Fucoidan Ameliorates Renal Injury-Related Calcium-Phosphorus Metabolic Disorder and Bone Abnormality in the CKD–MBD Model Rats by Targeting FGF23-Klotho Signaling Axis

Background: Recently, chronic kidney disease (CKD)-mineral and bone disorder (MBD) has become one of common complications occurring in CKD patients. Therefore, development of a new treatment for CKD–MBD is very important in the clinic. In China, Fucoidan (FPS), a natural compound of Laminaria japonica has been frequently used to improve renal dysfunction in CKD. However, it remains elusive whether FPS can ameliorate CKD–MBD. FGF23-Klotho signaling axis is reported to be useful for regulating mineral and bone metabolic disorder in CKD–MBD. This study thereby aimed to clarify therapeutic effects of FPS in the CKD–MBD model rats and its underlying mechanisms in vivo and in vitro, compared to Calcitriol (CTR).Methods: All male rats were divided into four groups: Sham, CKD–MBD, FPS and CTR. The CKD–MBD rat models were induced by adenine administration and uninephrectomy, and received either FPS or CTR or vehicle after induction of renal injury for 21 days. The changes in parameters related to renal dysfunction and renal tubulointerstitial damage, calcium-phosphorus metabolic disorder and bone lesion were analyzed, respectively. Furthermore, at sacrifice, the kidneys and bone were isolated for histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry and Western blot. In vitro, the murine NRK-52E cells were used to investigate regulative actions of FPS or CTR on FGF23-Klotho signaling axis, ERK1/2-SGK1-NHERF-1-NaPi-2a pathway and Klotho deficiency.Results: Using the modified CKD–MBD rat model and the cultured NRK-52E cells, we indicated that FPS and CTR alleviated renal dysfunction and renal tubulointerstitial damage, improved calcium-phosphorus metabolic disorder and bone lesion, and regulated FGF23-Klotho signaling axis and ERK1/2-SGK1-NHERF-1-NaPi-2a pathway in the kidney. In addition, using the shRNA-Klotho plasmid-transfected cells, we also detected, FPS accurately activated ERK1/2-SGK1-NHERF-1-NaPi-2a pathway through Klotho loss reversal.Conclusion: In this study, we emphatically demonstrated that FPS, a natural anti-renal dysfunction drug, similar to CTR, improves renal injury-related calcium-phosphorus metabolic disorder and bone abnormality in the CKD–MBD model rats. More importantly, we firstly found that beneficial effects in vivo and in vitro of FPS on phosphorus reabsorption are closely associated with regulation of FGF23-Klotho signaling axis and ERK1/2-SGK1-NHERF-1-NaPi-2a pathway in the kidney. This study provided pharmacological evidences that FPS directly contributes to the treatment of CKD–MBD.

Download Full-text

p38 MAP kinase inhibition ameliorates cisplatin nephrotoxicity in mice

AJP Renal Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajprenal.00401.2004 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 289 (1) ◽

pp. F166-F174 ◽

Cited By ~ 187

Author(s):

Ganesan Ramesh ◽

W. Brian Reeves

Keyword(s):

Renal Dysfunction ◽

P38 Mapk ◽

Renal Injury ◽

Acute Renal Injury ◽

Mapk Activation ◽

Mapk Activity ◽

Tnf Α

Cisplatin is an important chemotherapeutic agent but can cause acute renal injury. Part of this acute renal injury is mediated through tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The pathway through which cisplatin mediates the production of TNF-α and injury is not known. Cisplatin activates p38 MAPK and induces apoptosis in cancer cells. p38 MAPK activation leads to increased production of TNF-α in ischemic injury and in macrophages. However, little is known concerning the role of p38 MAPK in cisplatin-induced renal injury. Therefore, we examined the effect of cisplatin on p38 MAPK activity and the role of p38 MAPK in mediating cisplatin-induced TNF-α production and renal injury. In vitro, cisplatin caused a dose-dependent activation of p38 MAPK in proximal tubule cells. Inhibition of p38 MAPK activation led to inhibition of TNF-α production. In vivo, mice treated with a single dose of cisplatin (20 mg/kg body wt) developed severe renal dysfunction at 72 h [blood urea nitrogen (BUN): 154 ± 34 mg/dl, creatinine: 1.4 ± 0.4 mg/dl], which was accompanied by an increase in kidney p38 MAPK activity and an increase in infiltrating leukocytes. However, animals treated with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SKF-86002 along with cisplatin showed less renal dysfunction (BUN: 55 ± 14 mg/dl, creatinine: 0.3 ± 0.02 mg/dl, P < 0.05), less severe histological damage, and fewer leukocytes compared with cisplatin+vehicle-treated animals. Serum levels of TNF-α, sTNFRI, and sTNFRII also increased significantly in cisplatin-treated mice compared with SKF-86002-treated mice ( P < 0.05). Kidney mRNA levels of TNF-α were significantly increased in cisplatin-treated mice compared with either SKF-86002- or saline-treated animals. The hydroxyl radical scavenger DMTU (100 mg·kg body wt−1·day−1) prevented the activation of p38 MAPK by cisplatin both in vitro and in vivo. DMTU also completely prevented cisplatin-induced renal injury (BUN: 140 ± 27 vs. 22 ± 2 mg/dl, P < 0.005) and the increase in serum TNF-α (33 ± 7 vs. 4 ± 2 pg/ml, P < 0.005) and kidney TNF-α mRNA in vivo. We conclude that hydroxyl radicals, either directly or indirectly, activate p38 MAPK and that p38 MAPK plays an important role in mediating cisplatin-induced acute renal injury and inflammation, perhaps through production of TNF-α.

