scholarly journals Dihydromyricetin promotes autophagy and attenuates renal interstitial fibrosis by regulating miR-155-5p/PTEN signaling in diabetic nephropathy

Author(s):  
Liming Guo ◽  
Kuibi Tan ◽  
Qun Luo ◽  
Xu Bai

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common complication of diabetes and is prone to kidney failure. Dihydromyricetin (DHM) has been reported to have a variety of pharmacological activities. This study aims to explore the effect of DHM on DN and the underlying molecular mechanism. An in vivo DN rat model was established. The degree of renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) was detected by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In vitro, NRK-52E cells were divided into four groups: normal glucose (NG), high glucose (HG), HG+DHM, and HG+rapamycin (autophagy inhibitor). The levels of autophagy- and fibrosis-related proteins were analyzed by western blotting. The expression of miR-155-5p and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) and their relationship were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR and dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Our results showed that RIF was increased in DN rat model and in HG-induced NRK-52E cells. DHM treatment attenuated the increased RIF and also increased autophagy. MiR-155-5p expression was increased, while PTEN expression was decreased in DN rat and cell model, and DHM reversed both effects. Dual luciferase assay showed that PTEN was the target gene of miR-155-5p. DHM inhibited HG-induced fibrosis and promoted autophagy by inhibiting miR-155-5p expression in NRK-52E cells. In addition, DHM promoted autophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. In conclusion, DHM promotes autophagy and attenuates RIF by regulating the miR-155-5p/PTEN signaling and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in DN.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonghong Lian ◽  
Cuiqiong Li ◽  
Jianchun Li ◽  
Yongxiang Xie ◽  
Qiancheng Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The objective of the study was to observe whether Cx43 could regulate EMT of RTECs by influencing Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, and whether ASV could inhibit the development of renal interstitial fibrosis by regulating Cx43. METHODS: Lentivirus infection was transfected into RTECs with the final concentration of 50×PFU/ cell to regulate the expression of Cx43.And RTECs were intervened by different doses of ASV. After synchronous culture of RTECs in each group,cell morphological changes were observed and the expression levels of EMT-related indicators, and the expression levels of Cx43, the protein expressions and phosphorylation levels AKT and mTOR in different groups were detected by WB. RESULTS: When the expression of Cx43 in RTECs was regulated by lentivirus infection, the degree of EMT induced by TGF‑β1 and the phosphorylation level of Akt and mTOR were changed accordingly, indicating that Akt/mTOR pathway might be a downstream molecular mechanism by which Cx43 could regulate EMT. After intervention with different doses of ASV, the expression level of Cx43 increased with obvious concentration dependence, and the expression levels of p-Akt and p- mTOR were significantly altered, suggesting that ASV could effectively increase the protein expressions of TGF‑β1-induced Cx43 in RTECs and inhibit the phosphorylation levels of Akt and mTOR. CONCLUSION: Cx43 is the main material basis of RTECs’injury, and ASV could inhibit TGF-β1 induced RTECs transdifferentiation. In-depth study of the mechanism may provide a broad application prospect for the treatment of renal interstitial fibrosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 622-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya Liu ◽  
Jian Kang ◽  
Hong Gao ◽  
Xiyu Zhang ◽  
Jun Chao ◽  
...  

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a world-wide metabolic disease with no cure from drugs and treatment. In China, The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal formulations have been used to treat T2DM for centuries. Methods: In this study, we proposed a formula called ShenQi Compound (SQC), which has been used in clinical therapeutics in China for several years. We evaluated the effect of SQC in a spontaneous diabetic rat model (GK rats) by detecting a series of blood indicators and performing histological observations. Meanwhile, the gene microarray and RT-qPCR experiments were used to explore the molecular mechanism of SQC treatment. In addition, western medicine, sitagliptin was employed as a comparison. Results: The results indicated that SQC and sitagliptin could effectively improve the serum lipid (blood Total Cholesterol (TC) and blood Triglycerides (TG)), hormone levels (serum insulin (INS), Glucagon (GC) and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1)), alleviated the inflammatory response (hypersensitive C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP)), blood glucose fluctuation (Mean Blood Glucose (MBG), standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG) and Largest Amplitude of plasma Glucose Excursions (LAGE)), pancreatic tissue damage and vascular injury for T2DM. Compared with sitagliptin, SQC achieved a better effect on blood glucose fluctuation (p<0.01). Meanwhile, the gene microarray and RT-qPCR experiments indicated that SQC and sitagliptin may improve the T2DM through affecting the biological functions related to apoptosis and circadian rhythm. Moreover, SQC might be able to influence the mTOR signaling pathway by regulating Pik3r1, Ddit4 expression. Conclusion: All these results indicate that SQC is an effective therapeutic drug on T2DM. Notably, SQC presents an obvious blood glucose fluctuation-preventing ability, which might be derived from the regulation of the mTOR signaling pathway.


2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (5) ◽  
pp. F1350-F1358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jindou Yang ◽  
Yan Shen ◽  
Xia Yang ◽  
Yanjun Long ◽  
Shuang Chen ◽  
...  

