Uric acid-induced phenotypic transition of renal tubular cells as a novel mechanism of chronic kidney disease

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (5) ◽  
pp. F471-F480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun-Sun Ryu ◽  
Mi Jin Kim ◽  
Hyun-Soo Shin ◽  
Yang-Hee Jang ◽  
Hack Sun Choi ◽  
...  

Recent experimental and clinical studies suggest a causal role of uric acid in the development of chronic kidney disease. Most studies have focused on uric acid-induced endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the kidney. The direct effects of uric acid on tubular cells have not been studied in detail, and whether uric acid can mediate phenotypic transition of renal tubular cells such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is not known. We therefore investigated whether uric acid could alter E-cadherin expression and EMT in the kidney of hyperuricemic rats and in cultured renal tubular cells (NRK cells). Experimental hyperuricemia was associated with evidence of EMT before the development of significant tubulointerstitial fibrosis at 4 wk, as shown by decreased E-cadherin expression and an increased α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Allopurinol significantly inhibited uric acid-induced changes in E-cadherin and α-SMA with an amelioration of renal fibrosis at 6 wk. In cultured NRK cells, uric acid induced EMT, which was blocked by the organic anion transport inhibitor probenecid. Uric acid increased expression of transcriptional factors associated with decreased synthesis of E-cadherin (Snail and Slug). Uric acid also increased the degradation of E-cadherin via ubiquitination, which is of importance since downregulation of E-cadherin is considered to be a triggering mechanism for EMT. In conclusion, uric acid induces EMT of renal tubular cells decreasing E-cadherin synthesis via an activation of Snail and Slug as well as increasing the degradation of E-cadherin.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongqing Zha ◽  
Saiqun Wu ◽  
Ping Gao ◽  
Xiaoyan Wu

We examined whether and how uric acid induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in renal tubular cells, along with the mechanism by which telmisartan acts on uric acid-induced renal injury. Rat renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E) were exposed to various concentrations of uric acid in the presence or absence of telmisartan. Treatment with uric acid increased the expression of α-SMA, decreased the expression of E-cadherin, and promoted EMT in NRK-52E cells. Uric acid treatment also led to increased endothelin-1 (ET-1) production, activation of extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and the upregulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4). Use of ET-1 receptor inhibitor (BQ123 or BQ788) could inhibit uric acid-induced EMT in NRK-52E cells. Pretreatment with the ERK inhibitor (U0126 or PD98059) suppressed the release of ET-1 and EMT induced by uric acid. Additionally, pretreatment with a traditional antioxidant (diphenylene iodonium or apocynin) inhibited the activation of ERK1/2, release of ET-1, and uric acid-induced EMT in NRK-52E cells. These findings suggested that uric acid-induced EMT in renal tubular epithelial cells occurs through NADPH oxidase-mediated ERK1/2 activation and the subsequent release of ET-1. Furthermore, telmisartan (102 nmol/L to 104 nmol/L) inhibited the expression of NOX4, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), activation of ERK1/2, and the release of ET-1 in a dose-dependent manner, thereby preventing uric acid-induced EMT in NRK-52E. In conclusion, telmisartan could ameliorate uric acid-induced EMT in NRK-52E cells likely through inhibition of the NADPH oxidase/ERK1/2/ET-1 pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bohan Chen ◽  
Pei Wang ◽  
Xianhui Liang ◽  
Chunming Jiang ◽  
Yan Ge ◽  
...  

AbstractRenal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) play a key role in renal fibrogenesis. After persistent injuries that are beyond self-healing capacity, TECs will dedifferentiate, undergo growth arrest, convert to profibrogenic phenotypes, and resort to maladaptive plasticity that ultimately results in renal fibrosis. Evidence suggests that glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3β is centrally implicated in kidney injury. However, its role in renal fibrogenesis is obscure. Analysis of publicly available kidney transcriptome database demonstrated that patients with progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) exhibited GSK3β overexpression in renal tubulointerstitium, in which the predefined hallmark gene sets implicated in fibrogenesis were remarkably enriched. In vitro, TGF-β1 treatment augmented GSK3β expression in TECs, concomitant with dedifferentiation, cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, and overproduction of profibrotic cytokines like PAI-1 and CTGF. All these profibrogenic phenotypes were largely abrogated by GSK3β inhibitors or by ectopic expression of a dominant-negative mutant of GSK3β but reinforced in cells expressing the constitutively active mutant of GSK3β. Mechanistically, GSK3β suppressed, whereas inhibiting GSK3β facilitated, the activity of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), which competes for CREB-binding protein, a transcriptional coactivator essential for TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway to drive TECs profibrogenic plasticity. In vivo, in mice with folic acid-induced progressive CKD, targeting of GSK3β in renal tubules via genetic ablation or by microdose lithium mitigated the profibrogenic plasticity of TEC, concomitant with attenuated interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. Collectively, GSK3β is likely a pragmatic therapeutic target for averting profibrogenic plasticity of TECs and improving renal fibrosis.


