scholarly journals Inhibition of Kirsten-Ras reduces fibrosis and protects against renal dysfunction in a mouse model of chronic folic acid nephropathy

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy J. Newbury ◽  
Jui-Hui Wang ◽  
Gene Hung ◽  
Bruce M. Hendry ◽  
Claire C. Sharpe
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Renal Dysfunction ◽  
Antisense Oligonucleotides ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Therapeutic Benefit ◽  
End Stage

Abstract Chronic Kidney Disease is a growing problem across the world and can lead to end-stage kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Fibrosis is the underlying mechanism that leads to organ dysfunction, but as yet we have no therapeutics that can influence this process. Ras monomeric GTPases are master regulators that direct many of the cytokines known to drive fibrosis to downstream effector cascades. We have previously shown that K-Ras is a key isoform that drives fibrosis in the kidney. Here we demonstrate that K-Ras expression and activation are increased in rodent models of CKD. By knocking down expression of K-Ras using antisense oligonucleotides in a mouse model of chronic folic acid nephropathy we can reduce fibrosis by 50% and prevent the loss of renal function over 3 months. In addition, we have demonstrated in vitro and in vivo that reduction of K-Ras expression is associated with a reduction in Jag1 expression; we hypothesise this is the mechanism by which targeting K-Ras has therapeutic benefit. In conclusion, targeting K-Ras expression with antisense oligonucleotides in a mouse model of CKD prevents fibrosis and protects against renal dysfunction.

Simvastatin Prevents Neurodegeneration in the MPTP Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease via Inhibition of A1 Reactive Astrocytes

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ren-Wei Du ◽  
Wen-Guang Bu
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Reactive Astrocytes ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Neuron Death ◽  
Neurologic Disorders

Emerging evidence indicates that A1 reactive astrocytes play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Thus, development of agents that could inhibit the formation of A1 reactive astrocytes could be used to treat PD. Simvastatin has been touted as a potential neuroprotective agent for neurologic disorders such as PD, but the specific underlying mechanism remains unclear. The 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD and primary astrocytes/neurons were prepared to investigate the effects of simvastatin on PD and its underlying mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. We show that simvastatin protects against the loss of dopamine neurons and behavioral deficits in the MPTP mouse model of PD. We also found that simvastatin suppressed the expression of A1 astrocytic specific markers in vivo and in vitro. In addition, simvastatin alleviated neuron death induced by A1 astrocytes. Our findings reveal that simvastatin is neuroprotective via the prevention of conversion of astrocytes to an A1 neurotoxic phenotype. In light of simvastatin favorable properties, it should be evaluated in the treatment of PD and related neurologic disorders characterized by A1 reactive astrocytes.

scholarly journals An Overview of In Vivo and In Vitro Models for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Journey from 3D-Cysts to Mini-Pigs

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 4537
Author(s):  
Svenja Koslowski ◽  
Camille Latapy ◽  
Pierrïck Auvray ◽  
Marc Blondel ◽  
Laurent Meijer
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Polycystic Kidney Disease ◽  
Autosomal Dominant ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Polycystic Kidney ◽  
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney ◽  
Stage Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inheritable cause of end stage renal disease and, as of today, only a single moderately effective treatment is available for patients. Even though ADPKD research has made huge progress over the last decades, the precise disease mechanisms remain elusive. However, a wide variety of cellular and animal models have been developed to decipher the pathophysiological mechanisms and related pathways underlying the disease. As none of these models perfectly recapitulates the complexity of the human disease, the aim of this review is to give an overview of the main tools currently available to ADPKD researchers, as well as their main advantages and limitations.

scholarly journals Targeted exon skipping of a CEP290 mutation rescues Joubert syndrome phenotypes in vitro and in a murine model

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (49) ◽  
pp. 12489-12494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon A. Ramsbottom ◽  
Elisa Molinari ◽  
Shalabh Srivastava ◽  
Flora Silberman ◽  
Charline Henry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Exon Skipping ◽  
Joubert Syndrome ◽  
Cystic Kidney Disease ◽  
Cystic Kidney ◽  
Kidney Cells ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Approach