Download Full-text

A novel hypoxic long noncoding RNA KB-1980E6.3 maintains breast cancer stem cell stemness via interacting with IGF2BP1 to facilitate c-Myc mRNA stability

Oncogene ◽

10.1038/s41388-020-01638-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Pengpeng Zhu ◽

Fang He ◽

Yixuan Hou ◽

Gang Tu ◽

Qiao Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Long Noncoding Rna ◽

Noncoding Rna ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Rapid Expansion ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Coding Region ◽

Signaling Axis

AbstractThe hostile hypoxic microenvironment takes primary responsibility for the rapid expansion of breast cancer tumors. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis, we identified a hypoxia-induced long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) KB-1980E6.3, which is aberrantly upregulated in clinical breast cancer tissues and closely correlated with poor prognosis of breast cancer patients. The enhanced lncRNA KB-1980E6.3 facilitates breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) self-renewal and tumorigenesis under hypoxic microenvironment both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, lncRNA KB-1980E6.3 recruited insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) to form a lncRNA KB-1980E6.3/IGF2BP1/c-Myc signaling axis that retained the stability of c-Myc mRNA through increasing binding of IGF2BP1 with m6A-modified c-Myc coding region instability determinant (CRD) mRNA. In conclusion, we confirm that lncRNA KB-1980E6.3 maintains the stemness of BCSCs through lncRNA KB-1980E6.3/IGF2BP1/c-Myc axis and suggest that disrupting this axis might provide a new therapeutic target for refractory hypoxic tumors.

Download Full-text

Inhibition of Kirsten-Ras reduces fibrosis and protects against renal dysfunction in a mouse model of chronic folic acid nephropathy

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-50422-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lucy J. Newbury ◽

Jui-Hui Wang ◽

Gene Hung ◽

Bruce M. Hendry ◽

Claire C. Sharpe

Keyword(s):

Folic Acid ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Mouse Model ◽

Renal Dysfunction ◽

Antisense Oligonucleotides ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Therapeutic Benefit ◽

End Stage

Abstract Chronic Kidney Disease is a growing problem across the world and can lead to end-stage kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Fibrosis is the underlying mechanism that leads to organ dysfunction, but as yet we have no therapeutics that can influence this process. Ras monomeric GTPases are master regulators that direct many of the cytokines known to drive fibrosis to downstream effector cascades. We have previously shown that K-Ras is a key isoform that drives fibrosis in the kidney. Here we demonstrate that K-Ras expression and activation are increased in rodent models of CKD. By knocking down expression of K-Ras using antisense oligonucleotides in a mouse model of chronic folic acid nephropathy we can reduce fibrosis by 50% and prevent the loss of renal function over 3 months. In addition, we have demonstrated in vitro and in vivo that reduction of K-Ras expression is associated with a reduction in Jag1 expression; we hypothesise this is the mechanism by which targeting K-Ras has therapeutic benefit. In conclusion, targeting K-Ras expression with antisense oligonucleotides in a mouse model of CKD prevents fibrosis and protects against renal dysfunction.

