scholarly journals Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuates TGF-β1-Induced EMT by Increasing HGF Expression in HK-2 Cells

Author(s):  
Jun-Jun Wei ◽  
Li Tang ◽  
Liang-Liang Chen ◽  
Zhen-Hua Xie ◽  
Yu Ren ◽  
...  

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have recently shown promise for the treatment of various types of chronic kidney disease models. However, the mechanism of this effect is still not well understood. Our study is aimed to investigate the effect of MSCs on transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells) and the underlying mechanism related to the reciprocal balance between hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and TGF-β1. Methods: Our study was performed at Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China between Mar 2017 and Jun 2018. HK-2 cells were initially treated with TGF-β1,then co-cultured with MSCs. The induced EMT was assessed by cellular morphology and the expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and EMT-related proteins. MTS assay and flow cytometry were employed to detect the effect of TGF-β1 and MSCs on HK-2 cell proliferation and apoptosis. SiRNA against hepatocyte growth factor (siHGF) was transfected to decrease the expression of HGF to identify the role of HGF in MSCs inhibiting HK-2 cells EMT. Results: Overexpressing TGF-β1 decreased HGF expression, induced EMT, suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis in HK-2 cells; but when co-cultured with MSCs all the outcomes were reversed. However, after treated with siHGF, all the benefits taken from MSCs vanished. Conclusion: TGF-β1 was a motivating factor of kidney cell EMT and it suppressed the HGF expression. However, MSCs provided protection against EMT by increasing HGF level and decreasing TGF-β1 level. Our results also demonstrated HGF is one of the critical factor in MSCs anti- fibrosis.  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirae Lee ◽  
Seok-hyung Kim ◽  
Jong Hyun Jhee ◽  
Tae Yeon Kim ◽  
Hoon Young Choi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) plays an important role in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its pathogenesis involves epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) upon renal injury. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has been shown to display novel cytoprotective effects, in part by inhibiting transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced EMT. Here, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of microparticles (MPs) derived from human EPO gene-transfected kidney mesenchymal stem cells (hEPO-KMSCs) against TGF-β1-induced EMT in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and against TIF in mouse kidneys with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Methods: EMT was induced in MDCK cells by treatment with TGF-β1 (5 ng/mL) for 48 h and then inhibited by co-treatment with rhEPO (100 IU/mL), mock gene-transfected KMSC-derived MPs (MOCK-MPs), or hEPO-KMSC-derived MPs (hEPO-MPs) for a further 48 h. UUO was induced in FVB/N mice, which were then treated with rhEPO (1000 IU/kg, intraperitoneally, every other day for 1 week), MOCK-MPs, or hEPO-MPs ( 80 m g, intravenously ). Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin, and E-cadherin expression were evaluated in MDCK cells and kidney tissues, and the extent of TIF in UUO kidneys was assessed by Sirius red staining. Results: TGF-β1 treatment significantly increased α-SMA and fibronectin expression in MDCK cells and decreased that of E-cadherin, while co-treatment with rhEPO, MOCK-MPs, or hEPO-MPs markedly attenuated these changes. In addition, rhEPO and hEPO-MP treatment effectively decreased phosphorylated Smad2 and phosphorylated p38 MAPK expression, suggesting that rhEPO and rhEPO-MPs can inhibit TGF-β1-induced EMT via both Smad and non-Smad pathways. rhEPO and hEPO-MP treatment also significantly attenuated the extent of renal TIF after one week of UUO compared to MOCK-MPs, with hEPO-MPs significantly reducing myofibroblast and F4/80+ macrophage infiltration as well as EMT marker expression in UUO renal tissues in a similar manner to rhEPO. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that hEPO-MPs modulate TGF-β1-induced EMT in MDCK cells via the Smad2 and p38 MAPK pathways and significantly attenuated renal TIF in UUO kidneys. Keywords: Microparticles, Transforming growth factor-β1, Renal fibrosis, Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, Erythropoietin


2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (13) ◽  
pp. 2088-2097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ognoon Mungunsukh ◽  
Regina M. Day

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multipotent endogenous repair factor secreted primarily by mesenchymal cells with effects on cells expressing its receptor, Met. HGF promotes normal tissue regeneration and inhibits fibrotic remodeling in part by promoting proliferation and migration of endothelial and epithelial cells and protecting these cells from apoptosis. HGF also inhibits myofibroblast proliferation. The profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) suppresses HGF expression but not the expression of NK2, an HGF splice variant that antagonizes HGF-induced proliferation. We investigated the mechanism for differential regulation of HGF and NK2 by TGF-β1. TGF-β1 down-regulated HGF in primary human adult pulmonary fibroblasts (HLFb) and increased the expression of miR-199a-3p, a microRNA (miRNA) associated with fibrotic remodeling. HGF and NK2 contain completely different 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs), and we determined that miR-199a-3p targeted HGF mRNA for suppression but not NK2. A pre–miR-199 mimic inhibited the expression of a luciferase reporter harboring the HGF 3′ UTR but not a pmirGLO reporter containing the NK2 3′ UTR. In contrast, an anti-miRNA inhibitor specific for miR-199a-3p prevented TGF-β1–induced reduction of both HGF mRNA and HGF protein secretion. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that HGF is distinctly regulated at the posttranscriptional level from its antagonist NK2.


2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 3397-3410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya M. Fournier ◽  
Louie Lamorte ◽  
Christiane R. Maroun ◽  
Mark Lupher ◽  
Hamid Band ◽  
...  

Dispersal of epithelial cells is an important aspect of tumorigenesis, and invasion. Factors such as hepatocyte growth factor induce the breakdown of cell junctions and promote cell spreading and the dispersal of colonies of epithelial cells, providing a model system to investigate the biochemical signals that regulate these events. Multiple signaling proteins are phosphorylated in epithelial cells during hepatocyte growth factor–induced cell dispersal, including c-Cbl, a protooncogene docking protein with ubiquitin ligase activity. We have examined the role of c-Cbl and a transforming variant (70z-Cbl) in epithelial cell dispersal. We show that the expression of 70z-Cbl in Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells resulted in the breakdown of cell–cell contacts and alterations in cell morphology characteristic of epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Structure–function studies revealed that the amino-terminal portion of c-Cbl, which corresponds to the Cbl phosphotyrosine-binding/Src homology domain 2 , is sufficient to promote the morphological changes in cell shape. Moreover, a point mutation at Gly-306 abrogates the ability of the Cbl Src homology domain 2 to induce these morphological changes. Our results identify a role for Cbl in the regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition, including loss of adherens junctions, cell spreading, and the initiation of cell dispersal.


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