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play an important role in diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the molecular mechanism involved in this process remains poorly understood. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the function and molecular mechanism of dysregulated lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in DN. DN mouse models were established by streptozotocin treatment, and human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells were exposed to high glucose to produce an in vitro model. XIST was highly expressed in renal tissues of patients with DN, mice with DN, and high glucose-exposed HK-2 cells. To identify the interaction among XIST, miR-93-5p, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A) and to analyze the functional significance of their interaction in renal interstitial fibrosis, we altered endogenous expression of XIST and miR-93-5p and CDKN1A. Dual-luciferase reporter assay results suggested that XIST was highly expressed in the kidney tissue of DN mice and high glucose-exposed HK-2 cells. XIST was identified to be a lncRNA that could bind to miR-93-5p, and CDKN1A was a target of miR-93-5p. Downregulated expression of XIST led to an increase in miR-93-5p expression, thereby decreasing CDKN1A and suppressing renal interstitial fibrosis in DN. Consistently, XIST knockdown reduced the expression of fibrosis markers (fibronectin, collagen type IV, and transforming growth factor-β1). Restoration of CDKN1A or decreasing miR-93-5p yielded a reversed effect on renal interstitial fibrosis. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that silenced XIST inducing miR-93-5p-dependent CDKN1A inhibition was beneficial for preventing renal interstitial fibrosis in DN, which may provide a future strategy to prevent the progression of DN.


2020 ◽  
pp. 096032712095215
Author(s):  
H-J Wang ◽  
H Liu ◽  
Y-H Lin ◽  
S-J Zhang

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is primary cause of end-stage renal disease. A previous study has shown that miR-32-5p (miR-32) is highly expressed in kidney tissue during chronic allograft dysfunction with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. However, the role of miR-32-5p (miR-32) in DN is still unclear. In this study, streptozotocin-induced DN rat models and high glucose (HG)-incubated human kidney proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells were established to investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of miR-32 in DN. Results of real-time PCR revealed that miR-32 levels were greatly increased in DN rats and HG-incubated HK-2 cells. Downregulation of miR-32 effectively relieved HG-induced autophagy suppression, fibrosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inflammation in HK-2 cells. Besides, miR-32 overexpression significantly down-regulated the expression of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (SMAD7), whereas knockdown of miR-32 markedly up-regulated the level of SMAD7. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that SMAD7 was a target of miR-32. Reintroduction of SMAD7 expression rescued miR-32-induced HK-2 cells autophagy suppression, EMT and renal fibrosis. Our findings indicate that miR-32 may play roles in the progression of EMT and fibrosis in DN.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi-Li Hu ◽  
Yang-zhi Hu ◽  
Qing Li ◽  
Tian-you Liao ◽  
Hai-ping Jiang

Abstract Background: It has been reported that reduction of miR-126 can promote the progression of gastric cancer (GC). However, the regulation of miR-126 in GC is still unclear. This study aims to explore the correlation between lncRNA MALAT1 and miR-126 in gastric cancer and disclose the underlying mechanisms.Methods: We analyzed the correlation of MALAT1 levels and clinical features by analysis of bioinformatic data and human samples. Then we down-regulate the expression of MALAT1 in AGS cells and examined the characteristics of cell proliferation, cycle, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and the effect on miR-126 as well as VEGFA and signaling pathway. In addition, we demonstrated the role of MALAT1/miR-126 axis in GC with dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and treatment of miR-126 inhibitor.Results: The expression of MALAT1 was higher in cancer tissues than para-cancer tissues. In addition, high MALAT1 level suggested greater malignancy and poorer prognosis. Down-regulating the expression of MALAT1 in AGS cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting VEGFA, which is consistent with up-regulation of miR-126. According to dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and treatment of miR-126 inhibitor, we demonstrated that MALAT1 down-regulated miR-126 in GC, which leads to the up-regulation of VEGFA and activation of mTOR signaling pathway.Conclusions: MALAT1/miR-126 axis promotes growth and metastasis of gastric cancer through regulation of VEGFA via mTOR signaling pathway.Fund This article is supported by Science and Technology Funding Project of Hunan Province, China (No.2017SK4010)


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Li ◽  
Junyu Shi ◽  
Xiaoli Xu

Abstract Background: MicroRNA-1271-5p (miR-1271-5p) has been reported to participate in the progression of many human cancers. However, the role of miR-1271-5p still remains unclear in ovarian cancer (OC). Therefore, we explored the effect of miR-1271-5p on the development of OC in present study. Methods: We measured the miR-1271-5p expression via the qRT-PCR assay. Then the function of miR-1271-5p was analyzed through MTT and Transwell assays. The relationship among miR-1271-5p and E2F5 was verified by dual luciferase assay. The protein expression levels were examined through western blot.Results: MiR-1271-5p was downregulated in OC tissues which predicted poor prognosis of OC patients. Moreover, E2F5 was a direct target of miR-1271-5p in OC. And miR-1271-5p suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion in OC through targeting E2F5. Furthermore, E2F5 was upregulated in OC tissues which predicted poor prognosis of OC patients. Besides that, miR-1271-5p suppressed EMT and mTOR pathway in OC. Conclusion: MiR-1271-5p inhibited the tumorigenesis of OC through targeting E2F5 and negatively regulated the mTOR signaling pathway.


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