Genetic treatments of renal ciliopathies leading to cystic kidney disease would provide a real advance in current therapies. Mutations in CEP290 underlie a ciliopathy called Joubert syndrome (JBTS). Human disease phenotypes include cerebral, retinal, and renal disease, which typically progresses to end stage renal failure (ESRF) within the first two decades of life. While currently incurable, there is often a period of years between diagnosis and ESRF that provides a potential window for therapeutic intervention. By studying patient biopsies, patient-derived kidney cells, and a mouse model, we identify abnormal elongation of primary cilia as a key pathophysiological feature of CEP290-associated JBTS and show that antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-induced splicing of the mutated exon (41, G1890*) restores protein expression in patient cells. We demonstrate that ASO-induced splicing leading to exon skipping is tolerated, resulting in correct localization of CEP290 protein to the ciliary transition zone, and restoration of normal cilia length in patient kidney cells. Using a gene trap Cep290 mouse model of JBTS, we show that systemic ASO treatment can reduce the cystic burden of diseased kidneys in vivo. These findings indicate that ASO treatment may represent a promising therapeutic approach for kidney disease in CEP290-associated ciliopathy syndromes.

scholarly journals AZD2014, A Dual mTOR Inhibitor, Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy in Vitro and in Vivo

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byung-Hyun Cha ◽  
Minjin Jung ◽  
Angela S. Kim ◽  
Victoria C. Lepak ◽  
Brett A. Colson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Regulatory Function ◽  
Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Cardiac Morbidity

Abstract Cardiac hypertrophy is one of the most common genetic heart disorders and considered a risk factor for cardiac morbidity and mortality. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays a key regulatory function in cardiovascular physiology and pathology in hypertrophy. AZD2014 is a small-molecule ATP competitive mTOR inhibitor working on both mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes. Little is known about the therapeutic effects of AZD2014 in cardiac hypertrophy and its underlying mechanism. Here, AZD2014 is examined in in vitro model of phenylephrine (PE)-induced human cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and a myosin-binding protein-C (Mybpc3)-targeted knockout (KO) mouse model of cardiac hypertrophy. Our results demonstrate that cardiomyocytes treated with AZD2014 retain the normal phenotype and AZD2014 attenuates cardiac hypertrophy in the Mybpc3-KO mouse model through inhibition of dual mTORC1 and mTORC2, which in turn results in the down-regulation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

scholarly journals A role for NPY-NPY2R signaling in albuminuric kidney disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (27) ◽  
pp. 15862-15873
Author(s):  
Abigail C. Lay ◽  
A. Fern Barrington ◽  
Jenny A. Hurcombe ◽  
Raina D. Ramnath ◽  
Mark Graham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Glomerular Diseases ◽  
Insulin Resistant ◽  
Nfat Activation ◽  
End Stage

Albuminuria is an independent risk factor for the progression to end-stage kidney failure, cardiovascular morbidity, and premature death. As such, discovering signaling pathways that modulate albuminuria is desirable. Here, we studied the transcriptomes of podocytes, key cells in the prevention of albuminuria, under diabetic conditions. We found thatNeuropeptide Y (NPY)was significantly down-regulated in insulin-resistant vs. insulin-sensitive mouse podocytes and in human glomeruli of patients with early and late-stage diabetic nephropathy, as well as other nondiabetic glomerular diseases. This contrasts with the increased plasma and urinary levels of NPY that are observed in such conditions. Studying NPY-knockout mice, we found that NPY deficiency in vivo surprisingly reduced the level of albuminuria and podocyte injury in models of both diabetic and nondiabetic kidney disease. In vitro, podocyte NPY signaling occurred via the NPY2 receptor (NPY2R), stimulating PI3K, MAPK, and NFAT activation. Additional unbiased proteomic analysis revealed that glomerular NPY-NPY2R signaling predicted nephrotoxicity, modulated RNA processing, and inhibited cell migration. Furthermore, pharmacologically inhibiting the NPY2R in vivo significantly reduced albuminuria in adriamycin-treated glomerulosclerotic mice. Our findings suggest a pathogenic role of excessive NPY-NPY2R signaling in the glomerulus and that inhibiting NPY-NPY2R signaling in albuminuric kidney disease has therapeutic potential.

scholarly journals Carbamylated Proteins in Renal Disease: Aggravating Factors or Just Biomarkers?

