Inhibition of YAP activation attenuates renal injury and fibrosis in angiotensin II hypertensive mice

Author(s):  
Junjie Zhang ◽  
Qian Xu ◽  
Fu Ren ◽  
Yueyang Liu ◽  
Ruiping Cai ◽  
...  

Hippo/YAP (yes-associated protein) pathway is an important signaling pathway to control organ development and tissue homeostasis. YAP is a downstream effector of Hippo pathway and a critical mediator of mechanic stress. Hypertensive nephropathy is characterized with glomerular sclerosis stiffness and renal fibrosis. The present study investigated the role of YAP pathway in angiotensin (Ang) II hypertensive renal injury by using YAP activation inhibitor verteporfin. Ang II increased the protein expression of YAP in renal nucleus fraction, decreased p-YAP and p-LATS1/2 expressions in renal cytoplasmic fraction, suggesting Ang II activation of renal YAP. Ang II significantly increased systolic blood pressure (SBP), proteinuria, glomerular sclerosis and fibrosis, treatment with verteporfin attenuated Ang II-induced proteinuria and renal injury with a mild reduction in SBP. Moreover, Ang II increased the protein expressions of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and profibrotic factors including transform growth factor β, phosphor-Smad3 and fibronectin. Verteporfin reversed Ang II-induced above-mentioned molecule expressions. Our results for the first time demonstrate that the activation of the YAP pathway promotes hypertensive renal inflammation and fibrosis, which may promote hypertensive renal injury. YAP may be a new target for prevention and treatment of hypertensive renal diseases.

2011 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-122
Author(s):  
Joseph Jenkins ◽  
Sergey V. Brodsky ◽  
Anjali A. Satoskar ◽  
Gyongyi Nadasdy ◽  
Tibor Nadasdy

Abstract Context—Renal interstitial fibrosis and, to a lesser extent, sclerotic glomeruli correlate with poor renal function. However, not all nonfunctional glomeruli are sclerotic. Many or most glomeruli with periglomerular fibrosis, while retaining blood flow, probably do not filter; therefore, they may not contribute to renal function. Objective—To examine the relationship of periglomerular fibrosis and the sum of globally sclerotic glomeruli and glomeruli with periglomerular fibrosis (GSG+PF) with interstitial fibrosis and renal function. Design—Native kidney biopsies from 177 patients with chronic renal injury were assessed for interstitial fibrosis, glomerular sclerosis, and GSG+PF. Renal biopsies with active or acute lesions were not included. The percentage of globally sclerotic glomeruli and GSG+PF was correlated with the degree of interstitial fibrosis and serum creatinine levels. Results—The percentage of GSG+PF correlates better with the degree of interstitial fibrosis and renal function than does the percentage of globally sclerotic glomeruli alone. This appears particularly true in chronic renal diseases of patients without diabetes. The number of globally sclerotic glomeruli correlates better with interstitial fibrosis and renal function than does the sum of globally and segmentally sclerotic glomeruli. Conclusions—The percentage of GSG+PF in a renal biopsy specimen provides a better estimate of chronic renal injury than does the percentage of sclerotic glomeruli alone, probably because many or most glomeruli with periglomerular fibrosis are nonfunctional. Therefore, we recommend that the number of glomeruli with periglomerular fibrosis also be provided in the renal biopsy report.


2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (3) ◽  
pp. R740-R746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Sasser ◽  
Natasha C. Moningka ◽  
Mark W. Cunningham ◽  
Byron Croker ◽  
Chris Baylis

