serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were used as main indices to assess pathologic changes in the obstructed kidney. The results demonstrated that daily treatment with MP1 during the 14-day experiment significantly alleviated renal dysfunction and changes in Scr and BUN in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction. Mechanistic research revealed that MP1 was found to have a significant inhibitory effect on the expression of crucial components involved in both the Wnt/β-catenin and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/Smad pathways, including β-catenin, C-Myc, cyclin D1, TGF-β1, and p-Smad/Smad. However, MP1 exhibited no significant impact on either the LC3II/LC3I ratio or P62 levels. These findings indicate that MP1 improves renal physiologic function and mitigates the fibrosis progression by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our study suggests that MP1 represents a promising and novel candidate drug precursor for the treatment of renal fibrosis. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study indicated that the Beclin-1-derived peptide MP1 effectively mitigated renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction through inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and transforming growth factor-β/Smad pathway, thereby improving renal physiological function. Importantly, unlike other Beclin-1-derived peptides, MP1 exhibited no significant impact on autophagy in normal cells. MP1 represents a promising and novel candidate drug precursor for the treatment of renal fibrosis focusing on Beclin-1 derivatives and Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaocui Feng
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Runling Yang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jingya Bai
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Feiyun Gao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bangzhi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Yan Z, Shi Y, Yang R, Xue J, Fu C. ELABELA-derived peptide ELA13 attenuates kidney fibrosis by inhibiting the Smad and ERK signaling pathways. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2024; 25:341-353. [PMID: 38584095 PMCID: PMC11009446 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2300033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Kidney fibrosis is an inevitable result of various chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) and significantly contributes to end-stage renal failure. Currently, there is no specific treatment available for renal fibrosis. ELA13 (amino acid sequence: RRCMPLHSRVPFP) is a conserved region of ELABELA in all vertebrates; however, its biological activity has been very little studied. In the present study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of ELA13 on transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-treated NRK-52E cells and unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO) mice. Our results demonstrated that ELA13 could improve renal function by reducing creatinine and urea nitrogen content in serum, and reduce the expression of fibrosis biomarkers confirmed by Masson staining, immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and western blot. Inflammation biomarkers were increased after UUO and decreased by administration of ELA13. Furthermore, we found that the levels of essential molecules in the mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways were reduced by ELA13 treatment in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, ELA13 protected against kidney fibrosis through inhibiting the Smad and ERK signaling pathways and could thus be a promising candidate for anti-renal fibrosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibin Yan
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Ying Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Runling Yang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jijun Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Caiyun Fu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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Tuoheti K, Bai X, Yang L, Wang X, Cao Y, Yisha Z, Guo L, Zhan S, Wu Z, Liu T. Forsythiaside A suppresses renal fibrosis and partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting THBS1 through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 129:111650. [PMID: 38342062 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a key feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, whereas no proven effective anti-fibrotic treatments. Forsythiaside A (FTA), derived from Forsythia suspense, has been found to possess nephroprotective properties. However, there is limited research on its anti-fibrotic effects, and its mechanism of action remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the suppressive effects of FTA on renal fibrosis and explore the underlying mechanisms. In vitro, we established a HK2 cell model induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and in vivo, we used a mice model induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). CCK-8 assay, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, histological staining, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL assay, RNA transcriptome sequencing, and molecular docking were performed. The results showed that FTA (40 μM or 80 μM) treatment improved cell viability and suppressed TGF-β1-induced fibrotic changes and partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, FTA treatment reversed the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and THBS1 was identified as the target gene. We found that THBS1 knockdown suppressed the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and reduced the fibrosis and partial EMT-related protein level. Conversely, THBS1 overexpression activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and exacerbated renal fibrosis and partial EMT. In vivo, mice were administered FTA (30 or 60 mg/kg) for 2 weeks, and the results demonstrated that FTA administration significantly mitigated tubular injury, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, partial EMT, and apoptosis. In conclusion, FTA inhibited renal fibrosis and partial EMT by targeting THBS1 and inhibiting activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuerban Tuoheti
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaojie Bai
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lijie Yang
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuanfei Cao
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zuhaer Yisha
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Linfa Guo
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shanzhi Zhan
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhonghua Wu
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Cancer Precision Diagnosis and Treatment and Translational Medicine Hubei Engineering Research Center, Wuhan, China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Urinary System Diseases, Wuhan, China.
| | - Tongzu Liu
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Cancer Precision Diagnosis and Treatment and Translational Medicine Hubei Engineering Research Center, Wuhan, China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Urinary System Diseases, Wuhan, China.
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Chen H, Yang Y, Zhou X, Feng Y. Attenuating Renal Interstitial Fibrosis by Shenqi Pill via Reducing Inflammation Response Regulated by NF-κB Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo. Iran J Kidney Dis 2024; 18:87-98. [PMID: 38660700 DOI: 10.5254/kv5ap920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION One of the most significant clinical features of chronic kidney disease is renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF). This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of Shenqi Pill (SQP) on RIF. METHODS RIF model was established by conducting unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) surgery on rat or stimulating human kidney-2 (HK-2) cell with transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1). After modeling, the rats in the SQP low dose group (SQP-L), SQP middle dose group (SQP-M) and SQP high dose group (SQP-H) were treated with SQP at 1.5, 3 or 6 g/kg/d, and the cells in the TGFβ1+SQP-L/M/H were treated with 2.5%, 5%, 10% SQP-containing serum. In in vivo assays, serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) content were measured, kidney histopathology was evaluated., and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) content, inhibitor of kappa B alpha (IKBα) and P65 phosphorylation were assessed. Meanwhile, cell viability, inflammatory cytokines content, α-SMA expression, IKBα and P65 phosphorylation were detected in vitro experiment. Results. SQP exhibited reno-protective effect by decreasing SCr and BUN content, improving renal interstitial damage, blunting fibronectin (FN) and α-SMA expression in RIF rats. Similarly, after the treatment with SQP-containing serum, viability and α-SMA expression were remarkably decreased in TGFβ1-stimulated HK-2 cell. Furthermore, SQP markedly down-regulated IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α content, IKBα and RelA (P65) phosphorylation both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion. SQP has a reno-protective effect against RIF in vivo and in vitro, and the effect is partly linked to nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway related inflammatory response, which indicates that SQP may be a candidate drug for RIF. DOI: 10.52547/ijkd.7546.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongshu Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuanxiao Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojie Zhou
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yaorong Feng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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Been RA, Voets PJGM, van Rhijn-Brouwer FCCC, Vogtländer NPJ. A lesson for the clinical nephrologist: desmopressin and its unforeseen efficacy in clinical post-obstructive diuresis. J Nephrol 2024; 37:515-517. [PMID: 37856066 PMCID: PMC11043196 DOI: 10.1007/s40620-023-01782-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Riemer Anton Been
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Centre Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gelre Hospital, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.
| | - Philip Johannes Gerdiaan Maria Voets
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gelre Hospital, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Wang H, Liu J, Fang F, Gao L, Zhao C, Wang Z, Zhong Y, Wang X. Losartan ameliorates renal fibrosis by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor signal pathway. Nefrologia 2024; 44:139-149. [PMID: 38697694 DOI: 10.1016/j.nefroe.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Losartan is widely used in the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has achieved good clinical efficacy, but its exact mechanism is not clear. We performed high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology to screen the potential target of losartan in treating CKD. According to the HTS results, we found that the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signal pathway was enriched. Therefore, we conducted in vivo and in vitro experiments to verify it. We found that TNF signal pathway was activated in both unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rats and human proximal renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), while losartan can significantly inhibit TNF signal pathway as well as the expression of fibrosis related genes (such as COL-1, α-SMA and Vimentin). These data suggest that losartan may ameliorate renal fibrosis through modulating the TNF pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongshuang Wang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050091, China
| | - Jiazhi Liu
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050091, China
| | - Fang Fang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050091, China
| | - Lanjun Gao
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050091, China
| | - Chenchen Zhao
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050091, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Shijiazhuang 050091, China; Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Yan Zhong
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Shijiazhuang 050091, China; Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China.
| | - Xiangting Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Shijiazhuang 050091, China.
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Aranda-Rivera AK, Cruz-Gregorio A, Amador-Martínez I, Medina-Campos ON, Garcia-Garcia M, Bernabe-Yepes B, León-Contreras JC, Hernández-Pando R, Aparicio-Trejo OE, Sánchez-Lozada LG, Tapia E, Pedraza-Chaverri J. Sulforaphane protects from kidney damage during the release of unilateral ureteral obstruction (RUUO) by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2): Role of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic mechanisms. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 212:49-64. [PMID: 38141891 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Releasing unilateral ureteral obstruction (RUUO) is the gold standard for decreasing renal damage induced during unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO); however, the complete recovery after RUUO depends on factors such as the time and severity of obstruction and kidney contralateral compensatory mechanisms. Interestingly, previous studies have shown that kidney damage markers such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis are present and even increase after removal obstruction. To date, previous therapeutic strategies have been used to potentiate the recovery of renal function after RUUO; however, the mechanisms involving renal damage reduction are poorly described and sometimes focus on the recovery of renal functionality. Furthermore, using natural antioxidants has not been completely studied in the RUUO model. In this study, we selected sulforaphane (SFN) because it activates the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that induces an antioxidant response, decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation, preventing apoptosis. Thus, we pre-administrated SFN on the second day after UUO until day five, where we released the obstruction on the three days after UUO. Then, we assessed oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis markers. Interestingly, we found that SFN administration in the RUUO model activated Nrf2, inducing its translocation to the nucleus to activate its target proteins. Thus, the Nrf2 activation upregulated glutathione (GSH) content and the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR), which reduced the oxidative stress markers. Moreover, the improvement of antioxidant response by SFN restored S-glutathionylation in the mitochondrial fraction. Activated Nrf2 also reduced inflammation by lessening the nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) production. Reducing oxidative stress and inflammation prevented apoptosis by avoiding caspase 3 cleavage and increasing B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) levels. Taken together, the obtained results in our study showed that the upregulation of Nrf2 by SFN decreases oxidative stress, preventing inflammation and apoptosis cell death during the release of UUO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Karina Aranda-Rivera
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico; Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico.
| | - Alfredo Cruz-Gregorio
- Departamento de Fisiología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chavez", Mexico City, 14080, Mexico
| | - Isabel Amador-Martínez
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico; Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
| | - Omar Noel Medina-Campos
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
| | - Misael Garcia-Garcia
- Departamento de Fisiopatología Cardio-Renal, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia "Ignacio Chávez", Mexico City, 14080, Mexico
| | - Bismarck Bernabe-Yepes
- Departamento de Fisiopatología Cardio-Renal, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia "Ignacio Chávez", Mexico City, 14080, Mexico
| | - Juan Carlos León-Contreras
- Departamento de Patología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, 14080, Mexico
| | - Rogelio Hernández-Pando
- Departamento de Patología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, 14080, Mexico
| | - Omar Emiliano Aparicio-Trejo
- Departamento de Fisiopatología Cardio-Renal, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia "Ignacio Chávez", Mexico City, 14080, Mexico
| | - Laura Gabriela Sánchez-Lozada
- Departamento de Fisiopatología Cardio-Renal, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia "Ignacio Chávez", Mexico City, 14080, Mexico
| | - Edilia Tapia
- Departamento de Fisiopatología Cardio-Renal, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia "Ignacio Chávez", Mexico City, 14080, Mexico
| | - José Pedraza-Chaverri
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico.
