Macrophage Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Mediates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Vitro in Murine Renal Tubular Cells

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)

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Abstract 210: Stem Cell Conditioned Culture Media Attenuated Albumin-induced Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition in Renal Tubular Cells

Hypertension ◽

10.1161/hyp.62.suppl_1.a210 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 62 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Junping Hu ◽

Weiqing Han ◽

Qing Zhu ◽

Pin-Lan Li ◽

Ningjun Li

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Culture Media ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Tubular Cells ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Renal Tubular Cells ◽

Proximal Tubular ◽

Renal Proximal Tubular Cells ◽

Renal Proximal Tubular ◽

Renal Tubular

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)

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