scholarly journals Inhibition of ROCK2 alleviates renal fibrosis and the metabolic disorders in the proximal tubular epithelial cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (12) ◽  
pp. 1357-1376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran You ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Yanwei Li ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Songming Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Related Factor ◽  
Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Proximal Tubular ◽  
Tgf Β1

Abstract Non-specific inhibition of Rho-associated kinases (ROCKs) alleviated renal fibrosis in the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model, while genetic deletion of ROCK1 did not affect renal pathology in mice. Thus, whether ROCK2 plays a role in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis needs to be clarified. In the present study, a selective inhibitor against ROCK2 or genetic approach was used to investigate the role of ROCK2 in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. In the fibrotic kidneys of chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) patients, we observed an enhanced expression of ROCK2 with a positive correlation with interstitial fibrosis. In mice, the ROCK2 protein level was time-dependently increased in the UUO model. By treating CKD animals with KD025 at the dosage of 50 mg/kg/day via intraperitoneal injection, the renal fibrosis shown by Masson’s trichrome staining was significantly alleviated along with the reduced expression of fibrotic genes. In vitro, inhibiting ROCK2 by KD025 or ROCK2 knockdown/knockout significantly blunted the pro-fibrotic response in transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-stimulated mouse renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (mPTCs). Moreover, impaired cellular metabolism was reported as a crucial pathogenic factor in CKD. By metabolomics analysis, we found that KD025 restored the metabolic disturbance, including the impaired glutathione metabolism in TGF-β1-stimulated tubular epithelial cells. Consistently, KD025 increased antioxidative stress enzymes and nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in fibrotic models. In addition, KD025 decreased the infiltration of macrophages and inflammatory response in fibrotic kidneys and blunted the activation of macrophages in vitro. In conclusion, inhibition of ROCK2 may serve as a potential novel therapy for renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in CKD.

scholarly journals Interaction between V-ATPase B2 and (Pro) renin Receptors in Promoting the progression of Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Liu ◽  
Sujun Zuo ◽  
Xiaoyan Li ◽  
Jinjin Fan ◽  
Xueqin Cao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Atpase Inhibitor ◽  
Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Proximal Tubular ◽  
Atpase Subunits

Abstract To investigate the levels of (Pro) renin receptor [(P) RR], α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), and vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) subunits (B2, E, and c) in rat unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) models and rat proximal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E) treated with prorenin to elucidate the role of V-ATPase in these processes by activating the (P) RR. UUO significantly upregulated (P) RR, V-ATPase subunits, α-SMA and FN expression in tubulointerstitium or tubular epithelial cells. A marked colocalization of (P) RR and the B2 subunit was also observed. Prorenin treatment upregulated α-SMA, FN, (P) RR, and V-ATPase subunits and activity in NRK52E cell in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The V-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1 partially blocked prorenin-induced (P) RR, FN, and α-SMA expression. Co-immunoprecipitate and immunofluorescence results demonstrated that the V-ATPase B2 subunit bound to the (P) RR, which was upregulated after prorenin stimulation. Either siRNA-mediated (P) RR or B2 subunit knockdown partially reduced V-ATPase activity and attenuated prorenin-induced FN and α-SMA expression. From the data we can assume that activation of (P) RR and V-ATPase may play an important role in tubulointerstitial fibrosis with possible involvement of interaction of V-ATPase B2 subunit and (P)RR.

V-ATPase promotes transforming growth factor-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of rat proximal tubular epithelial cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (9) ◽  
pp. F1121-F1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueqin Cao ◽  
Qiongqiong Yang ◽  
Jing Qin ◽  
Shili Zhao ◽  
Xiaoyan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Proximal Tubular ◽  
Tgf Β1

The ubiquitous vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase), a multisubunit proton pump, is essential for intraorganellar acidification. Here, we hypothesized that V-ATPase is involved in the pathogenesis of kidney tubulointerstitial fibrosis. We first examined its expression in the rat unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model of kidney fibrosis and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rat proximal tubular epithelial cells (NRK52E). Immunofluorescence experiments showed that UUO resulted in significant upregulation of V-ATPase subunits (B2, E, and c) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in areas of tubulointerstitial injury. We further observed that TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml) treatment resulted in EMT of NRK52E (upregulation of α-SMA and downregulation of E-cadherin) in a time-dependent manner and significant upregulation of V-ATPase B2 and c subunits after 48 h and the E subunit after 24 h, by real-time PCR and immunoblot analyses. The ATP hydrolysis activity tested by an ATP/NADH-coupled assay was increased after 48-h TGF-β1 treatment. Using intracellular pH measurements with the SNARF-4F indicator, Na+-independent pH recovery was significantly faster after an NH4Cl pulse in 48-h TGF-β1-treated cells than controls. Furthermore, the V-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1 partially protected the cells from EMT. TGF-β1 induced an increase in the cell surface expression of the B2 subunit, and small interfering RNA-mediated B2 subunit knockdown partially reduced the V-ATPase activity and attenuated EMT induced by TGF-β1. Together, these findings show that V-ATPase may promote EMT and chronic tubulointerstitial fibrosis due to increasing its activity by either overexpression or redistribution of its subunits.

scholarly journals Urine-Derived Epithelial Cells as Models for Genetic Kidney Diseases

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1413
Author(s):  
Tjessa Bondue ◽  
Fanny O. Arcolino ◽  
Koenraad R. P. Veys ◽  
Oyindamola C. Adebayo ◽  
Elena Levtchenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cell Models ◽  
Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Disease Mechanisms ◽  
Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Proximal Tubular ◽  
Disease Cell