Recent studies have shown that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, is increased in hypertension and chronic kidney disease. However, little is known about the effects of hypertension per se on ADMA metabolism. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that ANG II-induced hypertension, in the absence of renal injury, is associated with increased oxidative stress and plasma and renal cortex ADMA levels in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with ANG II at 200 ng·kg−1·min−1 sc (by minipump) for 1 or 3 wk or at 400 ng·kg−1·min−1 for 6 wk. Mean arterial pressure was increased after 3 and 6 wk of ANG II; however, renal injury (proteinuria, glomerular sclerosis, and interstitial fibrosis) was only evident after 6 wk of treatment. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration and renal cortex p22phox protein abundance were increased early (1 and 3 wk), but urinary excretion of isoprostane and H2O2 was only increased after 6 wk of ANG II. An increased in plasma ADMA after 6 wk of ANG II was associated with increased lung protein arginine methyltransferase-1 abundance and decreased renal cortex dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase activity. No changes in renal cortex ADMA were observed. ANG II hypertension in the absence of renal injury is not associated with increased ADMA; however, when the severity and duration of the treatment were increased, plasma ADMA increased. These data suggest that elevated blood pressure alone, for up to 3 wk, in the absence of renal injury does not play an important role in the regulation of ADMA. However, the presence of renal injury and sustained hypertension for 6 wk increases ADMA levels and contributes to nitric oxide deficiency and cardiovascular disease.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Montserrat Romero ◽  
Arantxa Ortega ◽  
Nuria Olea ◽  
María Isabel Arenas ◽  
Adriana Izquierdo ◽  
...  

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and its receptor type 1 (PTH1R) are extensively expressed in the kidney, where they are able to modulate renal function. Renal PTHrP is known to be overexpressed in acute renal injury. Recently, we hypothesized that PTHrP involvement in the mechanisms of renal injury might not be limited to conditions with predominant damage of the renal tubulointerstitium and might be extended to glomerular diseases, such as diabetic nephropathy (DN). In experimental DN, the overexpression of both PTHrP and the PTH1R contributes to the development of renal hypertrophy as well as proteinuria. More recent data have shown, for the first time, that PTHrP is upregulated in the kidney from patients with DN. Collectively, animal and human studies have shown that PTHrP acts as an important mediator of diabetic renal cell hypertrophy by a mechanism which involves the modulation of cell cycle regulatory proteins and TGF-β1. Furthermore, angiotensin II (Ang II), a critical factor in the progression of renal injury, appears to be responsible for PTHrP upregulation in these conditions. These findings provide novel insights into the well-known protective effects of Ang II antagonists in renal diseases, paving the way for new therapeutic approaches.


2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (5) ◽  
pp. R841-R850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinna Serviente ◽  
Lisa M. Troy ◽  
Maxine de Jonge ◽  
Daniel D. Shill ◽  
Nathan T. Jenkins ◽  
...  

Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation are characteristics of subclinical atherosclerosis and may increase through progressive menopausal stages. Evaluating endothelial responses to acute exercise can reveal underlying dysfunction not apparent in resting conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate markers of endothelial function and inflammation before and after acute exercise in healthy low-active perimenopausal (PERI) and late postmenopausal (POST) women. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), CD31+/CD42b− and CD62E+ endothelial microparticles (EMPs), and the circulating inflammatory factors monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured before and 30 min after acute exercise. Before exercise, FMD was not different between groups (PERI: 6.4 ± 0.9% vs. POST: 6.5 ± 0.8%, P = 0.97); however, after acute exercise PERI tended to improve FMD (8.5 ± 0.9%, P = 0.09), whereas POST did not (6.2 ± 0.8%, P = 0.77). Independent of exercise, we observed transient endothelial dysfunction in POST with repeated FMD measures. There was a group × exercise interaction for CD31+/CD42b− EMPs ( P = 0.04), where CD31+/CD42b− EMPs were similar before exercise (PERI: 57.0 ± 6.7 EMPs/μl vs. POST: 58.5 ± 5.3 EMPs/μl, P = 0.86) but were higher in POST following exercise (PERI: 48.2 ± 6.7 EMPs/μl vs. POST: 69.4 ± 5.3 EMPs/μl, P = 0.023). CD62E+ EMPs were lower in PERI compared with POST before exercise ( P < 0.001) and increased in PERI ( P = 0.04) but did not change in POST ( P = 0.68) in response to acute exercise. After acute exercise, MCP-1 ( P = 0.055), TNF-α ( P = 0.02), and IL-8 ( P < 0.001) were lower in PERI but only IL-8 decreased in POST ( P < 0.001). Overall, these data suggest that perimenopausal and late postmenopausal women display different endothelial and inflammatory responses to acute exercise.


Hypertension ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter P Sayeski ◽  
Sung O Park ◽  
Annet Kirabo ◽  
Rebekah Baskin ◽  
Dale M Seth ◽  
...  