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10
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Saad KM, Salles ÉL, Naeini SE, Baban B, Abdelmageed ME, Abdelaziz RR, Suddek GM, Elmarakby AA. Reno-protective effect of protocatechuic acid is independent of sex-related differences in murine model of UUO-induced kidney injury. Pharmacol Rep 2024; 76:98-111. [PMID: 38214881 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00565-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obstructive nephropathy is a condition often caused by urinary tract obstruction either anatomical (e.g., tumors), mechanical (e.g., urolithiasis), or compression (e.g., pregnancy) and can progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Studies have shown sexual dimorphism in CKD, where males were found to have a more rapid decline in kidney function following kidney injury compared to age-matched females. Protocatechuic acid (PCA), an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenolic compound, has demonstrated promising effects in mitigating drug-induced kidney injuries. The current study aims to explore sexual dimorphism in kidney injury after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and assess whether PCA treatment can mitigate kidney injury in both sexes. METHODS UUO was induced in 10-12 weeks old male and female C57BL/6J mice. Mice were categorized into four groups (n = 6-8/group); Sham, Sham plus PCA (100 mg/kg, I.P daily), UUO, and UUO plus PCA. RESULTS After 2 weeks of induction of UUO, markers of kidney oxidative stress (TBARs), inflammation (IL-1α and IL-6), tubular injury (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, NGAL and urinary kidney injury molecule-1, KIM-1), fibrosis (Masson's trichrome staining, collagen IV expression, MMP-2 and MMP-9) and apoptosis (TUNEL+ cells, active caspase-1 and caspase-3) were significantly elevated in both males and females relative to their sham counterparts. Males exhibited significantly greater kidney oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis after induction of UUO when compared to females. PCA treatment significantly attenuated UUO-induced kidney injury, inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis in both sexes. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest a differential gender response to UUO-induced kidney injury with males being more sensitive to UUO-induced kidney inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis than age-matched females. Importantly, PCA treatment reduced UUO-induced kidney injury in a sex-independent manner which might be attributed to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anti-apoptotic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim M Saad
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1450 Laney Walker Blvd, CL2126, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Évila Lopes Salles
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1450 Laney Walker Blvd, CL2126, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Sahar Emami Naeini
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1450 Laney Walker Blvd, CL2126, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Babak Baban
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1450 Laney Walker Blvd, CL2126, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Marwa E Abdelmageed
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Rania R Abdelaziz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Ghada M Suddek
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A Elmarakby
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1450 Laney Walker Blvd, CL2126, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
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11
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Liu Y, Wu J, Liang S, Xu J, Wei M, Du Z, Qiang S. Guben Xiezhuo Decoction inhibits M1 polarization through the Raf1/p-Elk1 signaling axis to attenuate renal interstitial fibrosis. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 319:117189. [PMID: 37716490 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Guben Xiezhuo Decoction (GBXZD) is an herbal compound used to treat chronic kidney disease (CKD) under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Its main components are Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf., Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Cuscuta chinensis Lam., and Rheum palmatum L.. Clinical studies have shown that it can relieve fatigue, nausea and other symptoms and improve kidney function in patients; however, its specific mechanism of action requires further study. AIM OF THE STUDY Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is the ultimate characteristic manifestation of various CKD, that cannot be cured, and appropriate treatments to delay its progression require further exploration. GBXZD, widely used in clinical practice for RIF treatment, can effectively relieve the syndrome in patients with CKD. However, the specific mechanism of action of GBXZD in RIF is unknown and requires further study. This study aimed to explore the specific effects of GBXZD on RIF through the regulation of M1 macrophages. MATERIALS AND METHODS An in vivo RIF model was obtained through unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), and the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham operation, UUO, UUO + GBXZD-low dose (GBXZD-L) and UUO + GBXZD-high dose (GBXZD-H) groups. Pathological changes in rat kidney specimens were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson staining. The expression of collagen I (COL I), fibronectin (FN), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected using immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of CD86 and inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) in kidney tissue. An in vitro experiment was performed using M1 polarization model in RAW264.7 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cells were divided into control, LPS, LPS + GBXZD-low dose (GBXZD-L) and LPS + GBXZD-high dose (GBXZD-H) groups. The changes in expression of CD86, iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were measured using western blotting, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We analyzed the action pathway of GBXZD in regulating M1 polarization of macrophages using antibody microarray and verified the results using western blotting. RESULTS Histopathological results showed that the UUO group exhibited significant fibrotic injury compared to the sham group. After GBXZD treatment, the degree of kidney injury, RIF, and inflammatory factor expression were lower than those in the UUO group. Compared with LPS-treated cells, the expression of the M1 markers CD86, iNOS, and pathway proteins Raf1 and p-Elk1 was down-regulated in RAW 264.7 cells treated with LPS and GBXZD. The secretion of the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the LPS group was more than that in the control group. However, the levels of these factors were significantly reduced in the GBXZD-H group compared to those in the LPS group. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that GBXZD ameliorates RIF and inhibits the inflammatory response and macrophage M1 polarization by a potential mechanism related to the downregulation of Raf1 and p-Elk1. GBXZD therefore has therapeutic potential value for patients with CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- Department of Nephropathy, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, 215600, Jiangsu, China; Translational Medical Innovation Center, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, 215600, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingyi Wu
- Department of Nephropathy, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, 215600, Jiangsu, China; Translational Medical Innovation Center, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, 215600, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuo Liang
- Department of Nephropathy, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, 215600, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiawei Xu
- Department of Nephropathy, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, 215600, Jiangsu, China
| | - Minggang Wei
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zhenfang Du
- Department of Nephropathy, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, 215600, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Sheng Qiang
- Department of Nephropathy, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, 215600, Jiangsu, China.
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12
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Hung CC, Chen KH, Hsu HH, Chang MY, Ko YC, Yang HY, Yang CW. Noscapine alleviates unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced inflammation and fibrosis by regulating the TGFβ1/Smads signaling pathways. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 2024; 1871:119594. [PMID: 37730129 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a common pathway leading to progressive renal function loss in various forms of chronic kidney disease. Many fibrogenic factors regulate renal fibrosis; two key players are post-injury inflammation and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced myofibroblast differentiation. Myofibroblast differentiation is tightly regulated by the microtubule polymerization. Noscapine, an antitussive plant alkaloid, is a potent microtubule-interfering agent previously identified as a potential anticancer compound. Here, we examined how noscapine affects renal fibrogenesis in an in vitro renal fibroblast model and an in vivo unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model. UUO mice were intraperitoneally treated with noscapine at 1 day before UUO surgery and daily thereafter. At 7 days post-surgery, kidneys were collected for further analysis. To analyze whether noscapine inhibits downstream TGF-β1-related signaling, we pre-incubated NRK-49F fibroblasts with noscapine and then performed TGF-β1 stimulation. In UUO mice, noscapine attenuated extracellular matrix protein deposition and the expression levels of type I collagen, type IV collagen, α-smooth muscle actin, and fibronectin. In addition, noscapine decreased tubulointerstitial inflammation in UUO kidneys by reducing TLR2 expression, modulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reducing macrophage infiltration, and antagonizing the M2 macrophage phenotype. Furthermore, noscapine pre-incubation suppressed the TGF-β1-induced fibroblast-myofibroblast transformation by downregulating the TGF-β/Smads signaling pathways in NRK-49F cells. These results suggest that noscapine reduces tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis in the kidneys of UUO mice and inhibits the fibroblast-myofibroblast transformation induced by TGF-β1. Noscapine is an over-the-counter antitussive that has been used safely for several decades. Therefore, noscapine is an attractive therapeutic agent for inhibiting renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Chieh Hung
- Department of Nephrology and Kidney Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Kuan-Hsing Chen
- Department of Nephrology and Kidney Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Hao Hsu
- Department of Nephrology and Kidney Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Yang Chang
- Department of Nephrology and Kidney Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ching Ko
- Department of Nephrology and Kidney Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Huang-Yu Yang
- Department of Nephrology and Kidney Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wei Yang
- Department of Nephrology and Kidney Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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Lee KM, Hwang YJ, Jung GS. Alantolactone Attenuates Renal Fibrosis via Inhibition of Transforming Growth Factor β/Smad3 Signaling Pathway. Diabetes Metab J 2024; 48:72-82. [PMID: 38173367 PMCID: PMC10850280 DOI: 10.4093/dmj.2022.0231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGRUOUND Renal fibrosis is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins and interstitial fibrosis. Alantolactone is known to exert anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal effects; however, its effects on renal fibrosis remains unknown. Here, we investigated whether alantolactone attenuates renal fibrosis in mice unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and evaluated the effect of alantolactone on transforming growth factor (TGF) signaling pathway in renal cells. METHODS To evaluate the therapeutic effect of alantolactone, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, histological staining, Western blot analysis, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed in UUO kidneys in vivo and in TGF-β-treated renal cells in vitro. RESULTS Alantolactone (0.25 to 4 µM) did not affect the viability of renal cells. Mice orally administered 5 mg/kg of alantolactone daily for 15 days did not show mortality or liver toxicity. Alantolactone decreased UUO-induced blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels. In addition, it significantly alleviated renal tubulointerstitial damage and fibrosis and decreased collagen type I, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in UUO kidneys. In NRK-49F cells, alantolactone inhibited TGF-βstimulated expression of fibronectin, collagen type I, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and α-SMA. In HK-2 cells, alantolactone inhibited TGF-β-stimulated expression of collagen type I and PAI-1. Alantolactone inhibited UUO-induced phosphorylation of Smad3 in UUO kidneys. In addition, it not only decreased TGF-β secretion but also Smad3 phosphorylation and translocation to nucleus in both kidney cell lines. CONCLUSION Alantolactone improves renal fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway in obstructive nephropathy. Thus, alantolactone is a potential therapeutic agent for chronic kidney disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeong-Min Lee
- Division of Biotechnology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yeo Jin Hwang
- Division of Biotechnology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu, Korea
| | - Gwon-Soo Jung
- New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu, Korea
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Honma S, Kakuage S, Morita Y, Ito T, Yoshida M. Vildagliptin Treatment Ameliorates Renal Interstitial Fibrosis in a Murine Model of Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction. Biol Pharm Bull 2024; 47:37-42. [PMID: 38171778 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b23-00609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Renal interstitial fibrosis in mice can be modeled using unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Here, we investigated the anti-fibrotic effects of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor vildagliptin in this model. We found that vildagliptin given in the drinking water at 10.6 ± 1.5 mg/kg/d prevented fibrosis. Mechanistically, UUO was associated with extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and with the accumulation of the toxic lipid peroxidation product expression of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE). Both were significantly inhibited by vildagliptin. Similarly, UUO caused reductions in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA in the kidney, whereas interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) mRNA were increased; these effects were also prevented by vildagliptin. Taking these data together, we propose that vildagliptin reduces renal interstitial fibrosis resulting from UUO by means of its effects on ERK phosphorylation and the amounts of 4-HNE, HO-1, IL-6 and COX-1 in the kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeyoshi Honma
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare
| | - Sota Kakuage
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare
| | - Yuta Morita
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare
| | - Takeki Ito
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare
| | - Makoto Yoshida
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare
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Shi Y, Zhou L, Zheng G, Jing Y, Zhang X, Yuan J, Zhang Q, Li H, Huang S, Xie T, Xiong Q. Therapeutic mechanism exploration of polysaccharides from Dendrobium officinale on unilateral ureteral obstruction operation-induced renal fibrosis based on improving oxidative stress injury mediated by AhR/NOX4 pathway. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:126920. [PMID: 37717864 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (DOP) has been reported to possess remarkable effects on improving renal function, oxidative stress damage and fibrotic diseases. However, the role and mechanism of DOP in preventing and treating renal fibrosis remain unclear. The purpose of this paper was to explore the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of DOP on renal fibrosis. Firstly, renal fibrosis model was induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction operation (UUO) in male BALB/c mice. Subsequently, the anti-renal fibrosis effect of DOP was evaluated. It turned out that DOP significantly attenuated UUO induced renal fibrosis. The beneficial effects of DOP on renal fibrosis were concretely manifested in the relief of clinical symptoms, improvement of renal function, reduction of extracellular matrix collagen aggregation, attenuation of structural damage and inflammation, and decrement of profibrotic factors secretion. Meanwhile, DOP could also alleviate oxidative stress injury and inhibit the AhR/NOX4 pathway proteins expression. Furthermore, multivariate statistical analysis, AhR interference and overexpression experiments showed that the effect of DOP on alleviating renal fibrosis was closely related to the improvement of oxidative stress injury mediated by the AhR/NOX4 pathway. Overall, the data in the present paper indicated that DOP could alleviate renal fibrosis through improving AhR/NOX4 mediated oxidative stress injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Shi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Regional Resource Exploitation and Medicinal Research, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223003, PR China
| | - Li Zhou
- Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223002, PR China
| | - Guangzhen Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Regional Resource Exploitation and Medicinal Research, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223003, PR China
| | - Yi Jing
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Regional Resource Exploitation and Medicinal Research, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223003, PR China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Regional Resource Exploitation and Medicinal Research, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223003, PR China
| | - Jun Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Regional Resource Exploitation and Medicinal Research, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223003, PR China
| | - Qianghua Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Regional Resource Exploitation and Medicinal Research, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223003, PR China
| | - Hailun Li
- Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223002, PR China.
| | - Song Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Development and Research of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, PR China.
| | - Tian Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, PR China.
| | - Qingping Xiong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Regional Resource Exploitation and Medicinal Research, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223003, PR China.
