scholarly journals Shp2 Associates with and Enhances Nephrin Tyrosine Phosphorylation and Is Necessary for Foot Process Spreading in Mouse Models of Podocyte Injury

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 596-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakesh Verma ◽  
Madhusudan Venkatareddy ◽  
Anne Kalinowski ◽  
Sanjeevkumar R. Patel ◽  
David J. Salant ◽  
...  

In most forms of glomerular diseases, loss of size selectivity by the kidney filtration barrier is associated with changes in the morphology of podocytes. The kidney filtration barrier is comprised of the endothelial lining, the glomerular basement membrane, and the podocyte intercellular junction, or slit diaphragm. The cell adhesion proteins nephrin and neph1 localize to the slit diaphragm and transduce signals in a Src family kinase Fyn-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent manner. Studies in cell culture suggest nephrin phosphorylation-dependent signaling events are primarily involved in regulation of actin dynamics and lamellipodium formation. Nephrin phosphorylation is a proximal event that occurs both during development and following podocyte injury. We hypothesized that abrogation of nephrin phosphorylation following injury would prevent nephrin-dependent actin remodeling and foot process morphological changes. Utilizing a biased screening approach, we found nonreceptor Src homology 2 (sh2) domain-containing phosphatase Shp2 to be associated with phosphorylated nephrin. We observed an increase in nephrin tyrosine phosphorylation in the presence of Shp2 in cell culture studies. In the human glomerulopathies minimal-change nephrosis and membranous nephropathy, there is an increase in Shp2 phosphorylation, a marker of increased Shp2 activity. Mouse podocytes lacking Shp2 do not develop foot process spreading when subjected to podocyte injuryin vivousing protamine sulfate or nephrotoxic serum (NTS). In the NTS model, we observed a lack of foot process spreading in mouse podocytes with Shp2 deleted and smaller amounts of proteinuria. Taken together, these results suggest that Shp2-dependent signaling events are necessary for changes in foot process structure and function following injury.

2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (2) ◽  
pp. F431-F441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maribel Rico ◽  
Amitava Mukherjee ◽  
Martha Konieczkowski ◽  
Leslie A. Bruggeman ◽  
R. Tyler Miller ◽  
...  

Podocyte differentiation is required for normal glomerular filtration barrier function and is regulated by the transcription factor WT1. We identified WT1-interacting protein (WTIP) and hypothesized that it functions as both a scaffold for slit diaphragm proteins and a corepressor of WT1 transcriptional activity by shuttling from cell-cell junctions to the nucleus after injury. Endogenous WTIP colocalizes with zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in cultured mouse podocyte adherens junctions. To model podocyte injury in vitro, we incubated differentiated podocytes with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN; 100 μg/ml) for 24 h, which disassembled cell-cell contacts, rearranged actin cytoskeleton, and caused process retraction. Podocyte synaptopodin expression diminished after PAN treatment, consistent with podocyte dedifferentiation in some human glomerular diseases. To assess podocyte function, we measured albumin flux across differentiated podocytes cultured on collagen-coated Transwell filters. Albumin transit across PAN-treated cells increased to levels observed with undifferentiated podocytes. Consistent with our hypothesis, WTIP, as well as ZO-1, translocated from podocyte adherens junctions to nuclei in PAN-treated cells. Because WTIP is a transcriptional corepressor for WT1, we examined the effect of PAN on expression of retinoblastoma binding protein Rbbp7 (also known as RbAp46), a WT1 target gene expressed in S-shaped bodies during nephrogenesis. Rbbp7 expression in PAN-treated podocytes was reduced compared with untreated cells. In conclusion, WTIP translocates from cell-cell junctions to the nucleus in PAN-treated podocytes. We suggest that WTIP monitors slit diaphragm protein assembly and shuttles into the nucleus after podocyte injury, translating changes in slit diaphragm structure into altered gene expression and a less differentiated phenotype.