Download Full-text

miR-182-5p and miR-378a-3p regulate ferroptosis in I/R-induced renal injury

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-020-03135-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Chenguang Ding ◽

Xiaoming Ding ◽

Jin Zheng ◽

Bo Wang ◽

Yang Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Renal Injury ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Ischemia Reperfusion ◽

Kidney Injury ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Renal Tubular Cell ◽

In Cells

Abstract Renal tubular cell death is the key factor of the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) kidney injury. Ferroptosis is a type of regulated cell death (RCD) found in various diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms related to ferroptosis in renal I/R injury remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the regulatory role of microRNAs on ferroptosis in I/R-induced renal injury. We established the I/R-induced renal injury model in rats, and H/R induced HK-2 cells injury in vitro. CCK-8 was used to measure cell viability. Fe2+ and ROS levels were assayed to evaluate the activation of ferroptosis. We performed RNA sequencing to profile the miRNAs expression in H/R-induced injury and ferroptosis. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression. qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA and miRNA levels in cells and tissues. We further used luciferase reporter assay to verify the direct targeting effect of miRNA. We found that ischemia/reperfusion-induced ferroptosis in rat’s kidney. We identified that miR-182-5p and miR-378a-3p were upregulated in the ferroptosis and H/R-induced injury, and correlates reversely with glutathione peroxidases 4 (GPX4) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) expression in renal I/R injury tissues, respectively. In vitro studies showed that miR-182-5p and miR-378a-3p induced ferroptosis in cells. We further found that miR-182-5p and miR-378a-3p regulated the expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11 negatively by directly binding to the 3′UTR of GPX4 and SLC7A11 mRNA. In vivo study showed that silencing miR-182-5p and miR-378a-3p alleviated the I/R-induced renal injury in rats. In conclusion, we demonstrated that I/R induced upregulation of miR-182-5p and miR-378a-3p, leading to activation of ferroptosis in renal injury through downregulation of GPX4 and SLC7A11.

Download Full-text

The Disruption of the β-Catenin/TCF-1/STAT3 Signaling Axis by 4-Acetylantroquinonol B Inhibits the Tumorigenesis and Cancer Stem-Cell-Like Properties of Glioblastoma Cells, In Vitro and In Vivo

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers10120491 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 491 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Heng-Wei Liu ◽

Yu-Kai Su ◽

Oluwaseun Bamodu ◽

Dueng-Yuan Hueng ◽

Wei-Hwa Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Poor Prognosis ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Rank Test ◽

Lower Grade ◽

Aberrant Expression ◽

Stat3 Signaling ◽

Log Rank Test ◽

Signaling Axis

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM), a malignant form of glioma, is characterized by resistance to therapy and poor prognosis. Accumulating evidence shows that the initiation, propagation, and recurrence of GBM is attributable to the presence of GBM stem cells (GBM-CSCs). Experimental approach: Herein, we investigated the effect of 4-Acetylantroquinonol B (4-AAQB), a bioactive isolate of Antrodia cinnamomea, on GBM cell viability, oncogenic, and CSCs-like activities. Results: We observed that aberrant expression of catenin is characteristic of GBM, compared to other glioma types (p = 0.0001, log-rank test = 475.2), and correlates with poor prognosis of GBM patients. Lower grade glioma and glioblastoma patients (n = 1152) with low catenin expression had 25% and 21.5% better overall survival than those with high catenin expression at the 5 and 10-year time-points, respectively (p = 3.57e-11, log-rank test = 43.8). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that compared with adjacent non-tumor brain tissue, primary and recurrent GBM exhibited enhanced catenin expression (~10-fold, p < 0.001). Western blot analysis showed that 4-AAQB significantly downregulated β-catenin and dysregulated the catenin/LEF1/Stat3 signaling axis in U87MG and DBTRG-05MG cells, dose-dependently. 4-AAQB–induced downregulation of catenin positively correlated with reduced Sox2 and Oct4 nuclear expression in the cells. Furthermore, 4-AAQB markedly reduced the viability of U87MG and DBTRG-05MG cells with 48 h IC50 of 9.2 M and 12.5 M, respectively, effectively inhibited the nuclear catenin, limited the migration and invasion of GBM cells, with concurrent downregulation of catenin, vimentin, and slug; similarly, colony and tumorsphere formation was significantly attenuated with reduced expression of c-Myc and KLF4 proteins. Conclusions: Summarily, we show for the first time that 4-AAQB suppresses the tumor-promoting catenin/LEF1/Stat3 signaling, and inhibited CSCs-induced oncogenic activities in GBM in vitro, with in vivo validation; thus projecting 4-AAQB as a potent therapeutic agent for anti-GBM target therapy.