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Kianfar T, Kadkhodaee M, Seifi B, Abdi A, Adelipour M, Pishkenari BH, Malboosi N, Ranjbaran M. The effect of tannic acid on renal renin-angiotensin signaling pathway in a model of unilateral ureteral obstruction in male Wistar rats. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2023; 396:3569-3579. [PMID: 37249615 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02548-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of current study was to elucidate polyphenol tannic acid effect on renal function and activity of the renin-angiotensin system after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of six randomly: 1) Sham, 2) UUO, and 3) UUO + Tannic acid. Rats in the UUO and UUO + Tannic acid groups experienced unilateral ureteral obstruction. In the Sham group, the abdominal cavity was exposed without UUO induction. In the UUO + Tannic acid group, animals received tannic acid (20 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, 6 and 12 h after clamping the left ureter and 6 and 12 h after the right nephrectomy. Blood samples were taken to measure blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels. Kidney tissue samples were obtained for assessment of oxidative stress, inflammatory indices and the levels of renin-angiotensin system components. Tannic acid administration significantly improved UUO-induced kidney dysfunction (serum BUN: 66.42 ± 14.414 mg/dl, p < 0.05; serum creatinine: 1.67 ± 0.258 mg/dl, p < 0.05), oxidative stress (MDA level: 95.29 ± 37.35 µmol/g tissue, p < 0.05; SOD activity: 59.82 ± 13.41 U/g protein, p < 0.01) and inflammation (renal TNF-α: 57.05 ± 15.653 pg/g tissue, p < 0.05; renal IL-6: 117.015 ± 24.076 pg/g tissue, p < 0.001). The treatment caused a reduction in the amount of renal angiotensinogen, renin and ACE genes expression compared to the UUO group (Angiotensinogen: 8.9 ± onefold, p < 0.05, Renin: 6.5 ± 1.14 fold, p < 0.05, ACE: 4.9 ± 0.64 fold, p < 0.05). Angiotensin II type 1 receptor protein levels decreased in the tannic acid-treated rats in comparison with the UUO group (0.61 ± 0.136, p < 0.05). According to the result of the current study, tannic acid considerably attenuated the complications of unilateral ureteral obstruction through renin-angiotensin system modulation. Trial registration: IR.TUMS.MEDICINE.REC.1400.802.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Kianfar
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417613151, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehri Kadkhodaee
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417613151, Iran
| | - Behjat Seifi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417613151, Iran
| | - Arash Abdi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417613151, Iran
| | - Maryam Adelipour
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Bahar Hejazi Pishkenari
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417613151, Iran
| | - Nasrin Malboosi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417613151, Iran
| | - Mina Ranjbaran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417613151, Iran.
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Liu W, Zhou H, Dong H, Xing D, Lu M. Fluorofenidone Attenuates Renal Interstitial Fibrosis by Enhancing Autophagy and Retaining Mitochondrial Function. Cell Biochem Biophys 2023; 81:777-785. [PMID: 37735328 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-023-01176-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fluorofenidone (AKF-PD) is a novel pyridone agent and has potent anti-NLRP3 inflammasome and anti-fibrotic activities. However, the mechanisms underlying its pharmacological actions are not fully understood. METHODS A renal fibrosis rat model was established by the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) procedure and the rats were randomized and treated with, or without, AKF-PD for 3 and 7 days. The levels of renal fibrosis, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, mitochondrial function, and autophagy were tested in rat kidney tissues. Macrophages following lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) stimulation were examined by Western blot, spectrophotometry, and TEM. RESULTS Compared with the untreated UUO rats, AKF-PD treatment significantly mitigated the UUO procedure-induced renal fibrosis in rats. AKF-PD treatment decreased mitochondrial dysfunction and IL-Iβ and caspase-1 expression in rat kidney tissues and reduced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production in activated macrophages. Mechanistically, AKF-PD treatment significantly attenuated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, increased Beclin-1 and LC3 II expression and autophagosome formation, and ameliorated the mitochondrial damage in renal tissues and activated macrophages. CONCLUSION The results indicated that AKF-PD treatment inhibited renal interstitial fibrosis by regulating the autophagy-mitochondria-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlin Liu
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, 121001, China
| | - Hongli Zhou
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, 121001, China
| | - Haonan Dong
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, 121001, China
| | - Di Xing
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, 121001, China
| | - Miaomiao Lu
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, 121001, China.
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Lin P, Qiu F, Wu M, Xu L, Huang D, Wang C, Yang X, Ye C. Salvianolic acid B attenuates tubulointerstitial fibrosis by inhibiting EZH2 to regulate the PTEN/Akt pathway. Pharm Biol 2023; 61:23-29. [PMID: 36524761 PMCID: PMC9762854 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2022.2148169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Salvianolic acid B (SAB) can alleviate renal fibrosis and improve the renal function. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of SAB on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and explore its underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Male C57 mice were subjected to unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO) and aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) for renal fibrosis indication. Vehicle or SAB (10 mg/kg/d, i.p.) were given consecutively for 2 weeks in UUO mice while 4 weeks in AAN mice. The serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urine nitrogen (BUN) were measured. Masson's trichrome staining and the fibrotic markers (FN and α-SMA) were used to evaluate renal fibrosis. NRK-49F cells exposed to 2.5 ng/mL TGF-β were treated with SAB in the presence or absence of 20 μM 3-DZNep, an inhibitor of EZH2. The protein expression of EZH2, H3k27me3 and PTEN/Akt signaling pathway in renal tissue and NRK-49F cells were measured by Western blots. RESULTS SAB significantly improved the levels of Scr by 24.3% and BUN by 35.7% in AAN mice. SAB reduced renal interstitial collagen deposition by 34.7% in UUO mice and 72.8% in AAN mice. Both in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that SAB suppressed the expression of FN and α-SMA, increased PTEN and decreased the phosphorylation of Akt, which were correlated with the down-regulation of EZH2 and H3k27me3. The inhibition of EZH2 attenuated the anti-fibrotic effects of SAB in NRK-49Fs. CONCLUSION SAB might have therapeutic potential on renal fibrosis of CKD through inhibiting EZH2, which encourages further clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinglan Lin
- Department of Nephrology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- TCM Institute of Kidney Disease, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Furong Qiu
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Ming Wu
- Department of Nephrology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- TCM Institute of Kidney Disease, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Lin Xu
- Department of Nephrology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- TCM Institute of Kidney Disease, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Di Huang
- Department of Nephrology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- TCM Institute of Kidney Disease, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- TCM Institute of Kidney Disease, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Xuejun Yang
- Department of Nephrology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- TCM Institute of Kidney Disease, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Chaoyang Ye
- Department of Nephrology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- TCM Institute of Kidney Disease, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, P. R. China
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Tan E, Gao Z, Wang Q, Han B, Shi H, Wang L, Zhu G, Hou Y. Berberine ameliorates renal interstitial inflammation and fibrosis in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2023; 133:757-769. [PMID: 37811696 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Berberine acts via multiple pathways to alleviate fibrosis in various tissues and shows renoprotective effects. However, its role and underlying mechanisms in renal fibrosis remain unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of berberine against unilateral ureteric obstruction-induced renal fibrosis. The results indicated that berberine treatment (50 mg/kg/day) markedly alleviated histopathological alterations, collagen deposition and inflammatory cell infiltration in kidney tissue and restored mouse renal function. Mechanistically, berberine intervention inhibited NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and the levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in the kidneys of unilateral ureteric obstruction mice. In addition, berberine relieved unilateral ureteric obstruction-induced renal injury by activating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling and promoting fatty acid β-oxidation. In vitro models showed that berberine treatment prevented the TGF-β1-induced profibrotic phenotype of hexokinase 2 (HK-2) cells, characterized by loss of an epithelial phenotype (alpha smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]) and acquisition of mesenchymal marker expression (E-cadherin), by restoring abnormal fatty acid β-oxidation and upregulating the expression of the fatty acid β-oxidation related-key enzymes or regulators (phosphorylated-AMPK, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha [PPARα] and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A [CPT1A]). Collectively, berberine alleviated renal fibrosis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and protected tubular epithelial cells by reversing defective fatty acid β-oxidation. Our findings might be exploited clinically to provide a potential novel therapeutic strategy for renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enxue Tan
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhihong Gao
- Department of Nephrology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Baosheng Han
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Shanxi Cardiovascular Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Honghong Shi
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Lihua Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Guozhen Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yanjuan Hou
- Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
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20
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Li Y, Luo C, Zeng Y, Zheng Z, Tao D, Liu Q, Hong Y, Wang S, Long H, Xu Z. Renal Fibrosis Is Alleviated through Targeted Inhibition of IL-11-Induced Renal Tubular Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition. Am J Pathol 2023; 193:1936-1952. [PMID: 37673330 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a pathologic process that leads to irreversible renal failure without effective treatment. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in this process. The current study found that aberrant expression of IL-11 is critically involved in tubular EMT. IL-11 and its receptor subunit alpha-1 (IL-11Rα1) were significantly induced in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) kidneys, co-localized with transforming growth factor-β1. IL-11 knockdown ameliorated UUO-induced renal fibrosis in vivo and transforming growth factor-β1-induced EMT in vitro. IL-11 intervention directly induced the transdifferentiation of RTECs to the mesenchymal phenotype and increased the synthesis of profibrotic mediators. The EMT response induced by IL-11 was dependent on the sequential activation of STAT3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathways and the up-regulation of metadherin in RTECs. Micheliolide (MCL) competitively inhibited the binding of IL-11 with IL-11Rα1, suppressing the activation of STAT3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2-metadherin pathways, ultimately inhibiting renal tubular EMT and interstitial fibrosis induced by IL-11. In addition, treatment with dimethylaminomicheliolide, a pro-drug of MCL for in vivo use, significantly ameliorated renal fibrosis exacerbated by IL-11 in the UUO model. These findings suggest that IL-11 is a promising target in renal fibrosis and that MCL/dimethylaminomicheliolide exerts its antifibrotic effect by suppressing IL-11/IL-11Rα1 interaction and blocking its downstream effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqin Li
- Department of General Practice, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Congwei Luo
- Department of Nephrology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiqun Zeng
- Department of Nephrology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zerong Zheng
- Department of Nephrology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Danping Tao
- Department of Gerontology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiao Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiyu Hong
- Department of Emergency, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Department of Emergency, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haibo Long
- Department of Nephrology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhaozhong Xu
- Department of Emergency, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Wang J, Shi B, Pan Y, Yang Z, Zou W, Liu M. Asperulosidic Acid Ameliorates Renal Interstitial Fibrosis via Removing Indoxyl Sulfate by Up-Regulating Organic Anion Transporters in a Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction Mice Model. Molecules 2023; 28:7690. [PMID: 38067420 PMCID: PMC10707915 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Asperulosidic acid is a bioactive iridoid isolated from Hedyotis diffusa Willd. with anti-inflammatory and renal protective effects. However, its mechanism on renal interstitial fibrosis has not been elucidated yet. The present study aims to explore whether asperulosidic acid could retard renal fibrosis by reducing the circulating indoxyl sulfate (IS), which is a uremic toxin and accelerates chronic kidney disease progression by inducing renal fibrosis. In this paper, a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model of Balb/C mice was established. After the mice were orally administered with asperulosidic acid (14 and 28 mg/kg) for two weeks, blood, liver and kidney were collected for biochemical, histological, qPCR and Western blot analyses. Asperulosidic acid administration markedly reduced the serum IS level and significantly alleviated the histological changes in glomerular sclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis. It is noteworthy that the mRNA and protein levels of the organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), OAT3 and hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α) in the kidney were significantly increased, while the mRNA expressions of cytochrome P450 2e1 (Cyp2e1) and sulfotransferase 1a1 (Sult1a1) in the liver were not altered after asperulosidic acid administration. These results reveal that asperulosidic acid could accelerate the renal excretion of IS by up-regulating OATs via HNF1α in UUO mice, thereby alleviating renal fibrosis, but did not significantly affect its production in the liver, which might provide important information for the development of asperulosidic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China;
| | - Birui Shi
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (B.S.); (Y.P.); (Z.Y.)
| | - Yueqing Pan
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (B.S.); (Y.P.); (Z.Y.)
| | - Zhuan Yang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (B.S.); (Y.P.); (Z.Y.)
| | - Wei Zou
- Changsha Research and Development Center on Obstetric and Gynecologic Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparation, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha 410008, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Menghua Liu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (B.S.); (Y.P.); (Z.Y.)