2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (8) ◽  
pp. F777-F784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyang Wan ◽  
Mi-Sun Lee ◽  
Weibin Zhou

Activation of small GTPase Rac1 in podocytes is associated with rodent models of kidney injury and familial nephrotic syndrome. Induced Rac1 activation in podocytes in transgenic mice results in rapid transient proteinuria and foot process effacement, but not glomerular sclerosis. Thus it remains an open question whether abnormal activation of Rac1 in podocytes is sufficient to cause permanent podocyte damage. Using a number of transgenic zebrafish models, we showed that moderate elevation of Rac1 activity in podocytes did not impair the glomerular filtration barrier but aggravated metronidazole-induced podocyte injury, while inhibition of Rac1 activity ameliorated metronidazole-induced podocyte injury. Furthermore, a further increase in Rac1 activity in podocytes was sufficient to cause proteinuria and foot process effacement, which resulted in edema and lethality in juvenile zebrafish. We also found that activation of Rac1 in podocytes significantly downregulated the expression of nephrin and podocin, suggesting an adverse effect of Rac1 on slit diaphragm protein expression. Taken together, our data have demonstrated a causal link between excessive Rac1 activity and podocyte injury in a dosage-dependent manner, and transgenic zebrafish of variable Rac1 activities in podocytes may serve as useful animal models for the study of Rac1-related podocytopathy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (6) ◽  
pp. F1308-F1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leopoldo Raij ◽  
Runxia Tian ◽  
Jenny S. Wong ◽  
John C. He ◽  
Kirk N. Campbell

Podocytes are the key target for injury in proteinuric glomerular diseases that result in podocyte loss, progressive focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS), and renal failure. Current evidence suggests that the initiation of podocyte injury and associated proteinuria can be separated from factors that drive and maintain these pathogenic processes leading to FSGS. In nephrotic urine aberrant glomerular filtration of plasminogen (Plg) is activated to the biologically active serine protease plasmin by urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). In vivo inhibition of uPA mitigates Plg activation and development of FSGS in several proteinuric models of renal disease including 5/6 nephrectomy. Here, we show that Plg is markedly increased in the urine in two murine models of proteinuric kidney disease associated with podocyte injury: Tg26 HIV-associated nephropathy and the Cd2ap −/− model of FSGS. We show that human podocytes express uPA and three Plg receptors: uPAR, tPA, and Plg-RKT. We demonstrate that Plg treatment of podocytes specifically upregulates NADPH oxidase isoforms NOX2/NOX4 and increases production of mitochondrial-dependent superoxide anion (O2−) that promotes endothelin-1 synthesis. Plg via O2− also promotes expression of the B scavenger receptor CD36 and subsequent increased intracellular cholesterol uptake resulting in podocyte apoptosis. Taken together, our findings suggest that following disruption of the glomerular filtration barrier at the onset of proteinuric disease, podocytes are exposed to Plg resulting in further injury mediated by oxidative stress. We suggest that chronic exposure to Plg could serve as a “second hit” in glomerular disease and that Plg is potentially an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.


2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 550-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Séverine Roselli ◽  
Laurence Heidet ◽  
Mireille Sich ◽  
Anna Henger ◽  
Matthias Kretzler ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Podocytes are specialized epithelial cells covering the basement membrane of the glomerulus in the kidney. The molecular mechanisms underlying the role of podocytes in glomerular filtration are still largely unknown. We generated podocin-deficient (Nphs2 −/−) mice to investigate the function of podocin, a protein expressed at the insertion of the slit diaphragm in podocytes and defective in a subset of patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. Nphs2 −/− mice developed proteinuria during the antenatal period and died a few days after birth from renal failure caused by massive mesangial sclerosis. Electron microscopy revealed the extensive fusion of podocyte foot processes and the lack of a slit diaphragm in the remaining foot process junctions. Using real-time PCR and immunolabeling, we showed that the expression of other slit diaphragm components was modified in Nphs2 −/− kidneys: the expression of the nephrin gene was downregulated, whereas that of the ZO1 and CD2AP genes appeared to be upregulated. Interestingly, the progression of the renal disease, as well as the presence or absence of renal vascular lesions, depends on the genetic background. Our data demonstrate the crucial role of podocin in the establishment of the glomerular filtration barrier and provide a suitable model for mapping and identifying modifier genes involved in glomerular diseases caused by podocyte injuries.