Download Full-text

SARS-CoV-2 Spike triggers barrier dysfunction and vascular leak via integrins and TGF-β signaling

10.1101/2021.12.10.472112 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Scott B Biering ◽

Francielle Tramontini Gomes de Sousa ◽

Laurentia V. Tjang ◽

Felix Pahmeier ◽

Richard Ruan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcriptional Response ◽

Barrier Dysfunction ◽

Vascular Leak ◽

Endothelial Barrier Dysfunction ◽

Mechanistic Insight ◽

Starting Point ◽

Signaling Axis ◽

Insight Into

Severe COVID-19 is associated with epithelial and endothelial barrier dysfunction within the lung as well as in distal organs. While it is appreciated that an exaggerated inflammatory response is associated with barrier dysfunction, the triggers of this pathology are unclear. Here, we report that cell-intrinsic interactions between the Spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and epithelial/endothelial cells are sufficient to trigger barrier dysfunction in vitro and vascular leak in vivo, independently of viral replication and the ACE2 receptor. We identify an S-triggered transcriptional response associated with extracellular matrix reorganization and TGF-β signaling. Using genetic knockouts and specific inhibitors, we demonstrate that glycosaminoglycans, integrins, and the TGF-β signaling axis are required for S-mediated barrier dysfunction. Our findings suggest that S interactions with barrier cells are a contributing factor to COVID-19 disease severity and offer mechanistic insight into SARS-CoV-2 triggered vascular leak, providing a starting point for development of therapies targeting COVID-19 pathogenesis.

Download Full-text

β-catenin/LEF1/IGF-IIR Signaling Axis Galvanizes the Angiotensin-II- induced Cardiac Hypertrophy

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20174288 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (17) ◽

pp. 4288 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Chin-Hu Lai ◽

Sudhir Pandey ◽

Cecilia Hsuan Day ◽

Tsung-Jung Ho ◽

Ray-Jade Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽

Cardiac Tissue ◽

Ang Ii ◽

Consensus Binding Site ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Spontaneously Hypertensive ◽

Signaling Axis ◽

Causes Of Mortality

Cardiovascular diseases have a high prevalence worldwide and constitute the leading causes of mortality. Recently, malfunctioning of β-catenin signaling has been addressed in hypertensive heart condition. Ang-II is an important mediator of cardiovascular remodeling processes which not only regulates blood pressure but also leads to pathological cardiac changes. However, the contribution of Ang-II/β-catenin axis in hypertrophied hearts is ill-defined. Employing in vitro H9c2 cells and in vivo spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) cardiac tissue samples, western blot analysis, luciferase assays, nuclear-cytosolic protein extracts, and immunoprecipitation assays, we found that under hypertensive condition β-catenin gets abnormally induced that co-activated LEF1 and lead to cardiac hypertrophy changes by up-regulating the IGF-IIR signaling pathway. We identified putative LEF1 consensus binding site on IGF-IIR promoter that could be regulated by β-catenin/LEF1 which in turn modulate the expression of cardiac hypertrophy agents. This study suggested that suppression of β-catenin expression under hypertensive condition could be exploited as a clinical strategy for cardiac pathological remodeling processes.

Download Full-text

Targeting BC200/miR218-5p Signaling Axis for Overcoming Temozolomide Resistance and Suppressing Glioma Stemness

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9081859 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 1859 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yu-Kai Su ◽

Jia Wei Lin ◽

Jing-Wen Shih ◽

Hao-Yu Chuang ◽

Iat-Hang Fong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Noncoding Rna ◽

Bioinformatic Analysis ◽

Benign Tumors ◽

Rna Expression ◽

Ki 67 ◽

Normal Tissues ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Signaling Axis

Background: Glioblastoma (GB) is one of the most common (~30%) and lethal cancers of the central nervous system. Although new therapies are emerging, chemoresistance to treatment is one of the major challenges in cancer treatment. Brain cytoplasmic 200 (BC200) RNA, also known as BCYRN1, is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) that has recently emerged as one of the crucial members of the lncRNA family. BC200 atypical expression is observed in many human cancers. BC200 expression is higher in invasive cancers than in benign tumors. However, the clinical significance of BC200 and its effect on GB multiforme is still unexplored and remains unclear. Methods: BC200 expression in GB patients and cell lines were investigated through RT-qPCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry analysis. The biological importance of BC200 was investigated in vitro and in vivo through knockdown and overexpression. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to determine miRNAs associated with BC200 RNA. Results: Our findings revealed that in GB patients, BC200 RNA expression was higher in blood and tumor tissues than in normal tissues. BC200 RNA expression have a statistically significant difference between the IDH1 and P53 status. Moreover, the BC200 RNA expression was higher than both p53, a prognostic marker of glioma, and Ki-67, a reliable indicator of tumor cell proliferation activity. Overexpression and silencing of BC200 RNA both in vitro and in vivo significantly modulated the proliferation, self-renewal, pluripotency, and temozolomide (TMZ) chemo-resistance of GB cells. It was found that the expressions of BC200 were up-regulated and that of miR-218-5p were down-regulated in GB tissues and cells. miR-218-5p inhibited the expression of BC200. Conclusions: This study is the first to show that the molecular mechanism of BC200 promotes GB oncogenicity and TMZ resistance through miR-218-5p expression modulation. Thus, the noncoding RNA BC200/miR-218-5p signaling circuit is a potential clinical biomarker or therapeutic target for GB.