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22
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Yoshimura N, Yamada K, Ono T, Notoya M, Yukioka H, Takahashi R, Wakino S, Kanda T, Itoh H. N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (N-Me-2PY) has potent anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory activity in a fibrotic kidney model: is it an old uremic toxin? Clin Exp Nephrol 2023; 27:901-911. [PMID: 37490135 DOI: 10.1007/s10157-023-02379-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uremic toxins accumulate in renal tissues and cells due to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Abnormalities in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD +) metabolism lead to the progression of CKD. NAD + metabolites, such as N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (N-Me-2PY) and N-methyl-4-pyridone-5-carboxamide (N-Me-4PY), have been recognized as uremic toxins. However, no reports have validated whether they are actually harmful to the body. Therefore, we focused on the structural similarity of these metabolites to the anti-fibrotic drug pirfenidone and evaluated their effects on renal fibrosis. METHODS Each NAD + metabolite was treated with TGFβ1 to kidney fibroblasts or tubular epithelial cells, and quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were conducted. N-Me-2PY was orally administered to a ligated murine kidney fibrosis model (UUO) to evaluate its anti-fibrotic and toxic effects on the body. RESULTS N-Me-2PY, N-Me-4PY, and nicotinamide N-oxide (NNO) inhibited TGFβ1-induced fibrosis and inflammatory gene expression in kidney fibroblasts. N-Me-2PY strongly suppressed the expression of types I and III collagen, αSMA, and IL-6. N-Me-2PY also suppressed TGFβ1-induced type I collagen and IL-6 expression in renal tubular epithelial cells. No toxic effect was observed with N-Me-2PY treatment, while attenuating renal fibrosis and tubular dilation in UUO mice. Suppression of various fibrosis- and inflammation-related genes was also observed. N-Me-2PY did not inhibit TGFβ1-induced Smad3 phosphorylation but inhibited Akt phosphorylation, suggesting that N-Me-2PY exerts anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects through Akt inhibition, similar to pirfenidone. CONCLUSIONS NAD + metabolites, such as N-Me-2PY, are not uremic toxins but are potential therapeutic agents that have anti-fibrotic effects in CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norito Yoshimura
- Drug Discovery & Disease Research Laboratory, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
- School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsutoshi Yamada
- Drug Discovery & Disease Research Laboratory, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - Takashi Ono
- Drug Discovery & Disease Research Laboratory, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Notoya
- Drug Discovery & Disease Research Laboratory, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - Hideo Yukioka
- Drug Discovery & Disease Research Laboratory, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Shu Wakino
- Department of Nephrology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kanda
- School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
- Division of Nephrology, Shimane University Hospital, 89-1,Enya-Cho, Izumo-Shi, Shimane, 693-8501, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Itoh
- School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
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23
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Song J, Wang H, Sheng J, Zhang W, Lei J, Gan W, Cai F, Yang Y. Vitexin attenuates chronic kidney disease by inhibiting renal tubular epithelial cell ferroptosis via NRF2 activation. Mol Med 2023; 29:147. [PMID: 37891461 PMCID: PMC10612207 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00735-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) involves a variety of pathological processes, and ferroptosis plays a vital role in CKD progression. Targeting ferroptosis is a promising strategy for the treatment of CKD. However, inhibitors of ferroptosis have not been used in the clinical treatment of CKD. Vitexin is a natural flavonoid with many biological activities and protective effects against various diseases. However, whether vitexin can prevent the progression of CKD is not known. METHODS In vivo, the effect of vitexin on CKD was evaluated by using mouse models of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and unilateral ischemia-reperfusion (UIR). Western blotting, Sirius red staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze renal tubular injury, interstitial fibrosis, and inflammation in the kidneys of UUO and UIR mice. In vitro, CCK8 assays and lipid peroxidation assays were performed to analyze cell viability and lipid peroxidation in human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK2 cells) induced by erastin. The activation of renal fibroblasts (NRK-49 F cells) was also analyzed. Additionally, an in-silico protein-drug docking model and coimmunoprecipitation were performed to determine the direct substrate of vitexin. RESULTS In vivo, vitexin treatment significantly ameliorated renal tubular injury, interstitial fibrosis, and inflammation in the kidneys of UUO and UIR mice. Additionally, our results showed that vitexin significantly attenuated UUO- and UIR-induced ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells by upregulating glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) protein levels and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in mouse kidneys. In vitro, treatment with vitexin inhibited erastin-induced ferroptosis in HK2 cells. Moreover, vitexin inhibited the expression of collagen I and α-SMA (alpha-smooth muscle actin) in NRK-49 F cells induced by the supernatant of erastin-treated HK2 cells. Mechanistically, our results suggested that vitexin could activate the NRF2/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway by inhibiting the KEAP1- and ubiquitination-mediated degradation of NRF2, thereby increasing the expression of GPX4, and further inhibiting lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. Additionally, knockout of NRF2 greatly inhibited the antiferroptotic effects of vitexin. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results indicate that vitexin can protect against renal tubular epithelial cell ferroptosis in CKD by activating the KEAP1/NRF2/HO-1 pathway and is a promising drug to treat CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Song
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongri Wang
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingyi Sheng
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Juan Lei
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weihua Gan
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Fangfang Cai
- School of Biopharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Yunwen Yang
- Nanjing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008, China.
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Wang J, Wang Z, Xia F, Duan Q, Peng X. Atorvastatin reduces renal interstitial fibrosis caused by unilateral ureteral obstruction through inhibiting the transcriptional activity of YAP. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 678:109-114. [PMID: 37633180 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Renal interstitial fibrosis is the primary pathological basis for the progression and development of various chronic kidney diseases, ultimately leading to renal failure. Obstructive kidney disease caused by conditions such as kidney stones, is a common cause of renal fibrosis. The Hippo pathway is a crucial signaling pathway that senses mechanical forces and is involved in the pathophysiology of fibrosis. In this study, we established a mouse model of obstructive kidney disease induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). The UUO procedure significantly upregulated YAP and fibrosis-related gene expression in a time-dependent manner. Morphologically, the renal fibrotic lesions associated with hydronephrosis progressively worsened over time in the UUO group. Atorvastatin, which is widely used to lower blood cholesterol levels, has recently been shown to inhibit Yes1 associated protein (YAP). We treated UUO mice with atorvastatin for 3 and 10 days and observed a decrease in the expression of YAP and fibrosis-related genes at the mRNA and protein levels, along with a reduction in the renal fibrosis analyzed by Masson's staining. These findings suggest that atorvastatin may serve as a preventive agent for fibrosis associated with obstructive kidney disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- First Clinical Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Zhichao Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China; Jiangxi Hypertension Research Institute, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Fan Xia
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China; Jiangxi Hypertension Research Institute, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Qiong Duan
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China; Jiangxi Hypertension Research Institute, Nanchang, 330006, China.
| | - Xiaoping Peng
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China; Jiangxi Hypertension Research Institute, Nanchang, 330006, China.
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Huang Z, Nie H, Liu G, Li P, Peng YH, Xiao J, Gu W, Li TS. Losartan alleviates renal fibrosis by inhibiting the biomechanical stress-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of renal epithelial cells. Arch Biochem Biophys 2023; 748:109770. [PMID: 37783367 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have been reported to be beneficial of renal fibrosis, but the molecular and cellular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness and relevant mechanism of ARBs in alleviating renal fibrosis, especially by focusing on biomechanical stress-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal epithelial cells. Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) renal fibrosis model was established in mice by ligating the left ureter, and then randomly received losartan at a low dose (1 mg/kg) or a regular dose (3 mg/kg) for 2 weeks. Compared to the control, histological analysis showed that losartan treatment at either a low dose or a regular dose effectively attenuated renal fibrosis in the UUO model. To further understand the mechanism, we ex vivo loaded primary human renal epithelial cells to 50 mmHg hydrostatic pressure. Western blot and immunostaining analyses indicated that the loading to 50 mmHg hydrostatic pressure for 24 h significantly upregulated vimentin, β-catenin and α-SMA, but downregulated E-cadherin in renal epithelial cells, suggesting the EMT. The addition of 10 or 100 nM losartan in medium effectively attenuated the EMT of renal epithelial cells induced by 50 mmHg hydrostatic pressure loading. Our in vivo and ex vivo experimental data suggest that losartan treatment, even at a low dose can effectively alleviate renal fibrosis in mouse UUO model, at least partly by inhibiting the biomechanical stress-induced EMT of renal epithelial cells. A low dose of ARBs may repurpose for renal fibrosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zisheng Huang
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Atomic Bomb Diseases Institute, Nagasaki University, Japan; Department of Stem Cell Biology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Han Nie
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Atomic Bomb Diseases Institute, Nagasaki University, Japan; Department of Stem Cell Biology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Geng Liu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Atomic Bomb Diseases Institute, Nagasaki University, Japan; Department of Stem Cell Biology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Peilin Li
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, 510180, China
| | - Yong-Hua Peng
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Jie Xiao
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Weili Gu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, 510180, China.
| | - Tao-Sheng Li
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Atomic Bomb Diseases Institute, Nagasaki University, Japan; Department of Stem Cell Biology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
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Li X, Dong W, Yang Y, Ren S, Wang X, Zou M, Lu W, Liu L, Xue Y. Ecliptasaponin A attenuates renal fibrosis by regulating the extracellular matrix of renal tubular cells. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2023; 59:684-696. [PMID: 37831322 PMCID: PMC10709264 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-023-00803-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is the most common manifestation of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), including diabetic kidney disease (DKD), but there is no effective treatment in renal fibrosis. Natural products are a rich source of clinical drug research and have been used in the clinical research of various diseases. In this study, we searched for traditional Chinese medicine monomers that attenuate fibrosis and assessed their effect on the fibrosis marker connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in cells which we found ecliptasaponin A. Subsequently, we evaluated the effect of ecliptasaponin A on renal fibrosis in the classic renal fibrosis unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model and found that ecliptasaponin A could reduce the renal collagen fiber deposition and renal extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expression in UUO mice. In vitro, ecliptasaponin A can inhibit ECM protein expression in human kidney-2 (HK-2) cells induced by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFβ1). To further clarify the mechanism of ecliptasaponin A in attenuating renal fibrosis, we performed transcriptome sequencing of HK-2 cells treated with TGFβ1 and ecliptasaponin A. The functions and pathways were mainly enriched in the extracellular matrix and TGFβ signalling pathway. Matrix metalloproteinase 10 (MMP10) and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) are the main differentially expressed genes in extracellular matrix regulation. Then, we measured MMP10 and MMP13 in the cells and found that ecliptasaponin A had a significant inhibitory effect on MMP13 expression but not on MMP10 expression. Furthermore, we overexpressed MMP13 in HK-2 cells treated with TGFβ1 and found that MMP13 promoted HK-2 cell injury. Our findings suggest that ecliptasaponin A can attenuate renal fibrosis, which may provide a new method for treating renal fibrosis clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Dong
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanlin Yang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Shijing Ren
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangyu Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meina Zou
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen Lu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lerong Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaoming Xue
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Poolsri W, Noitem R, Jutabha P, Raveesunthornkiat M, Danova A, Chavasiri W, Muanprasat C. Discovery of a chalcone derivative as an anti-fibrotic agent targeting transforming growth factor-β1 signaling: Potential therapy of renal fibrosis. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115098. [PMID: 37437378 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
As a final common pathway of renal injuries, renal fibrosis leads to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Currently, there is no safe and effective therapy to prevent the progression of renal fibrosis to CKD. Inhibition of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) pathway is proposed as one of the most promising approaches for anti-renal fibrosis therapies. This study aimed to identify novel anti-fibrotic agents using the TGF-β1-induced fibrosis in renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (RPTEC) and characterize their mechanism of action as well as in vivo efficacy. By screening 362 natural product-based compounds for their ability to reduce collagen accumulation assessed by picro-sirius red (PSR) staining in RPTEC cells, a chalcone derivative AD-021 was identified as an anti-fibrotic agent with IC50 of 14.93 μM. AD-021 suppressed TGF-β1-induced collagen production, expression of pro-fibrotic proteins (fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA)), and Smad-dependent and Smad-independent signaling pathways via suppression of TGF-β receptor II (TGFβRII) phosphorylation in RPTEC cells. Furthermore, TGF-β1-induced mitochondrial fission in RPTEC cells was ameliorated by AD-021 via mechanisms involving inhibition of Drp1 phosphorylation. In a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis, AD-021 reduced plasma TGF-β1, ameliorated renal fibrosis and improved renal function. Collectively, AD-021 represents a novel class of natural product-based anti-fibrotic agent that has therapeutic potential in the prevention of fibrosis-associated renal disorders including CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanangkan Poolsri
- Program in Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand; Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bang Phli, Samut Prakarn, Thailand
| | - Rattikarn Noitem
- Program in Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand; Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bang Phli, Samut Prakarn, Thailand
| | - Promsuk Jutabha
- Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bang Phli, Samut Prakarn, Thailand
| | | | - Ade Danova
- Center of Excellence in Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Organic Chemistry Division, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural, 16 Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Ganesa No.10, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Warinthorn Chavasiri
- Center of Excellence in Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chatchai Muanprasat
- Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bang Phli, Samut Prakarn, Thailand.