We previously found that Jak2 kinase, expressed within vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), plays a critical role in angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated hypertension. Given that Jak2 mediates both pressor-dependent and pressor-independent events, we sought to determine the role of blood pressure (BP), per se, on the deleterious effects of Jak2 within the kidney. To investigate this, three groups of mice were examined; i) wild type mice (Controls) that received Ang II infusion, ii) mice lacking Jak2 expression within the VSMC (VSMC Jak2 Null) that also received Ang II, and iii) Control mice that received Ang II plus an anti-hypertensive triple therapy (3Rx). After baseline BP recordings, Ang II was infused (1000 ng/kg/min, SC) to all groups and the 3Rx regimen (80 mg/L hydralazine, 5 mg/L reserpine, 30 mg/L hydrochlorothiazide in the drinking water) was initiated two days later to the 3Rx group, in order to maintain BP at similar levels to the VSMC Jak2 Null group. After 28 days of Ang II, mice were euthanized and the kidneys were assessed via histological, molecular, and functional approaches. Chronic Ang II infusion significantly increased the levels of intrarenal Ang II in all three groups; Control = 1,262±283 fmol/g, VSMC Jak2 Null = 1,655±666 fmol/g, and 3Rx = 2,174±588. While Ang II infusion significantly increased the mean BP in the Control group (152 ± 2 mm Hg), it was significantly, and similarly, lower in both the VSMC Jak2 Null and 3Rx groups (125 ± 5 mm Hg and 131 ± 5 mm Hg, respectively). Glomerular sclerosis was absent and interstitial fibrosis ranged from absent- mild- moderate, and was similar in all groups. The increases in i) perivascular infiltration of CD3+ lymphocytes, ii) CTGF gene expression, iii) tubule casts and iv) albuminuria that were observed in the Control mice, were significantly reduced in both the VSMC Jak2 Null and 3Rx groups. [CTGF mRNA Levels: Control = 100%±17, VSMC Jak2 Null = 70%±12*, 3Rx= 56%±17*. Urine Albumin (ng/day): Control = 414 ± 262, VSMC Jak2 Null = 138 ± 172*, 3Rx= 101 ± 89* (*, p<0.05 vs. Control)]. Thus, the early renal injury due to chronic Ang II infusion correlates with increased BP and not with the expression of VSMC-derived Jak2, suggesting that Jak2 contributes to early Ang II-mediated renal injury via its pressor-dependent actions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Rodrigues-Díez ◽  
Lucía Serrano Díaz del Campo ◽  
Ana García Redonde ◽  
Mercedes Salaices ◽  
Ana Briones

Abstract Background and Aims Renal inflammation is a protective response to several types of renal insults. Resolution is the ideal outcome of acute inflammation, however fail in resolution leads to chronic inflammation, progressive renal fibrosis and finally to end-stage renal failure. Recently is has been established that resolution of inflammation is mediated not only by disappearance of pro-inflammatory signals (including lipid mediators such as leukotrienes and prostaglandins) but also by activation of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM) including lipid mediators such as protectins (PD) and resolvins (Rvs) derived from omega-3 fatty acids precursors. Several authors have explored the role of different SPM in the treatment of experimental nephropathies. In the experimental model of bilateral ischemia/reperfusion pro-resolving mediators such as RvDs and PD1 were endogenously produced in the kidney in response to the injury. In this model, administration of RvD1 or PD1 before the ischemia or after the reperfusion showed a renoprotective effect. Moreover in the unilateral ureteral obstruction model RvE1 and RvD1administration inhibited interstitial fibrosis. One of the key mediators of renal injury is Angiotensin II (AngII) that participates in the pathogenesis of renal diseases through the regulation of two key processes, inflammation and fibrosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the pro-resolving mediator Resolvin D2 (RvD2) in AngII-induced renal injury Method We used C57BL/6 mice that were infused with AngII (1440 µg/kg/day o 1000 ng/Kg/min). After 7 days of AngII treatment, when hypertension was already established, mice were treated with RvD2 (100ng/mouse ip) every two days for additional 7 days. At day 14 mice were sacrificed and kidneys were removed for protein and gene expression analysis and for histological examination. Results In our experimental model RvD2 ameliorated renal injury assessed by expression of NGAL both at mRNA and protein levels. In addition AngII-treated mice presented significant reduction in glomerular size that was increased by RvD2 treatment reaching values comparable to control. In addition, RvD2 inhibited the activation of inflammatory markers including COX-2, IL-6 and MCP-1 induced by AngII and reduced the number of F4/80+ infiltrated macrophages. We next evaluated the effect of RvD2 in the activation of NFκB, a key signaling pathway in inflammation. We observed that RvD2 inhibited AngII-induced NFkB activation. Moreover, RT-PCR analysis indicated that Ang II increased the expression of Tenascin C, a component of the fibrogenic niche in kidney fibrosis, as well as Type-I Collagen and Fibronectin and these levels were significantly reduced by the treatment with RvD2. These results were also confirmed by Masson-Goldner trichrome staining. Importantly, these effects were independent of changes in blood pressure. We finally studied whether the effects of RvD2 might be related to the modulation of RvDs endogenous biosynthesis pathway or RvD2 receptor GPR-18. mRNA analysis showed that AngII did not modified the expression levels of RvD2 biosynthesis enzymes including LOX-5 and LOX-15 nor GPR-18. However, RvD2 treatment increased the expression of LOX-15 and GPR-18 and downregulated LOX-5 indicating a possible auto-regulatory mechanism of RvD2 Conclusion Our results evidence a dual beneficial effect of the pro-resolvin mediator RvD2 in Ang II-induced renal injury as RvD2 treatment reversed not only renal inflammation but also tubulo-interstitial fibrosis. Hence, synthetic pro-resolving mediators would be an interesting therapeutic option for renal diseases.