Epithelial cells exfoliated in human urine can include cells anywhere from the urinary tract and kidneys; however, podocytes and proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) are by far the most relevant cell types for the study of genetic kidney diseases. When maintained in vitro, they have been proven extremely valuable for discovering disease mechanisms and for the development of new therapies. Furthermore, cultured patient cells can individually represent their human sources and their specific variants for personalized medicine studies, which are recently gaining much interest. In this review, we summarize the methodology for establishing human podocyte and PTEC cell lines from urine and highlight their importance as kidney disease cell models. We explore the well-established and recent techniques of cell isolation, quantification, immortalization and characterization, and we describe their current and future applications.

scholarly journals Identification of a microRNA signature in renal fibrosis: role of miR-21

2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (4) ◽  
pp. F793-F801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abolfazl Zarjou ◽  
Shanzhong Yang ◽  
Edward Abraham ◽  
Anupam Agarwal ◽  
Gang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Tgf Β1

Renal fibrosis is a final stage of many forms of kidney disease and leads to impairment of kidney function. The molecular pathogenesis of renal fibrosis is currently not well-understood. microRNAs (miRNAs) are important players in initiation and progression of many pathologic processes including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. However, the role of miRNAs in kidney injury and repair is not well-characterized. In the present study, we found a unique miRNA signature associated with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis. We found altered expression in UUO kidneys of miRNAs that have been shown to be responsive to stimulation by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 or TNF-α. Among these miRNAs, miR-21 demonstrated the greatest increase in UUO kidneys. The enhanced expression of miR-21 was located mainly in distal tubular epithelial cells. miR-21 expression was upregulated in response to treatment with TGF-β1 or TNF-α in human renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro. Furthermore, we found that blocking miR-21 in vivo attenuated UUO-induced renal fibrosis, presumably through diminishing the expression of profibrotic proteins and reducing infiltration of inflammatory macrophages in UUO kidneys. Our data suggest that targeting specific miRNAs could be a novel therapeutic approach to treat renal fibrosis.

scholarly journals No Cytotoxic and Inflammatory Effects of Empagliflozin and Dapagliflozin on Primary Renal Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells under Diabetic Conditions In Vitro

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick C. Baer ◽  
Benjamin Koch ◽  
Janina Freitag ◽  
Ralf Schubert ◽  
Helmut Geiger
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cell Injury ◽  
Cellular Damage ◽  
Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Urinary Glucose ◽  
Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Proximal Tubular ◽  
Vitro Model ◽  
Renal Proximal Tubular

Gliflozins are inhibitors of the renal proximal tubular sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2), that inhibit reabsorption of urinary glucose and they are able to reduce hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. A renoprotective function of gliflozins has been proven in diabetic nephropathy, but harmful side effects on the kidney have also been described. In the current project, primary highly purified human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTCs) have been shown to express functional SGLT-2, and were used as an in vitro model to study possible cellular damage induced by two therapeutically used gliflozins: empagliflozin and dapagliflozin. Cell viability, proliferation, and cytotoxicity assays revealed that neither empagliflozin nor dapagliflozin induce effects in PTCs cultured in a hyperglycemic environment, or in co-medication with ramipril or hydro-chloro-thiazide. Oxidative stress was significantly lowered by dapagliflozin but not by empagliflozin. No effect of either inhibitor could be detected on mRNA and protein expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 and the renal injury markers KIM-1 and NGAL. In conclusion, empa- and dapagliflozin in therapeutic concentrations were shown to induce no direct cell injury in cultured primary renal PTCs in hyperglycemic conditions.

scholarly journals TCR+CD4−CD8− (double negative) T cells protect from cisplatin-induced renal epithelial cell apoptosis and acute kidney injury

2020 ◽  
Vol 318 (6) ◽  
pp. F1500-F1512
Author(s):  
Jing Gong ◽  
Sanjeev Noel ◽  
Joshua Hsu ◽  
Errol L. Bush ◽  
Lois J. Arend ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Double Negative ◽  
Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Proximal Tubular ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) due to cisplatin is a significant problem that limits its use as an effective chemotherapeutic agent. T cell receptor+CD4−CD8− double negative (DN) T cells constitute the major T cell population in the human and mouse kidney, express programmed cell death protein (PD)-1, and protect from ischemic AKI. However, the pathophysiological roles of DN T cells in cisplatin-induced AKI is unknown. In this study, wild-type mice were treated with cisplatin (30 mg/kg) or vehicle, and the effects on kidney DN T cell numbers and function were measured. In vitro experiments evaluated effects of kidney DN T cells on cisplatin-induced apoptosis and PD ligand 1 (PD-L1) in renal epithelial cells. Adoptive transfer experiments assessed the therapeutic potential of DN T cells during cisplatin-induced AKI. Our results show that kidney DN T cell population increased at 24 h and declined by 72 h after cisplatin treatment. Cisplatin treatment increased kidney DN T cell proliferation, apoptosis, CD69, and IL-10 expression, whereas CD62L, CD44, IL-17A, interferon-γ, and TNF-α were downregulated. Cisplatin treatment decreased both PD-1 and natural killer 1.1 subsets of kidney DN T cells with a pronounced effect on the PD-1 subset. In vitro kidney DN T cell coculture decreased cisplatin-induced apoptosis in kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells, increased Bcl-2, and decreased cleaved caspase 3 expression. Cisplatin-induced expression of PD ligand 1 was reduced in proximal tubular epithelial cells cocultured with DN T cells. Adoptive transfer of DN T cells attenuated kidney dysfunction and structural damage from cisplatin-induced AKI. These results demonstrate that kidney DN T cells respond rapidly and play a protective role during cisplatin-induced AKI.

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