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Lee TW, Bae E, Kim JH, Jung MH, Park DJ. Psoralen Alleviates Renal Fibrosis by Attenuating Inflammasome-Dependent NLRP3 Activation and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in a Mouse Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13171. [PMID: 37685978 PMCID: PMC10487722 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of psoralen (PS), a major active component extracted from Psoralea corylifolia L. seed, in renal fibrosis is still unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of PS on the development and progression of renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in a mouse model. Mice were divided into four groups: PS (20 mg/kg, i.g., n = 5), PS + sham (n = 5), UUO (n = 10), and PS + UUO (n = 10). PS was intragastrically administered 24 h before UUO and continued afterwards for 7 days. All mice were killed 7 days post UUO. Severe tubular atrophy, tubular injury, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) were significantly developed in UUO mice. A higher expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) was accompanied by elevated levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and phosphorylated Smad2/3 (pSmad2/3) at 7 days post UUO. However, PS treatment reduced tubular injury, interstitial fibrosis, and the expression levels of TGF-β1, α-SMA, and pSmad2/3. Furthermore, the levels of macrophages (represented by F4/80 positive cells) and the inflammasome, reflected by inflammasome markers such as nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptors protein 3 (NLRP3) and cleaved caspase1 (cCASP-1), were significantly decreased by PS treatment. These results suggest that PS merits further exploration as a therapeutic agent in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Won Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon 51353, Republic of Korea; (T.W.L.); (E.B.)
| | - Eunjin Bae
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon 51353, Republic of Korea; (T.W.L.); (E.B.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea; (J.H.K.); (M.H.J.)
| | - Jin Hyun Kim
- Institute of Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea; (J.H.K.); (M.H.J.)
- Biomedical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong Hee Jung
- Institute of Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea; (J.H.K.); (M.H.J.)
- Biomedical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Jun Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon 51353, Republic of Korea; (T.W.L.); (E.B.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea; (J.H.K.); (M.H.J.)
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Abramicheva PA, Semenovich DS, Zorova LD, Pevzner IB, Sokolov IA, Popkov VA, Kazakov EP, Zorov DB, Plotnikov EY. Decreased renal expression of PAQR5 is associated with the absence of a nephroprotective effect of progesterone in a rat UUO model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12871. [PMID: 37553369 PMCID: PMC10409855 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39848-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is a severe complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Progesterone, like other sex hormones, plays an important role in renal physiology, but its role in CKD is poorly understood. We investigated progesterone effect on renal fibrosis progression in the rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Female rats were exposed to UUO, ovariectomy and progesterone administration after UUO with ovariectomy. Expression of key fibrosis markers, proinflammatory cytokines, levels of membrane-bound (PAQR5) and nuclear (PGR) progesterone receptors, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity were analyzed in the obstructed and intact rat kidney. In all groups exposed to UUO, decreased PAQR5 expression was observed in the obstructed kidney while in the contralateral kidney, it remained unaffected. We found increased mRNA levels for profibrotic COL1A1, FN1, MMP2, TIMP1, TIMP2, proinflammatory IL1α, IL1β, and IL18, as well as elevated α-SMA and MMP9 proteins, collagen deposition, and MMP2 activity in all UUO kidneys. Progesterone had slight or no effect on the change in these markers. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time diminished sensitivity of the kidney to progesterone associated with renal fibrosis due to a severe decrease in PAQR5 expression that was accompanied by the lack of nephroprotection in a rat UUO model.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Abramicheva
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119234.
| | - D S Semenovich
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119234
| | - L D Zorova
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119234
- V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Moscow, Russia, 117997
| | - I B Pevzner
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119234
- V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Moscow, Russia, 117997
| | - I A Sokolov
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119234
- Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Moscow, Russia, 125047
| | - V A Popkov
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119234
- V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Moscow, Russia, 117997
- MSU Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119234
| | - E P Kazakov
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119234
| | - D B Zorov
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119234
- V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Moscow, Russia, 117997
| | - E Y Plotnikov
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119234.
- V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Moscow, Russia, 117997.
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Hirata T, Ohara H, Kojima N, Koretsune H, Hasegawa Y, Inatani S, Takahashi T. Renoprotective Effect of TP0472993, a Novel and Selective 20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acid Synthesis Inhibitor, in Mouse Models of Renal Fibrosis. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2023; 386:56-69. [PMID: 37142440 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Kidney fibrosis is considered the essential pathophysiological process for the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) toward renal failure. 20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) has crucial roles in modulating the vascular response in the kidney and the progression of albuminuria. However, the roles of 20-HETE in kidney fibrosis are largely unexplored. In the current research, we hypothesized that if 20-HETE has important roles in the progression of kidney fibrosis, 20-HETE synthesis inhibitors might be effective against kidney fibrosis. To verify our hypothesis, this study investigated the effect of a novel and selective 20-HETE synthesis inhibitor, TP0472993, on the development of kidney fibrosis after folic acid- and obstructive-induced nephropathy in mice. Chronic treatment with TP0472993 at doses of 0.3 and 3 mg/kg twice a day attenuated the degree of kidney fibrosis in the folic acid nephropathy and the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mice, as demonstrated by reductions in Masson's trichrome staining and the renal collagen content. In addition, TP0472993 reduced renal inflammation, as demonstrated by markedly reducing interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels in the renal tissue. Chronic treatment with TP0472993 also reduced the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the kidney of UUO mice. Our observations indicate that inhibition of 20-HETE production with TP0472993 suppresses the kidney fibrosis progression via a reduction in the ERK1/2 and STAT3 signaling pathway, suggesting that 20-HETE synthesis inhibitors might be a novel treatment option against CKD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In this study, we demonstrate that the pharmacological blockade of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) synthesis using TP0472993 suppresses the progression of kidney fibrosis after folic acid- and obstructive-induced nephropathy in mice, indicating that 20-HETE might have key roles in the pathogenesis of kidney fibrosis. TP0472993 has the potential to be a novel therapeutic approach against chronic kidney disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Hirata
- Pharmacology Laboratories (T.H., H.O., N.K., H.K., T.T.) and Drug Safety and Pharmacokinetics Laboratories (Y.H., S.I.), Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ohara
- Pharmacology Laboratories (T.H., H.O., N.K., H.K., T.T.) and Drug Safety and Pharmacokinetics Laboratories (Y.H., S.I.), Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
| | - Naoki Kojima
- Pharmacology Laboratories (T.H., H.O., N.K., H.K., T.T.) and Drug Safety and Pharmacokinetics Laboratories (Y.H., S.I.), Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiroko Koretsune
- Pharmacology Laboratories (T.H., H.O., N.K., H.K., T.T.) and Drug Safety and Pharmacokinetics Laboratories (Y.H., S.I.), Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Hasegawa
- Pharmacology Laboratories (T.H., H.O., N.K., H.K., T.T.) and Drug Safety and Pharmacokinetics Laboratories (Y.H., S.I.), Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
| | - Shoko Inatani
- Pharmacology Laboratories (T.H., H.O., N.K., H.K., T.T.) and Drug Safety and Pharmacokinetics Laboratories (Y.H., S.I.), Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
| | - Teisuke Takahashi
- Pharmacology Laboratories (T.H., H.O., N.K., H.K., T.T.) and Drug Safety and Pharmacokinetics Laboratories (Y.H., S.I.), Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
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Zhu B, Han R, Ni Y, Guo H, Liu X, Li J, Wang L. Podocarpusflavone alleviated renal fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy by inhibiting Fyn/Stat3 signaling pathway. J Nat Med 2023; 77:464-475. [PMID: 36884159 DOI: 10.1007/s11418-023-01685-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a common pathological change in end-stage renal disease. However, limited treatment methods are developed, and unexplained potential mechanisms of renal diseases are urgent problems to be solved. In the present research, we first elucidated the role of podocarpusflavone (POD), a biflavone compound, in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rodent model which is characterized by inflammation and fibrosis. The changes in histology and immunohistochemistry were observed that POD exerted renoprotective effects by retarding the infiltration of macrophage and aberrant deposition of ɑ-SMA, Col1a1, and fibronectin. Consistent with in vivo assay, POD treatment also ameliorated the process of fibrosis in TGF-β1-stimulated renal tubular epithelial cells and inflammation in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells in vitro. In terms of mechanism, our results showed that treatment with POD inhibited the aggravated activation of Fyn in the UUO group, and weakened the level of phosphorylation of Stat3 which indicated that POD may alleviate the process of fibrosis by the Fyn/Stat3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, the gain of function assay by lentivirus-mediated exogenous forced expression of Fyn abrogated the therapeutic effect of the POD on renal fibrosis and inflammation. Collectively, it can be concluded that POD exerted a protective effect on renal fibrosis by mediating Fyn/Stat3 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingwen Zhu
- Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Rangyue Han
- Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Yufang Ni
- Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Huaiying Guo
- Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- The Clinical Laboratory of the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiaoheng Liu
- Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Jianchun Li
- Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
| | - Li Wang
- Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
- Institute of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
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Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is thought to have multiple biological effects, including the ability to attenuate inflammatory processes. Cannabigerols (CBGA and its decarboxylated CBG molecule) have pharmacological profiles similar to CBD. The endocannabinoid system has recently emerged to contribute to kidney disease, however, the therapeutic properties of cannabinoids in kidney disease remain largely unknown. In this study, we determined whether CBD and CBGA can attenuate kidney damage in an acute kidney disease model induced by the chemotherapeutic cisplatin. In addition, we evaluated the anti-fibrosis effects of these cannabinoids in a chronic kidney disease model induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). We find that CBGA, but not CBD, protects the kidney from cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. CBGA also strongly suppressed mRNA of inflammatory cytokines in cisplatin-induced nephropathy, whereas CBD treatment was only partially effective. Furthermore, both CBGA and CBD treatment significantly reduced apoptosis through inhibition of caspase-3 activity. In UUO kidneys, both CBGA and CBD strongly reduced renal fibrosis. Finally, we find that CBGA, but not CBD, has a potent inhibitory effect on the channel-kinase TRPM7. We conclude that CBGA and CBD possess reno-protective properties, with CBGA having a higher efficacy, likely due to its dual anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects paired with TRPM7 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayuri Suzuki
- Center for Biomedical Research, The Queen's Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.