Kidney360 ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 10.34067/KID.0006492020
Author(s):  
Shivangi Agarwal ◽  
Yashwanth R. Sudhini ◽  
Jochen Reiser ◽  
Mehmet M. Altintas

Podocytes are critical components of the filtration barrier and responsible for maintaining healthy kidney function. An assault on podocytes is generally associated with progression of chronic glomerular diseases. Therefore, podocyte pathophysiology is a favorite subject of research for nephrologists. Despite this, podocyte research has lagged behind because of the unavailability of techniques for culturing such specialized cells ex vivo in quantities that are adequate for mechanistic studies. In recent years, this problem was circumvented by the efforts of researchers who successfully developed several in vitro podocyte cell culture model systems that paved the way for incredible discoveries in the field of nephrology. This review embarks us on a journey that provides a comprehensive insight into the groundbreaking breakthroughs and novel technological advances made in the field of podocyte cell culture so far, beginning from its inception, evolution, and progression. Herein, we also describe in detail the pros and cons of different models that are currently being used to culture podocytes. Our extensive and exhaustive deliberation on the status of podocyte cell culture will facilitate the researchers to wisely choose an appropriate model for their own research to avoid potential pitfalls in the future.


1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Ribon ◽  
S Hubbell ◽  
R Herrera ◽  
A R Saltiel

The cellular homologs of the v-Crk oncogene product are composed exclusively of Src homology region 2 (SH2) and SH3 domains. v-Crk overexpression in fibroblasts causes cell transformation and elevated tyrosine phosphorylation of specific cellular proteins. Among these proteins is a 130-kDa protein, identified as p130cas, that forms a stable complex in vivo with v-Crk. We have explored the role of endogenous Crk proteins in Bcr-Abl-transformed cells. In the K562 human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line, p130cas is not tyrosine phosphorylated or bound to Crk. Instead, Crk proteins predominantly associate with the tyrosine-phosphorylated proto-oncogene product of Cbl. In vitro analysis showed that this interaction is mediated by the SH2 domain of Crk and can be inhibited with a phosphopeptide containing the Crk-SH2 binding motif. In NIH 3T3 cells transformed by Bcr-Abl, c-Cbl becomes strongly tyrosine phosphorylated and associates with c-Crk. The complex between c-Crk and c-Cbl is also seen upon T-cell receptor cross-linking or with the transforming, tyrosine-phosphorylated c-Cbl. These results indicate that Crk binds to c-Cbl in a tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent manner, suggesting a physiological role for the Crk-c-Cbl complex in Bcr-Abl tyrosine phosphorylation-mediated transformation.


Blood ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 1352-1359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyonao Sada ◽  
Juan Zhang ◽  
Reuben P. Siraganian

Aggregation of the high-affinity IgE receptor induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of subunits of the receptor and the subsequent association with the receptor of the cytosolic protein tyrosine kinase Syk. The current experiments examined the functional importance of membrane association of Syk and the role of the SH2 domain in receptor-mediated signal transduction. Wild-type Syk and chimeric Syk molecules with the c-Src myristylation sequence at the amino-terminus were expressed in a Syk-negative mast cell line. Chimeric Syk with the myristylation sequence was membrane associated, and a small fraction was constitutively colocalized with FcεRI, Lyn, and LAT (linker for T-cell activation) in the glycolipid-enriched microdomains or rafts. However, even under these conditions, the tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk and the downstream propagation of signals required FcεRI aggregation. This chimeric Syk was less active than wild-type Syk in FcεRI-mediated signal transduction. In contrast, a truncated membrane-associated form of Syk that lacked the SH2 domains was not tyrosine phosphorylated by receptor aggregation and failed to transduce intracellular signals. These findings suggest that SH2 domain–mediated membrane translocation of Syk is essential for the FcεRI-mediated activation of Syk for downstream signaling events leading to histamine release. Furthermore, the localization of Syk in glycolipid-enriched microdomains by itself is not enough to generate or enhance signaling events.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (2) ◽  
pp. F418-F426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beate Vollenbröker ◽  
Britta George ◽  
Maria Wolfgart ◽  
Moin A. Saleem ◽  
Hermann Pavenstädt ◽  
...  