Author(s):  
Vivienne Lyfar ◽  
L Fernandes ◽  
Elizabeth Thornton ◽  
J G H Cook

Tiaprofenic acid is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which also has hypouriceamic effect. Studies involving 10 healthy volunteers were designed to investigate the mode of this effect. We postulate that the site of action of tiaprofenic acid is at the cell membrane, the mechanism being an interference with the transport of uric acid from intra- to extra-cellular fluid thus limiting its passage into the plasma. The same mechanism acting on renal tubular cells impedes reabsorption thereby increasing uric acid clearance.


Hypertension ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiqing Han ◽  
Jun-Pin Hu ◽  
Pin-Lan Li ◽  
Ningjun Li

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in kidney epithelial cells plays a key role in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in chronic kidney diseases. As hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α is found to mediate TGFβ1 signaling pathway, we tested the hypothesis that HIF-1α and its upstream regulator prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing proteins (PHDs) are involved in TGFβ1-induced EMT in renal tubular cells. Our results showed that TGFβ1 treatment for 48 h stimulated EMT in cultured renal tubular cells as indicated by the decrease in epithelial marker P-cadherin from 1.0 ± 0.02 to 0.40 ± 0.05 ( P < 0.05), and the increase in mesenchymal markers α-smooth muscle actin (2.14 ± 0.32 fold, P < 0.05) and fibroblast-specific protein (2.0 ± 0.17 fold, P < 0.05) as shown in Western blot assay. Meanwhile, TGFβ1 time-dependently increased HIF-1α, which reached its maximum value (2.36 ± 0.2 fold, P < 0.05) at 24 h, and that HIF-1α siRNA significantly inhibited TGFβ1-induced EMT, suggesting that HIF-1α mediated TGFβ1 induced-EMT. Real-time PCR showed that PHD1 and PHD2, rather than PHD3, could be detected, with PHD2 as the predominant form of PHDs (PHD1 : PHD2 = 0.21:1.0). Importantly, TGFβ1 time-dependently decreased PHD2 mRNA and protein level, which reached their maximum value from 1.0 ± 0.15 to 0.45 ± 0.08 ( P < 0.05) for mRNA at 16 h and from 1.0 ± 0.08 to 0.26 ± 0.08 ( P < 0.05) for protein at 24 h, respectively. In contrast, TGFβ1 had no effect on PHD1 mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, over-expression of PHD2 transgene almost fully prevented TGFβ1-induced HIF-1α accumulation and EMT marker changes, indicating that PHD2 is involved in TGFβ1-induced EMT. Finally, Smad2 inhibitor SB431542 prevented TGFβ1-induced PHD2 decrease, suggesting that Smad2 may mediate TGFβ1-induced EMT through PHD2/HIF-1α. It is concluded that TGFβ1 decreased PHD2 expression via a Smad2-dependent signaling pathway, thereby leading to HIF-1α accumulation and EMT in renal tubular cells. The present study suggests that PHD2/HIF-1α is a novel signaling pathway mediating the fibrogenic effect of TGFβ1 and that manipulating PHD2/HIF-1α pathway may be used as a therapeutic strategy in chronic kidney diseases. (support: NIH grant HL89563 and HL106042)


Hypertension ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junping Hu ◽  
Weiqing Han ◽  
Qing Zhu ◽  
Pin-Lan Li ◽  
Ningjun Li

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to be a promising therapy for many different diseases. Stem cell conditioned culture media (SCM) exhibit similar beneficial effects as MSCs. Albuminuria-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in progressive renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in chronic renal disease. The present study tested the hypothesis that SCM inhibit albumin-induced EMT in cultured renal tubular cells. SCM were obtained by culturing rat adult MSCs for 3 days. Cultured renal proximal tubular cells were incubated with rat albumin (20μg/ml) and treated with SCM or control culture media. Our results showed that 48 h albumin incubation stimulated EMT in renal proximal tubular cells as shown by significant decrease in the protein levels of epithelial marker E-cadherin from 2.30 ± 0.27 to 0.87 ± 0.11 ( P < 0.05) and increase in the protein levels of mesenchymal marker fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP-1) (2.18±0.33 folds, P < 0.05). SCM treatment significantly inhibited these albumin-induced changes in E-cadherin and FSP-1 by 2.33±0.17 and 1.95±0.23 folds ( P < 0.05), respectively. Meanwhile, albumin increased the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory factor monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP)-1 by nearly 30 folds compared with control. SCM almost abolished the increase of MCP-1 induced by albumin. Furthermore, Western blot results displayed that albumin rapidly decreased the cytosolic levels and increased the nuclear levels of NF-κB, indicating a translocation of NF-κB; immunofluorescence microscopy also demonstrated that albumin induced NF-κB translocation from the cytosol into nucleus. SCM blocked the translocation of NF-κB into nucleus. These results suggest that SCM attenuated albumin-induced EMT in renal tubular cells via inhibiting NF-κB activation and inflammation, which may serve as a new therapeutic approach for chronic kidney diseases. (Supported by NIH grant HL89563 and HL106042)


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 4343-4348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuohang Li ◽  
Yiyu Sheng ◽  
Cheng Liu ◽  
Kuiqing Li ◽  
Xin Huang ◽  
...  

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