2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 574
Author(s):  
Laëtitia Gorisse ◽  
Stéphane Jaisson ◽  
Christine Piétrement ◽  
Philippe Gillery
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Renal Disease ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Kidney Disease Progression ◽  
Metabolic Consequence ◽  
Stage Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage

Carbamylation is a nonenzymatic post-translational modification resulting from the reaction between cyanate, a urea by-product, and proteins. In vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that carbamylation modifies protein structures and functions, triggering unfavourable molecular and cellular responses. An enhanced formation of carbamylation-derived products (CDPs) is observed in pathological contexts, especially during chronic kidney disease (CKD), because of increased blood urea. Significantly, studies have reported a positive correlation between serum CDPs and the evolutive state of renal failure. Further, serum concentrations of carbamylated proteins are characterized as strong predictors of mortality in end-stage renal disease patients. Over time, it is likely that these modified compounds become aggravating factors and promote long-term complications, including cardiovascular disorders and inflammation or immune system dysfunctions. These poor clinical outcomes have led researchers to consider strategies to prevent or slow down CDP formation. Even if growing evidence suggests the involvement of carbamylation in the pathophysiology of CKD, the real relevance of carbamylation is still unclear: is it a causal phenomenon, a metabolic consequence or just a biological feature? In this review, we discuss how carbamylation, a consequence of renal function decline, may become a causal phenomenon of kidney disease progression and how CDPs may be used as biomarkers.

scholarly journals AZD2014, a dual mTOR inhibitor, attenuates cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Byung-Hyun Cha ◽  
Minjin Jung ◽  
Angela S. Kim ◽  
Victoria C. Lepak ◽  
Brett A. Colson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Mtor Inhibitor ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Regulatory Function ◽  
Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Cardiac Morbidity

AbstractCardiac hypertrophy is one of the most common genetic heart disorders and considered a risk factor for cardiac morbidity and mortality. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays a key regulatory function in cardiovascular physiology and pathology in hypertrophy. AZD2014 is a small-molecule ATP competitive mTOR inhibitor working on both mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes. Little is known about the therapeutic effects of AZD2014 in cardiac hypertrophy and its underlying mechanism. Here, AZD2014 is examined in in vitro model of phenylephrine (PE)-induced human cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and a myosin-binding protein-C (Mybpc3)-targeted knockout (KO) mouse model of cardiac hypertrophy. Our results demonstrate that cardiomyocytes treated with AZD2014 retain the normal phenotype and AZD2014 attenuates cardiac hypertrophy in the Mybpc3-KO mouse model through inhibition of dual mTORC1 and mTORC2, which in turn results in the down-regulation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Effects and Mechanism of Combination of Rhein and Danshensu in the Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (07) ◽  
pp. 1381-1400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Guan ◽  
Xiao-Xiao Wu ◽  
Jia-Lin Duan ◽  
Ying Yin ◽  
Chao Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Renal Injury ◽  
Salvia Miltiorrhiza ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Disease Treatment ◽  
First Time