| | - Andrea Fleig
- Center for Biomedical Research, The Queen's Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
- University of Hawaii Cancer Center, 651 Ilalo St., Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
- John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 651 Ilalo St., Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
| | - Reinhold Penner
- Center for Biomedical Research, The Queen's Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
- University of Hawaii Cancer Center, 651 Ilalo St., Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
- John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 651 Ilalo St., Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
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Wang H, Jiang Q, Kang L, Yuan L, Chen G, Cui X, Wang L, Zhang T, Wang L. Rheum officinale and Salvia miltiorrhiza inhibit renal fibrosis via miR-21/PTEN/Akt signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. J Ethnopharmacol 2023; 304:115928. [PMID: 36513264 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE As one of the main components of many famous Chinese herbal formulas, Rheum palmatum L. and Salvia miltiorhiza Bunge (RS) are extensively used to treat chronic kidney disease (CKD). RS has been proved to improve renal function and relieve renal fibrosis (RF), but the potential mechanism remains a mystery. AIM OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to determine whether microRNA-21 (miR-21) is associated with RF progression, as well as whether RS protects against RF through miR-21/PTEN/AKT signaling. MATERIALS AND METHODS (1) The rat model of RF was established using unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). After UUO surgery, miR-21 levels in plasma were detected by RT-PCR and RF scores were assessed by Masson's trichrome stain at days 3, 7, 14 and 21. The correlation analysis of the above two indexes was carried out by Spearman correlation analysis. (2) Human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) was transfected with miR-21 mimic and inhibitor, and then the levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) protein and mRNA were measured with Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. (3) TGF-β (10 ng/mL) was added into HK-2 cells to induce fibrosis, followed by the intervention of RS-containing rat serum. PTEN and protein kinase-B (Akt) phosphorylation, as well as the expression of PTEN protein in HK-2 cells, were assessed by RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence. (4) The rat models of RF were prepared by UUO and treated with RS. Serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were measured. RF score was determined by Masson's trichrome stain. RT-PCR was used to determine the expression of miR-21, PTEN, and Akt mRNA. Western blotting was used to determine the expression of PTEN and Akt proteins. RESULTS A positive correlation was found between plasma miR-21 levels and RF scores of rats after UUO surgery at Days 3, 7, 14 and 21. It was confirmed that miR-21 targeted PTEN. RS drug-containing serum could rise the expression of PTEN and reduce Akt phosphorylation of HK-2 cells induced by TGF-β. Moreover, RS drug-containing serum could increase PTEN expression and reduce Akt phosphorylation induced by miR-21 mimic in HK-2 cells. The rats treated with RS had significantly decreased serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels and a lower RF score. RS also decreased miR-21 and Akt expressions, increased PTEN expression of UUO rats. CONCLUSION There was a positive correlation between plasma miR-21 levels and RF scores. The inhibitory effect of RS on RF might be mediated by miR-21/PTEN/AKT signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tianjin, 300020, China.
| | - Qian Jiang
- Department of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tianjin, 300020, China.
| | - Li Kang
- Department of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tianjin, 300020, China.
| | - Ling Yuan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tianjin, 300020, China.
| | - Guan Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tianjin, 300020, China.
| | - Xiaoxue Cui
- Department of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tianjin, 300020, China.
| | - Luyao Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tianjin, 300020, China.
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tianjin, 300020, China.
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tianjin, 300020, China
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Noh MR, Jang HS, Salem FE, Ferrer FA, Kim J, Padanilam BJ. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid administration or soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibition attenuates renal fibrogenesis in obstructive nephropathy. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2023; 324:F138-F151. [PMID: 36475868 PMCID: PMC9844979 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00052.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are arachidonic acid metabolites with biological effects, including antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic functions. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH)-mediated hydrolysis of EETs to dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (DHETs) attenuates these effects. Recent studies have demonstrated that inhibition of sEH prevents renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and inflammation in the chronic kidney disease model. Given the pathophysiological role of the EET pathway in chronic kidney disease, we investigated if administration of EET regioisomers and/or sEH inhibition will promote antifibrotic and renoprotective effects in renal fibrosis following unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). EETs administration abolished tubulointerstitial fibrogenesis, as demonstrated by reduced fibroblast activation and collagen deposition after UUO. The inflammatory response was prevented as demonstrated by decreased neutrophil and macrophage infiltration and expression of cytokines in EET-administered UUO kidneys. EET administration and/or sEH inhibition significantly reduced M1 macrophage markers, whereas M2 macrophage markers were highly upregulated. Furthermore, UUO-induced oxidative stress, tubular injury, and apoptosis were all downregulated following EET administration. Combined EET administration and sEH inhibition, however, had no additive effect in attenuating inflammation and renal interstitial fibrogenesis after UUO. Taken together, our findings provide a mechanistic understanding of how EETs prevent kidney fibrogenesis during obstructive nephropathy and suggest EET treatment as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat fibrotic diseases.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are cytochrome P-450-dependent antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory derivatives of arachidonic acid, which are highly abundant in the kidney and considered renoprotective. We found that EET administration and/or soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibition significantly attenuates oxidative stress, renal cell death, inflammation, macrophage differentiation, and fibrogenesis following unilateral ureteral obstruction. Our findings provide a mechanistic understanding of how EETs prevent kidney fibrogenesis during obstructive nephropathy and suggest that EET treatment may be a potential therapeutic strategy to treat fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Ra Noh
- Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Hee-Seong Jang
- Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Fadi E Salem
- Pathology, Molecular and Cell Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Fernando A Ferrer
- Department of Urology, Kravis Children's Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Jinu Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, South Korea
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Advanced Convergence Technology and Science, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea
| | - Babu J Padanilam
- Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
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Abstract
CONTEXT Baicalin, a flavonoid extracted from radix scutellariae, possesses various pharmacological effects, including protective effects on renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF), but its possible role and mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. OBJECTIVE This study explores the protective effects and mechanisms of baicalin on RIF. MATERIALS AND METHODS C57BL/6 male mice were divided into six groups: sham, model, low baicalin, middle baicalin, high baicalin and positive drug groups. The unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model of RIF was constructed and treated with baicalin doses (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) and a positive control drug (valsartan, 8 mg/kg). H&E staining was used to observe the pathological changes in renal tissues, Masson staining was performed to evaluate collagen deposition in renal tissues, and immunohistochemical examination was adopted to determine α-SMA and extracellular matrix (ECM) expression. Primary mouse fibroblasts were isolated, extracted and treated with baicalin and/or TGF-β. qRT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to detect the inflammatory responses. Moreover, ECM and TGF-β/Smad expression levels were evaluated by western blot assay. RESULTS Baicalin ameliorated RIF in UUO mice by inhibiting fibrosis and inflammatory responses. The TGF-β/Smad pathway was significantly suppressed in the UUO mouse model. Additionally, baicalin significantly inhibited ECM expression and inflammatory factors in fibroblasts treated with TGF-β. TGF-β/Smad pathway activation was significantly decreased in fibroblasts. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS These findings support the use of baicalin as a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of RIF by possibly inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Nanjing, China
| | - Qingtao Jiang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Nanjing, China
| | - Lizhu Zhang
- Department of Nanxin Pharm, Nanjing, China
- CONTACT Lizhu Zhang Department of Nanxin Pharm, No. 9 Weidi Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu210000, China
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He Z, Zhang M, Xu H, Zhou W, Xu C, Wang Z, He M, Wang X. Yiqi Huoxue Tongluo recipe regulates NR4A1 to improve renal mitochondrial function in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rats. Pharm Biol 2022; 60:2308-2318. [PMID: 36428248 PMCID: PMC9704077 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2022.2148168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Yiqi Huoxue Tongluo recipe (YHTR) is a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of chronic kidney disease, but its exact mechanism is not clear. OBJECTIVES To monitor the potential improvement of renal mitochondrial function in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rats by regulating NR4A1 using the YHTR. MATERIALS AND METHODS Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, UUO (left ureteral ligation for 14 days), eplerenone (EPL) (UUO + EPL), and YHTR (UUO + YHTR). UUO rats were established and intragastrically administered EPL (100 mg/day/kg) or YHTR (11.7 g/day/kg) for 14 days. The expression of related proteins in kidneys was detected by immunohistochemistry, western blot, RT-PCR, and chemical colorimetric assay, respectively. RESULTS In vivo, YHTR treatment reduced the levels of BUN and Scr (by 17.9% and 23.5%) in UUO rats. Moreover, YHTR improved the renal mitochondrial function via increasing key enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (p < 0.05) and activity of the mitochondrial complex (I-V) (by 30.8%, 29.1%, 19.7%, 35.9%, and 22.4%) in UUO rats. Compared with the UUO group, the expression of NR4A1 and Bcl-2 were significantly increased (p < 0.05), the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the YHTR group. YHTR could upregulate key enzymes of the TCA cycle via promoting NR4A1 expression in HK2 cells, leading to inhibition of TGF-β1 induced cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS YHTR significantly improved the development of CKD; this study may provide new ideas for the pathogenesis of CKD and new strategies for the development of new drugs against CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen He
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengjuan Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hepeng Xu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenping Zhou
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chang Xu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming He
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiangting Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China
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Chang YT, Chung MC, Chang CH, Chiu KH, Shieh JJ, Wu MJ. Anti-EMT and anti-fibrosis effects of protocatechuic aldehyde in renal proximal tubular cells and the unilateral ureteral obstruction animal model. Pharm Biol 2022; 60:1198-1206. [PMID: 35758295 PMCID: PMC9477482 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2022.2088809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Protocatechuic aldehyde (PCA) is a natural product that has various benefits for fibrosis. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the effects of PCA on renal fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was induced by 20 ng/mL transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), followed by treatment with 1 and 5 μM PCA, in the rat renal proximal tubular cell line NRK-52E. Cell viability, protein expression, and scratch wound-healing assays were conducted. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats underwent unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) surgery for renal fibrosis indication and were treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg PCA for 14 days. RESULTS The IC50 of PCA was appropriately 13.75 ± 1.91 μM in NRK-52E cells, and no significant difference at concentrations less than 5 μM. PCA ameliorated TGF-β1-induced EMT, such as enhanced E-cadherin and decreased vimentin. Fibrotic markers collagen IV and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) increased in TGF-β1-induced NRK-52E. Moreover, PCA reduced TGF-β1-induced migration in the wound-healing assay. Analysis of rat kidneys indicated that PCA reduced UUO-induced hydronephrosis (control: 15.11 ± 1.00%; UUO: 39.89 ± 1.91%; UUO + PCA50: 18.37 ± 1.61%; UUO + PCA100: 17.67 ± 1.39%). Protein level demonstrated that PCA not only decreased vimentin expression and enhanced E-cadherin expression, but inhibited UUO-induced collagen IV and α-SMA upregulation, indicating that it could mitigate EMT in a rat model of UUO-induced renal fibrosis. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS This study suggested that PCA decreases TGF-β1-induced fibrosis and EMT in vitro and in vivo. These findings demonstrate pharmacological effects of PCA and might be a potential strategy for the prevention of organ fibrosis in clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Teng Chang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mu-Chi Chung
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Hao Chang
- Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Hsun Chiu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jeng-Jer Shieh
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Ju Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Zhou W, Chen MM, Liu HL, Si ZL, Wu WH, Jiang H, Wang LX, Vaziri ND, An XF, Su K, Chen C, Tan NH, Zhang ZH. Dihydroartemisinin suppresses renal fibrosis in mice by inhibiting DNA-methyltransferase 1 and increasing Klotho. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:2609-2623. [PMID: 35347248 PMCID: PMC9525601 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-00898-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is an unavoidable end result of all forms of progressive chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Discovery of efficacious drugs against renal fibrosis is in crucial need. In a preliminary study we found that a derivative of artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), exerted strong renoprotection, and reversed renal fibrosis in adenine-induced CKD mouse model. In this study we investigated the anti-fibrotic mechanisms of DHA, particularly its specific target in renal cells. Renal fibrosis was induced in mice by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) or oral administration of adenine (80 mg · kg-1), the mice received DHA (30 mg · kg-1 · d-1, i.g.) for 14 or 21 days, respectively. We showed that DHA administration markedly attenuated the inflammation and fibrotic responses in the kidneys and significantly improved the renal function in both the renal fibrosis mouse models. In adenine-treated mice, DHA was more effective than 5-azacytidine against renal fibrosis. The anti-fibrotic effects of DHA were also observed in TGF-β1-treated HK-2 cells. In order to determine the target protein of DHA, we conducted pull-down technology coupled with shotgun proteomics using a small-molecule probe based on the structure of DHA (biotin-DHA). As a results, DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) was identified as the anti-fibrotic target of DHA in 3 different types of renal cell lines (HK-2, HEK293 and 3T3). We demonstrated that DHA directly bound to Asn 1529 and Thr 1528 of DNMT1 with a Kd value of 8.18 μM. In primary mouse renal tubular cells, we showed that DHA (10 μM) promoted DNMT1 degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. DHA-reduced DNMT1 expression effectively reversed Klotho promoter hypermethylation, which led to the reversal of Klotho protein loss in the kidney of UUO mice. This subsequently resulted in inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways and consequently conferred renoprotection in the animals. Knockdown of Klotho abolished the renoprotective effect of DHA in UUO mice. Our study reveals a novel pharmacological activity for DHA, i.e., renoprotection. DHA exhibits this effect by targeting DNMT1 to reverse Klotho repression. This study provides an evidence for the possible clinical application of DHA in the treatment of renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Min-Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hui-Ling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zi-Lin Si