Download Full-text

RPN2 is targeted by miR-181c and mediates glioma progression and temozolomide sensitivity via the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-020-03113-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Jikui Sun ◽

Quanfeng Ma ◽

Banban Li ◽

Chen Wang ◽

Lidong Mo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Signaling Pathway ◽

Glycogen Synthase ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Who Grade ◽

Pathway Network ◽

Mechanistic Investigation ◽

Signaling Axis ◽

Gsk 3Β

Abstract Accumulating evidence indicates that the dysregulation of the miRNAs/mRNA-mediated carcinogenic signaling pathway network is intimately involved in glioma initiation and progression. In the present study, by performing experiments and bioinformatics analysis, we found that RPN2 was markedly elevated in glioma specimens compared with normal controls, and its upregulation was significantly linked to WHO grade and poor prognosis. Knockdown of RPN2 inhibited tumor proliferation and invasion, promoted apoptosis, and enhanced temozolomide (TMZ) sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic investigation revealed that RPN2 deletion repressed β-catenin/Tcf-4 transcription activity partly through functional activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). Furthermore, we showed that RPN2 is a direct functional target of miR-181c. Ectopic miR-181c expression suppressed β-catenin/Tcf-4 activity, while restoration of RPN2 partly reversed this inhibitory effect mediated by miR-181c, implying a molecular mechanism in which TMZ sensitivity is mediated by miR-181c. Taken together, our data revealed a new miR-181c/RPN2/wnt/β-catenin signaling axis that plays significant roles in glioma tumorigenesis and TMZ resistance, and it represents a potential therapeutic target, especially in GBM.

Download Full-text

MDM2 inhibition improves cisplatin-induced renal injury in mice via inactivation of Notch/hes1 signaling pathway

Human & Experimental Toxicology ◽

10.1177/0960327120952158 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 096032712095215

Author(s):

X Luo ◽

L Zhang ◽

G-D Han ◽

P Lu ◽

Y Zhang

Keyword(s):

Signaling Pathway ◽

Renal Injury ◽

Cell Apoptosis ◽

Renal Tissue ◽

Tunel Staining ◽

Acute Renal Injury ◽

Renal Tubular ◽

Injury Models

Objective: To explore the potential function of MDM2-mediated Notch/hes1 signaling pathway in cisplatin-induced renal injury. Methods: The acute renal injury models of mice after intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin in vivo, and the apoptotic models of human renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells induced by cisplatin in vitro, were conducted respectively. The renal function-related parameters were measured. The renal tissue pathological changes and apoptosis were observed by PAS staining and TUNEL staining, respectively. Cell viability and apoptosis were detected by MTT and flow cytometry. Notch/hes1 pathway-related proteins were tested by Western blotting. Results: After mice injected by cisplatin, the levels of Cr, BUN, urine cystatin C, urine NGAL and urine ACR were increased and GFR was decreased with the elevation of renal tubular injury scores, the upregulation of the expressions of MDM2, N1ICD, Hes1 and Cleaved caspase-3, as well as the enhancement of cell apoptosis accompanying decreased ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. However, these cisplatin-induced renal injuries of mice have been improved by MDM2 inhibition. Besides, the declined viability, increased cytotoxicity, and enhanced apoptosis were observed in cisplatin-induced HK-2 cells, with the activated Notch/hes1 pathway. Notably, the phenomenon was alleviated in cisplatin-induced HK-2 cells transfected with MDM2 shRNA, but was severer in those co-treated with AdMDM2. Moreover, Notch1 siRNA can reverse the injury of AdMDM2 on HK-2 cells. Conclusion: Inhibiting MDM2 could reduce cell apoptosis through blocking Notch/hes1 signaling pathway, thus alleviating the acute renal injury caused by cisplatin.

Download Full-text