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a systemic role in disease treatment, targeting multiple etiological factors simultaneously. Based on clinical experience, rhubarb and Salvia miltiorrhiza are commonly prescribed together for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and have been proven to be very effective. However, the rationale of the combination remains unclear. The major active ingredients of these two herbs are rhein (RH) and danshensu (DSS), respectively. The aim of this paper is to investigate the renoprotective effects of RH and DSS in vitro and in vivo, and the underlying mechanism. A total of 5/6 nephrectomy rats and HK-2 cells were subjected to chronic renal injury. The combination of RH and DSS conferred a protective effect, as shown by a significant improvement in the renal function, blood supply, and fibrotic degree. Proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules were suppressed by RH and DSS through NK-[Formula: see text]B signaling. The combination also inhibited apoptosis by up-regulating Bcl-2 and down-regulating Bax. Inhibiting the TGF-[Formula: see text]/Smad3 pathway was at least in part involved in the antifibrotic mechanism of the combination treatment of RH and DSS. This study demonstrates for the first time the renoprotective effect and the mechanism of RH and DSS combination on chronic renal injury. It could provide experimental evidence to support the rationality of the combinatorial use of TCM in clinical practices.

scholarly journals Targeting the Notch1 and mTOR pathways in a mouse T-ALL model

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 113 (24) ◽  
pp. 6172-6181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Cullion ◽  
Kyle M. Draheim ◽  
Nicole Hermance ◽  
Jennifer Tammam ◽  
Vishva M. Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Xenograft Model ◽  
Therapeutic Benefit ◽  
Pathway Activation ◽  
Mouse Xenograft Model ◽  
Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
End Stage

Abstract Mutations in NOTCH1 are frequently detected in patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and in mouse T-ALL models. Treatment of mouse or human T-ALL cell lines in vitro with γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) results in growth arrest and/or apoptosis. These studies suggest GSIs as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of T-ALL. To determine whether GSIs have antileukemic activity in vivo, we treated near-end-stage Tal1/Ink4a/Arf+/− leukemic mice with vehicle or with a GSI developed by Merck (MRK-003). We found that GSI treatment significantly extended the survival of leukemic mice compared with vehicle-treated mice. Notch1 target gene expression was repressed and increased numbers of apoptotic cells were observed in the GSI-treated mice, demonstrating that Notch1 inhibition in vivo induces apoptosis. T-ALL cell lines also exhibit PI3K/mTOR pathway activation, indicating that rapamycin may also have therapeutic benefit. When GSIs are administered in combination with rapamycin, mTOR kinase activity is ablated and apoptosis induced. Moreover, GSI and rapamycin treatment inhibits human T-ALL growth and extends survival in a mouse xenograft model. This work supports the idea of targeting NOTCH1 in T-ALL and suggests that inhibition of the mTOR and NOTCH1 pathways may have added efficacy.

Evidence for an Increased Generation of Prostacyclin in the Microvasculature and an Impairment of the Platelet α-Granule Release in Chronic Renal Failure

1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (02) ◽  
pp. 205-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A Kyrle ◽  
Felix Stockenhuber ◽  
Brigitte Brenner ◽  
Heinz Gössinger ◽  
Christian Korninger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Failure ◽  
Chronic Renal Failure ◽  
Blood Clotting ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Chronic Uraemia ◽  
Wall Interaction ◽  
End Stage ◽  
Granule Release

SummaryThe formation of prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 and the release of beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) at the site of platelet-vessel wall interaction, i.e. in blood emerging from a standardized injury of the micro vasculature made to determine bleeding time, was studied in patients with end-stage chronic renal failure undergoing regular haemodialysis and in normal subjects. In the uraemic patients, levels of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) were 1.3-fold to 6.3-fold higher than the corresponding values in the control subjects indicating an increased PGI2 formation in chronic uraemia. Formation of thromboxane B2 (TxB2) at the site of plug formation in vivo and during whole blood clotting in vitro was similar in the uraemic subjects and in the normals excluding a major defect in platelet prostaglandin metabolism in chronic renal failure. Significantly smaller amounts of beta-TG were found in blood obtained from the site of vascular injury as well as after in vitro blood clotting in patients with chronic renal failure indicating an impairment of the a-granule release in chronic uraemia. We therefore conclude that the haemorrhagic diathesis commonly seen in patients with chronic renal failure is - at least partially - due to an acquired defect of the platelet a-granule release and an increased generation of PGI2 in the micro vasculature.

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