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Wen-Hui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Lin-Xiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Nosratola D Vaziri
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Xiao-Fei An
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ke Su
- Department of Nephrology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- Department of Nephrology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Ning-Hua Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Zhi-Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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Chen J, Tang Y, Zhong Y, Wei B, Huang XR, Tang PMK, Xu A, Lan HY. P2Y12 inhibitor clopidogrel inhibits renal fibrosis by blocking macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition. Mol Ther 2022; 30:3017-3033. [PMID: 35791881 PMCID: PMC9481993 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clopidogrel, a P2Y12 inhibitor, is a novel anti-fibrosis agent for chronic kidney disease (CKD), but its mechanisms remain unclear, which we investigated by silencing P2Y12 or treating unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in LysM-Cre/Rosa Tomato mice with clopidogrel in vivo and in vitro. We found that P2Y12 was significantly increased and correlated with progressive renal fibrosis in CKD patients and UUO mice. Phenotypically, up to 82% of P2Y12-expressing cells within the fibrosing kidney were of macrophage origin, identified by co-expressing CD68/F4/80 antigens or a macrophage-lineage-tracing marker Tomato. Unexpectedly, more than 90% of P2Y12-expressing macrophages were undergoing macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition (MMT) by co-expressing alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), which was also confirmed by single-cell RNA sequencing. Functionally, clopidogrel improved the decline rate of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with CKD and significantly inhibited renal fibrosis in UUO mice. Mechanistically, P2Y12 expression was induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and promoted MMT via the Smad3-dependent mechanism. Thus, silencing or pharmacological inhibition of P2Y12 was capable of inhibiting TGF-β/Smad3-mediated MMT and progressive renal fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, P2Y12 is highly expressed by macrophages in fibrosing kidneys and mediates renal fibrosis by promoting MMT via TGF-β/Smad3 signaling. Thus, P2Y12 inhibitor maybe a novel and effective anti-fibrosis agent for CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junzhe Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Departments of Medicine & Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Zhong
- Departments of Medicine & Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Biao Wei
- Departments of Medicine & Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiao-Ru Huang
- Departments of Medicine & Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immunity and Genetics of Chronic Kidney Disease, Guangdong Academy of Medical Science, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Departments of Medicine & Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Anping Xu
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Departments of Medicine & Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immunity and Genetics of Chronic Kidney Disease, Guangdong Academy of Medical Science, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
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Jiang YJ, Jin J, Nan QY, Ding J, Cui S, Xuan MY, Piao MH, Piao SG, Zheng HL, Jin JZ, Chung BH, Yang CW, Li C. Coenzyme Q10 attenuates renal fibrosis by inhibiting RIP1-RIP3-MLKL-mediated necroinflammation via Wnt3α/β-catenin/GSK-3β signaling in unilateral ureteral obstruction. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 108:108868. [PMID: 35636077 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) protects against various types of injury, but its role in preventing renal scarring in chronic kidney disease remains an open question. Herein, we evaluated whether CoQ10 attenuates renal fibrosis by interfering with necroinflammation in a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and in vitro. METHODS Rats with UUO were treated daily with CoQ10 or an RIP inhibitor (necrostatin-1 or GSK872) for 7 days. The influence of CoQ10 on renal injury caused by UUO was evaluated by histopathology and analysis of gene expression, oxidative stress, intracellular organelles, apoptosis, and Wnt3α/β-catenin/GSK-3β signaling·H2O2-exposed human kidney (HK-2) cells were also examined after treatment with CoQ10 or an RIP inhibitor. RESULTS UUO induced marked renal tubular necrosis, upregulation of RIP1-RIP3-MLKL axis proteins, activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and evolution of renal fibrosis. UUO-induced oxidative stress evoked excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, which triggered apoptotic cell death through Wnt3α/β-catenin/GSK-3β signaling. All of these effects were mitigated by CoQ10 or an RIP inhibitor. In H2O2-treated HK-2 cells, CoQ10 or an RIP inhibitor suppressed the expression of RIP1-RIP3-MLKL proteins and pyroptosis-related cytokines, and hindered the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species as shown by MitoSOX Red staining and apoptotic cell death but increased cell viability. The CoQ10 or Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor ICG-001 deactivated H2O2-stimulated activation of Wnt3α/β-catenin/GSK-3β signaling. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that CoQ10 attenuates renal fibrosis by inhibiting RIP1-RIP3-MLKL-mediated necroinflammation via Wnt3α/β-catenin/GSK-3β signaling in UUO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ji Jiang
- Department of Nephrology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, China
| | - Jian Jin
- Department of General Practice, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, China
| | - Qi Yan Nan
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, China
| | - Jun Ding
- Department of Nephrology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, China
| | - Sheng Cui
- Department of Nephrology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, China; Transplantation Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mei Ying Xuan
- Department of Health Examination Central, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
| | - Mei Hua Piao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, China
| | - Shang Guo Piao
- Department of Nephrology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, China
| | - Hai Lan Zheng
- Department of Nephrology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, China
| | - Ji Zhe Jin
- Department of Nephrology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, China
| | - Byung Ha Chung
- Transplantation Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul Woo Yang
- Transplantation Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Can Li
- Department of Nephrology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, China.
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Xu Z, Hou Y, Sun J, Zhu L, Zhang Q, Yao W, Fan X, Zhang K, Piao JG, Wei Y. Deoxycholic acid-chitosan coated liposomes combined with in situ colonic gel enhances renal fibrosis therapy of emodin. Phytomedicine 2022; 101:154110. [PMID: 35487039 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Renal fibrosis is the final common pathological feature of various chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Despite recent advances, development of new treatments strategy is needed. Emodin (EMO), an important ingredient of Chinese medicine, rhubarb (Polygonaceae Rheum palmatum l.), has been reported to inhibit the development of renal fibrosis effectively. However, the poor oral bioavailability of EMO and the insufficient monotherapy therapy compromise its efficacy. PURPOSE In order to enhance renal fibrosis therapy of emodin, an innovative combination therapy based on deoxycholic acid-chitosan coated liposomes (DCS-Lips) and in situ colonic gel (IGE) was developed. METHODS For one, the DCS-Lips were prepared via electrostatic interaction by mixing anionic conventional Lips with cationic DCS, deoxycholic acid conjugated on the backbone of chitosan. The cellular uptake of FITC-labeled DCS-Lips in Caco-2 cell monolayer was evaluated by CLSM and flow cytometry, respectively. Permeability study was carried out using Caco-2 cell monolayer. For another, EMO-loaded in situ colonic gel (EMO-IGE) was prepared by mixing EMO nanosuspensions and plain in situ gel, which was obtained by the cold method. The EMO-IGE was assessed for morphology, gelation temperature, viscosity and in vitro drug release. Finally, the therapeutic efficacy of the combination strategy, oral DCS-Lips formulations and in situ colonic gel, was evaluated in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rat model. Additionally, 16S rDNA sequencing was performed on rats faces to investigate whether the combination strategy improves the microbial dysbiosis in UUO rats. RESULTS The prepared DCS-Lips produced small, uniformly sized nanoparticles, and significantly enhanced the cellular uptake and in vitro permeability of EMO compared to non-coated liposomes. Moreover, the EMO-IGE was characterized by short gelation time, optimal gelling temperature, and excellent viscosity. In UUO model, the combination of DCS-Lips (gavage) and IGE (enema) attenuated renal fibrosis effectively. The results of 16S rDNA sequencing illustrated that IGE could restore the gut microbial dysbiosis of UUO rats. CONCLUSION Overall, the combination of DCS-Lips and EMO-IGE alleviated renal fibrosis effectively, resulting from the improved oral bioavailability of EMO by DCS-Lips and the restoration of gut microbiota by EMO-IGE, thus, presenting an innovative and promising potential for renal fibrosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhishi Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 311402, China
| | - Yu Hou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 311402, China
| | - Jiang Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 311402, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 311402, China
| | - Qibin Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 311402, China
| | - Wenjie Yao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 311402, China
| | - Xudong Fan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 311402, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 311402, China
| | - Ji-Gang Piao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 311402, China
| | - Yinghui Wei
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 311402, China.
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Zhang Q, Xie L, Jiang L, Ni J, Han W, Mi X, Wang P. Icariin attenuates renal fibrosis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the Notch2/Hes-1 pathway. Growth Factors 2022; 40:26-36. [PMID: 35426327 DOI: 10.1080/08977194.2022.2060094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Chinese herbs were widely proposed as a novel approach for renal fibrosis. Icariin has been reported to be involved in a variety of diseases. Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is a popular experimental model of renal injury, which is often used in the study of renal fibrosis. A UUO mouse model was successfully constructed, and tubular injury and renal fibrosis were observed. Icariin treatment attenuated tubular injury and renal fibrosis in UUO mice. In addition, treatment with Icariin reduced the fibronectin, type I collagen and α-SMA levels in UUO mice. Furthermore, in a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced renal fibrosis cell model, icariin treatment also decreased fibronectin, type I collagen and α-SMA expression. Icariin treatment also reversed the enhanced migration of TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells. These data indicated that icariin suppressed renal fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, icariin treatment suppressed the Notch2/Hes-1 pathway in UUO mice and TGF-β1-treated HK-2 cells. In summary, this study found that icariin reduced renal fibrosis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the Notch2/Hes-1 pathway, which might help to improve therapies for renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoqi Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Baoshan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Xie
- Department of Pain Management, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Baoshan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaqing Ni
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Baoshan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenke Han
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Baoshan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuhua Mi
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Baoshan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Baoshan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Hsieh YH, Tsai JP, Ting YH, Hung TW, Chao WW. Rosmarinic acid ameliorates renal interstitial fibrosis by inhibiting the phosphorylated-AKT mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and in vivo. Food Funct 2022; 13:4641-4652. [PMID: 35373225 DOI: 10.1039/d2fo00204c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Indoxyl sulfate (IS), a uremic toxin, causes chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression via renal fibrosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial feature of renal fibrosis. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid with a wide range of desirable biological activities. In this study, we investigated whether RA exerted anti-renal fibrosis effects and its related mechanisms in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model. C57BL/6 mice were orally administered RA (10 and 20 mg kg-1 d-1) for 7 consecutive days before and after UUO surgery. The mice were then sacrificed to collect the blood and kidneys. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining were used to evaluate the renal injury and function. Immunohistochemical analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and western blotting were used to detect the expression levels of EMT markers. In vitro studies were performed using the IS-stimulated NRK-52E cell line. Here, the pathological changes, collagen deposition, and mRNA and protein expression levels of profibrotic factors and fibrotic markers were found to be significantly elevated in the kidneys of UUO mice. We found that RA administration significantly ameliorated UUO-induced kidney damage by reversing abnormal serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. It was found that RA treatment decreased the expression levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, fibronectin, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, vimentin and phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) while increasing the E-cadherin expression in both UUO kidneys and IS-treated NRK-52E cells. Our results demonstrate that RA may be a promising therapeutic agent for renal interstitial fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsien Hsieh
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Pi Tsai
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Ting
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Wei Hung
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Wan Chao
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Kainan University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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Li M, Yan Y, He J, Wang YM, Guo YX, Wang ZX, Zhang WK, Zhang HJ, Xu JK. Jolkinolide B alleviates renal fibrosis via anti-inflammation and inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in unilateral ureteral obstruction mice. J Asian Nat Prod Res 2022; 24:76-87. [PMID: 34937462 DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2021.2016715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a critical pathological process lead to a progressive loss of renal function. Jolkinolide B (JB) is a natural compound with anti-inflammatory activity from Euphorbia fischeriana Steud. The study evaluated the effect of JB on renal fibrosis in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). The results showed that JB could decrease renal fibrotic area, reduce phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and the release of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, restore the expression of vementin, α-SMA and E-cadherin, as well as TGF-β1 and p-smad2/3. In conclusion, JB might reduce renal fibrosis by inhibiting inflammation induced by NF-κB pathway and EMT mediated by TGF-β1/Smad pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Li