The immunosuppressive mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors can cause proteinuria, especially in kidney and heart transplanted patients. Podocytes play a major role in establishing the selective permeability of the blood-urine filtration barrier. Damage of these cells leads to proteinuria, a hallmark of most glomerular diseases. Interestingly, podocyte damage and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis can occur after treatment with an mTOR inhibitor in some transplant patients. To investigate the mechanisms of mTOR inhibitor-induced podocyte damage, we analyzed the effect of rapamycin on mTOR signaling and cellular function in human podocytes. We found that prolonged rapamycin treatment reduced the expression of total mTOR, which correlates with diminished levels of mTOR phosphorylation at Ser2448 and Ser2481. In addition, treatment with rapamycin reduced rictor expression and mTORC2 formation, resulting in a reduced phosphorylation of protein kinase B at Ser473. The expression level of the slit-diaphragm proteins nephrin and transient receptor potential cation channel 6 as well as the cytoskeletal adaptor protein Nck significantly decreased. Moreover, rapamycin reduced cell adhesion and cell motility, which was accompanied by an enhanced formation of dot-like actin-rich structures. Our data provide new molecular insights explaining which pathways and molecules are affected in podocytes by an imbalanced mTOR function because of rapamycin treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (22) ◽  
pp. 12485
Author(s):  
Daan ‘t Hart ◽  
Jinhua Li ◽  
Johan van der Vlag ◽  
Tom Nijenhuis

Increased expression and activity of the Ca2+ channel transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) is associated with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, but therapeutic strategies to target TRPC6 are currently lacking. Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial for normal glomerular function and plays a protective role in preventing glomerular diseases. We investigated if NO prevents podocyte injury by inhibiting injurious TRPC6-mediated signaling in a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-dependent manner and studied the therapeutic potential of the sGC stimulator Riociguat. Experiments were performed using human glomerular endothelial cells and podocytes. Podocyte injury was induced by Adriamycin incubation for 24 h, with or without the NO-donor S-Nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP), the sGC stimulator Riociguat or the TRPC6 inhibitor Larixyl Acetate (LA). NO and Riociguat stimulated cGMP synthesis in podocytes, decreased Adriamycin-induced TRPC6 expression, inhibited the Adriamycin-induced TRPC6-mediated Ca2+ influx and reduced podocyte injury. The protective effects of Riociguat and NO were blocked when sGC activity was inhibited with 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) or when TRPC6 activity was inhibited by LA. Our data demonstrate a glomerular (e)NOS-NO-sGC-cGMP-TRPC6 pathway that prevents podocyte injury, which can be translated to future clinical use by, e.g., repurposing the market-approved drug Riociguat.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Yoshiyasu Fukusumi ◽  
Veniamin Ivanov ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Hidenori Yasuda ◽  
Hiroshi Kawachi

Proteinuria in several glomerular diseases results from dysfunction of the slit diaphragm, a cell-cell junction of glomerular epithelial cells (podocytes). Ephrin-B1 and its related molecule NHERF 2 are novel essential components of the slit diaphragm. Ephrin-B1 interacts with nephrin via the extra-cellular domain and interacts with NHERF2 via the cytoplasmic site. In the proteinuric state induced by the stimulation to nephrin, nephrin and ephrin-B1 are phosphorylated, and NHERF2 is de- phosphorylated and consequent disruption of the linkage and downregulation of nephrin, ephrin-B1 and NHERF2 are a critical pathogenic event of podocyte injury. Keywords: Podocyte; Slit Diaphragm; Ephrin-B1; Nephrin; NHERF2


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