2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (5) ◽  
pp. F1276-F1284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengrong Guan ◽  
Barry S. Fuller ◽  
Tatsuo Yamamoto ◽  
Anthony K. Cook ◽  
Jennifer S. Pollock ◽  
...  

Inflammatory factors are elevated in animal and human subjects with hypertension and renal injury. We hypothesized that inflammation contributes to hypertension-induced renal injury by impairing autoregulation and microvascular reactivity to P2X1 receptor activation. Studies were conducted in vitro using the blood-perfused juxtamedullary nephron preparation. Rats receiving ANG II (60 ng/min) infusion were treated with the anti-inflammatory agent pentosan polysulfate (PPS) for 14 days. The magnitude and progression of hypertension were similar in ANG II and ANG II+PPS-treated rats (169 ± 5 vs. 172 ± 2 mmHg). Afferent arterioles from control rats exhibited normal autoregulatory behavior with diameter decreasing from 18.4 ± 1.6 to 11.4 ± 1.7 μm when perfusion pressure was increased from 70 to 160 mmHg. In contrast, pressure-mediated vasoconstriction was markedly attenuated in ANG II-treated rats, and diameter remained essentially unchanged over the range of perfusion pressures. However, ANG II-treated rats receiving PPS exhibited normal autoregulatory behavior compared with ANG II alone rats. Arteriolar reactivity to ATP and β,γ-methylene ATP was significantly reduced in ANG II hypertensive rats compared with controls. Interestingly, PPS treatment preserved normal reactivity to P2 and P2X1 receptor agonists despite the persistent hypertension. The maximal vasoconstriction was 79 ± 3 and 81 ± 2% of the control diameter for ATP and β,γ-methylene ATP, respectively, similar to responses in control rats. PPS treatment significantly reduced α-smooth muscle actin staining in afferent arterioles and plasma transforming growth factor-β1 concentration in ANG II-treated rats. In conclusion, PPS normalizes autoregulation without altering ANG II-induced hypertension, suggesting that inflammatory processes reduce P2X1 receptor reactivity and thereby impair autoregulatory behavior in ANG II hypertensive rats.


Hypertension ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiru Zhang ◽  
Yujin Zhang ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Renna Luo ◽  
Cheng Zhao ◽  
...  