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yu Yan
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jun He
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yu-Ming Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yu-Xuan Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Ze-Xing Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Wei-Ku Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Hao-Jun Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jie-Kun Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
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Montford JR, Bauer C, Rahkola J, Reisz JA, Floyd D, Hopp K, Soranno DE, Klawitter J, Weiser-Evans MCM, Nemenoff R, Faubel S, Furgeson SB. 15-Lipoxygenase worsens renal fibrosis, inflammation, and metabolism in a murine model of ureteral obstruction. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2022; 322:F105-F119. [PMID: 34866403 PMCID: PMC8742724 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00214.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
15-Lipoxygenase (15-LO) is a nonheme iron-containing dioxygenase that has both pro- and anti-inflammatory roles in many tissues and disease states. 15-LO is thought to influence macrophage phenotype, and silencing 15-LO reduces fibrosis after acute inflammatory triggers. The goal of the present study was to determine whether altering 15-LO expression influences inflammation and fibrogenesis in a murine model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). C57BL/6J mice, 15-LO knockout (Alox15-/-) mice, and 15-LO transgenic overexpressing (15LOTG) mice were subjected UUO, and kidneys were analyzed at 3, 10, and 14 days postinjury. Histology for fibrosis, inflammation, cytokine quantification, flow cytometry, and metabolomics were performed on injured tissues and controls. PD146176, a specific 15-LO inhibitor, was used to complement experiments involving knockout animals. Compared with wild-type animals undergoing UUO, Alox15-/- mouse kidneys had less proinflammatory, profibrotic message along with less fibrosis and macrophage infiltration. PD146176 inhibited 15-LO and resulted in reduced fibrosis and macrophage infiltration similar to Alox15-/- mice. Flow cytometry revealed that Alox15-/- UUO-injured kidneys had a dynamic change in macrophage phenotype, with an early blunting of CD11bHiLy6CHi "M1" macrophages and an increase in anti-inflammatory CD11bHiLy6CInt "M2c" macrophages and reduced expression of the fractalkine receptor chemokine (C-X3-C motif) receptor 1. Many of these findings were reversed when UUO was performed on 15LOTG mice. Metabolomics analysis revealed that wild-type kidneys developed a glycolytic shift postinjury, while Alox15-/- kidneys exhibited increased oxidative phosphorylation. In conclusion, 15-LO manipulation by genetic or pharmacological means induces dynamic changes in the inflammatory microenvironment in the UUO model and appears to be critical in the progression of UUO-induced fibrosis.NEW & NOTEWORTHY 15-Lipoxygenase (15-LO) has both pro- and anti-inflammatory functions in leukocytes, and its role in kidney injury and repair is unexplored. Our study showed that 15-LO worsens inflammation and fibrosis in a rodent model of chronic kidney disease using genetic and pharmacological manipulation. Silencing 15-LO promotes an increase in M2c-like wound-healing macrophages in the kidney and alters kidney metabolism globally, protecting against anaerobic glycolysis after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Montford
- Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Colin Bauer
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jeremy Rahkola
- Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Julie A Reisz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Deanna Floyd
- Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Katharina Hopp
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Danielle E Soranno
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jelena Klawitter
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Mary C M Weiser-Evans
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Raphael Nemenoff
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Sarah Faubel
- Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Seth B Furgeson
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Denver Health, Denver, Colorado
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Zhong J, Fang GY, Wang ZX, Chen P, Lu DY, Shi XD. Yishen Huoxue decoction attenuates unilateral ureteric obstruction-induced renal fibrosis and hypoxia-induced reactive oxygen species generation via adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase / peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator-1α / silent mating-type information regulation 2 homolog 3 pathway. J TRADIT CHIN MED 2021; 41:875-882. [PMID: 34939383 DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2021.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effeicacy of Yishen Huoxue decoction (YSHX) on renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO), and on reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS Forty male mice were randomly divided into six groups, sham group, UUO group, UUO+ resveratrol (RSV) (15 mg/kg) group, UUO + YSHX 20 mg/kg group (UUO + YSHX-L), UUO + YSHX 40 mg/kg group (UUO + YSHX-M), UUO + YSHX 80 mg/kg group (UUO + YSHX-H). Western blotting was used to measure protein expression levels. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the mRNA expression. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the histopathological changes of kidney tissue sample. Cell apoptosis was measured by Annexin V/PI staining. Cell viability was measured using CCK-8/WST-8 assay. RESULTS YSHX treatment reduced α-SMA and Col-4 expressions, and increased CD31 and VE-cadherin expressions in UUO model mice. In vitro, YSHX increased cell viability and decreased apoptosis of HUVECs under hypoxic conditions. YSHX inhibited ROS generation by activating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator-1α (PGC-1α)/silent mating-type information regulation 2 homolog 3 (Sirt3) signaling. CONCLUSION YSHX treatment reduced 109KJ UUO-induced renal injury and fibrosis. Furthermore, YSHX treatment attenuated hypoxia-induced oxidative stress by regulating AMPK/PGC-1α/Sirt3 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhong
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Gui-Yu Fang
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Zi-Xia Wang
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Deng-Yong Lu
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Shi
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
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Zhang B, Chen X, Ru F, Gan Y, Li B, Xia W, Dai G, He Y, Chen Z. Liproxstatin-1 attenuates unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced renal fibrosis by inhibiting renal tubular epithelial cells ferroptosis. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:843. [PMID: 34511597 PMCID: PMC8435531 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04137-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a common pathological process that occurs with diverse etiologies in chronic kidney disease. However, its regulatory mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. Ferroptosis is a form of non-apoptotic regulated cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. It is currently unknown whether ferroptosis is initiated during unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis and its role has not been determined. In this study, we demonstrated that ureteral obstruction induced ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) in vivo. The ferroptosis inhibitor liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1) reduced iron deposition, cell death, lipid peroxidation, and inhibited the downregulation of GPX4 expression induced by UUO, ultimately inhibiting ferroptosis in TECs. We found that Lip-1 significantly attenuated UUO-induced morphological and pathological changes and collagen deposition of renal fibrosis in mice. In addition, Lip-1 attenuated the expression of profibrotic factors in the UUO model. In vitro, we used RSL3 treatment and knocked down of GPX4 level by RNAi in HK2 cells to induce ferroptosis. Our results indicated HK2 cells secreted various profibrotic factors during ferroptosis. Lip-1 was able to inhibit ferroptosis and thereby inhibit the secretion of the profibrotic factors during the process. Incubation of kidney fibroblasts with culture medium from RSL3-induced HK2 cells promoted fibroblast proliferation and activation, whereas Lip-1 impeded the profibrotic effects. Our study found that Lip-1 may relieve renal fibrosis by inhibiting ferroptosis in TECs. Mechanistically, Lip-1 could reduce the activation of surrounding fibroblasts by inhibiting the paracrine of profibrotic factors in HK2 cells. Lip-1 may potentially be used as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of UUO-induced renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhang
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Ru
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Gan
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingsheng Li
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiping Xia
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoyu Dai
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao He
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhi Chen
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
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Gwon MG, An HJ, Gu H, Kim YA, Han SM, Park KK. Apamin inhibits renal fibrosis via suppressing TGF-β1 and STAT3 signaling in vivo and in vitro. J Mol Med (Berl) 2021; 99:1265-1277. [PMID: 34031696 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-021-02087-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a progressive and chronic process that influences kidneys with chronic kidney disease (CKD), irrespective of cause, leading to irreversible failure of renal function and end-stage kidney disease. Among the signaling related to renal fibrosis, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling is a major pathway that induces the activation of myofibroblasts and the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. Apamin, a component of bee venom (BV), has been studied in relation to various diseases. However, the effect of apamin on renal interstitial fibrosis has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to estimate the beneficial effect of apamin in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis and TGF-β1-induced renal fibroblast activation. This study revealed that obstructive kidney injury induced an inflammatory response, tubular atrophy, and ECM accumulation. However, apamin treatment suppressed the increased expression of fibrotic-related genes, including α-SMA, vimentin, and fibronectin. Administration of apamin also attenuated the renal tubular cells injury and tubular atrophy. In addition, apamin attenuated fibroblast activation, ECM synthesis, and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by suppressing the TGF-β1-canonical and non-canonical signaling pathways. This study showed that apamin inhibits UUO-induced renal fibrosis in vivo and TGF-β1-induced renal fibroblasts activation in vitro. Apamin inhibited the inflammatory response, tubular atrophy, ECM accumulation, fibroblast activation, and renal interstitial fibrosis through suppression of TGF-β1/Smad2/3 and STAT3 signaling pathways. These results suggest that apamin might be a potential therapeutic agent for renal fibrosis. KEY MESSAGES: UUO injury can induce renal dysfunction; however, apamin administration prevents renal failure in UUO mice. Apamin inhibited renal inflammatory response and ECM deposition in UUO-injured mice. Apamin suppressed the activation of myofibroblasts in vivo and in vitro. Apamin has the anti-fibrotic effect on renal fibrosis via regulation of TGF-β1 canonical and non-canonical signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Gyeong Gwon
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 33, Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, 42472, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jin An
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 33, Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, 42472, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyemin Gu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 33, Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, 42472, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ah Kim
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 33, Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, 42472, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Mi Han
- National Academy of Agricultural Science, Jeonjusi, Jeonbuk, 54875, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwan-Kyu Park
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 33, Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, 42472, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
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Pak ES, Jeong LS, Hou X, Tripathi SK, Lee J, Ha H. Dual Actions of A 2A and A 3 Adenosine Receptor Ligand Prevents Obstruction-Induced Kidney Fibrosis in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115667. [PMID: 34073488 PMCID: PMC8198234 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Kidney fibrosis is the final outcome of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Adenosine plays a significant role in protection against cellular damage by activating four subtypes of adenosine receptors (ARs), A1AR, A2AAR, A2BAR, and A3AR. A2AAR agonists protect against inflammation, and A3AR antagonists effectively inhibit the formation of fibrosis. Here, we showed for the first time that LJ-4459, a newly synthesized dual-acting ligand that is an A2AAR agonist and an A3AR antagonist, prevents the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) surgery was performed on 6-week-old male C57BL/6 mice. LJ-4459 (1 and 10 mg/kg) was orally administered for 7 days, started at 1 day before UUO surgery. Pretreatment with LJ-4459 improved kidney morphology and prevented the progression of tubular injury as shown by decreases in urinary kidney injury molecular-1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) excretion. Obstruction-induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis was attenuated by LJ-4459, as shown by a decrease in fibrotic protein expression in the kidney. LJ-4459 also inhibited inflammation and oxidative stress in the obstructed kidney, with reduced macrophage infiltration, reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These data demonstrate that LJ-4459 has potential as a therapeutic agent against the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Seon Pak
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
| | - Lak Shin Jeong
- Future Medicine Co., Ltd., Seongnam 13449, Korea;
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (X.H.); (S.K.T.)
| | - Xiyan Hou
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (X.H.); (S.K.T.)
| | - Sushil K. Tripathi
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (X.H.); (S.K.T.)
| | - Jiyoun Lee
- Future Medicine Co., Ltd., Seongnam 13449, Korea;
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (H.H.); Tel.: +82-2-2289-8689 (J.L.); +82-2-3277-4075 (H.H.); Fax: +82-31-757-2738 (J.L.); +82-2-3277-2851 (H.H.)
| | - Hunjoo Ha
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (H.H.); Tel.: +82-2-2289-8689 (J.L.); +82-2-3277-4075 (H.H.); Fax: +82-31-757-2738 (J.L.); +82-2-3277-2851 (H.H.)
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Hassan NME, Shehatou GSG, Kenawy HI, Said E. Dasatinib mitigates renal fibrosis in a rat model of UUO via inhibition of Src/STAT-3/NF-κB signaling. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 84:103625. [PMID: 33617955 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This research aimed to investigate the reno-protective impact of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib (DAS) against renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rats. DAS administration improved renal function and mitigated renal oxidative stress with paralleled reduction in the ligated kidney mass index, significant retraction in renal histopathological alterations and suppression of renal interstitial fibrosis. Nevertheless, DAS administration attenuated renal expression of phosphorylated Src (p-Src), Abelson (c-Abl) tyrosine kinases, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65, and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT-3)/STAT-3 with paralleled reduction in renal contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). DAS diminished interstitial macrophage infiltration and decreased renal profibrotic transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels and suppressed interstitial expression of renal α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin. Collectively, DAS slowed the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis, possibly via attenuating renal oxidative stress, impairing Src/STAT-3/NF-κB signaling, and reducing renal inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabila M E Hassan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - George S G Shehatou
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa City, Egypt
| | - Hany Ibrahim Kenawy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Eman Said
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
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