Hypertension is the most prevalent life-threatening disease worldwide and is frequently associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the molecular basis underlying hypertensive CKD is not fully understood. We sought to identify specific factors and signaling pathways that contribute to hypertensive CKD and thereby exacerbate disease progression. Using high throughput quantitative RT-PCR profiling, we discovered that the expression level of 5’-ectonucleotidase (CD73), a key enzyme that produces extracellular adenosine, was significantly increased in the kidneys of angiotensin II (Ang II)-infused mice, an animal model of hypertensive nephropathy. Using both CD73 and A2B adenosine receptor (ADORA2B)-deficient mice coupled with pharmacological studies, we found that elevated CD73-mediated excess renal adenosine preferentially induced the ADORA2B expression and enhanced kidney ADORA2B signaling contributes to Ang II-induced hypertension. Similarly, in humans, we found that both CD73 and ADORA2B levels were significantly elevated in the kidneys of CKD patients compared to normal individuals and further elevated in hypertensive CKD patients. These findings led us to further discover that elevated renal CD73 contributes to excess adenosine signaling via ADORA2B activation that directly stimulates endothelin-1 (ET-1) production in a hypoxia inducible factor-α (HIF-1α)-dependent manner and underlies the pathogenesis of the disease. Lastly, we revealed that HIF-1α is an important factor responsible for Ang II-induced CD73 and ADORA2B expression at the transcriptional level. Overall, our studies reveal that Ang II-induced renal CD73 promotes the production of renal adenosine that is a prominent driver of hypertensive CKD by enhanced ADORA2B signaling-mediated ET-1 induction in a HIF-1α dependent manner. The inhibition of excess adenosine-mediated ADORA2B signaling represents a novel therapeutic target for the disease.


Hypertension ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji C Bihl ◽  
Xiang Xiao ◽  
Cheng Zhang ◽  
Shuzhen Chen ◽  
Jinju Wang ◽  
...  

Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] is a potential vascular protective peptide which counteracts the effects of Ang II. In this study, we investigated the role of Ang-(1-7) in hemorrhagic stroke. Adult male C57BL/6 mice implanted with telemetric probe for recording arterial blood pressure (BP) were divided into four minipump treatment groups: saline, Ang II, Ang II + Ang-(1-7), Ang II + Ang-(1-7) + A-779. After 2 weeks of treatment, mice were subjected to induction of hemorrhagic stroke by microinjection of collagenase (type VII; 0.075 U in 0.5 μL) in striatum. Mice were sacrificed at twenty-four hours after ICH induction. Brains were dissected and cut into coronal slices for histological analysis of middle cerebral artery (MCA)remodeling and hemorrhagic size. The plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and interleukin (IL-8) were determined by ELISA and the levels of NFκB and inhibitor of kappa B (IκB) in cerebral microvasculature were determined by western blot. We found (Figure): 1) Ang II increased BP, MCA remodeling and hemorrhagic size. 2) Ang-(1-7) significantly decreased the effects of Ang II on MCA and hemorrhage without affecting the BP, which were abolished by A-779. 3) Ang-(1-7) induced a 26-32% reduction in plasma level of TNF-α, MCP-1 and IL-8 increased by Ang II. 4) Ang-(1-7) also counter-regulated Ang II-induced NFƙB up-regulation and IƙB down-regulation. In conclusion, Ang-(1-7) counteracts Ang II on vascular remodeling and hemorrhagic injury by alleviating NFκB-related inflammation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 202 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sachie Asamizu ◽  
Masaharu Urakaze ◽  
Chikaaki Kobashi ◽  
Manabu Ishiki ◽  
Amal Khalifa Norel Din ◽  
...  

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and angiotensin II (Ang II) in adipose tissue are thought to induce systemic insulin resistance in rodents; but the precise mechanism is not fully clarified. We examined the mechanism of Ang II-induced and/or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced MCP-1 production from 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The MCP-1 protein and MCP-1 mRNA expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were increased significantly by stimulation with TNF-α. We found no significant increase in MCP-1 concentrations by Ang II alone; but it enhanced the TNF-α-induced MCP-1 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. Then, we examined the effect of Ang II and/or TNF-α on phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38MAPK, and IκB-α. Ang II and TNF-α clearly enhanced ERK and p38MAPK phosphorylation. IκB-α phosphorylation was enhanced by TNF-α, but not by Ang II. The MCP-1 mRNA expression induced by TNF-α and co-stimulation with Ang II was inhibited by either ERK inhibitor, p38MAPK inhibitor or NF-κB inhibitor. Moreover, Ang II enhanced the activation of AP-1 (c-fos) induced by TNF-α. Our results suggest that Ang II may serve as an additional stimulus on the TNF-α-induced MCP-1 production through the ERK-and p38MAPK-dependent pathways probably due to AP-1 activation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document