scholarly journals Renoprotective Effects of Maslinic Acid on Experimental Renal Fibrosis in Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction Model via Targeting MyD88

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjuan Sun ◽  
Chang Hyun Byon ◽  
Dong Hyun Kim ◽  
Hoon In Choi ◽  
Jung Sun Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Ureteral Obstruction ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Interstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Adaptor Protein ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction ◽  
Maslinic Acid

Maslinic acid (MA), also named crategolic acid, is a pentacyclic triterpene extracted from fruits and vegetables. Although various beneficial pharmacological effects of MA have been revealed, its effect on renal fibrosis remains unclear. This study was designed to clarify whether MA could attenuate renal fibrosis and determine the putative underlying molecular mechanisms. We demonstrated that MA-treated mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) developed a histological injury of low severity and exhibited downregulated expression of fibrotic markers, including α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin, and fibronectin by 38, 44 and 40%, and upregulated expression of E-cadherin by 70% as compared with untreated UUO mice. Moreover, MA treatment restored the expression levels of α-SMA, connective tissue growth factor, and vimentin to 10, 7.8 and 38% of those induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in NRK49F cells. MA decreased expression of Smad2/3 phosphorylation and Smad4 in UUO kidneys and TGF-β treated NRK49F cells (p < 0.05, respectively). Notably, MA specifically interferes with MyD88, an adaptor protein, thereby mitigating Smad4 nuclear expression (p < 0.01 compared to TGF-β treated group) and ameliorating renal fibrotic changes (p < 0.01 for each fibrotic markers compared to TGF-β induced cells). In addition, in the UUO model and lipopolysaccharide-induced NRK49F cells, MA treatment decreased the expression of IL-1β, TGF-α and MCP-1, ICAM-1, associated with the suppression of NF-κB signaling. These findings suggest that MA is a potential agent that can reduce renal interstitial fibrosis, to some extent, via targeting TGF-β/Smad and MyD88 signaling.

Pirfenidone inhibits macrophage infiltration in 5/6 nephrectomized rats

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (6) ◽  
pp. F676-F685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-Feng Chen ◽  
Hai-Feng Ni ◽  
Ming-Ming Pan ◽  
Hong Liu ◽  
Min Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Interstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Macrophage Infiltration ◽  
M2 Macrophage ◽  
M2 Macrophages ◽  
Arginase 1 ◽  
M1 And M2 Macrophages

Tubulointerstitial macrophage infiltration is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease involved in the progression of renal fibrosis. Pirfenidone is a newly identified antifibrotic drug, the potential mechanism of which remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pirfenidone on M1/M2 macrophage infiltration in nephrectomized rats. Nephrectomized rats were treated with pirfenidone by gavage for 12 wk. Twenty-four hour urinary protein, N-acetyl-β-d-glycosaminidase (NAG) activity, systolic blood pressure, and C-reactive protein were determined. Paraffin-embedded sections were stained for CD68, CCR7, and CD163 macrophages. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α), as well as M1 and M2 macrophages secretory markers, were evaluated by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. Pirfenidone significantly improved the elevated proteinuria and NAG activity from week 2 onward after surgery. Pirfenidone attenuated interstitial fibrosis and decreased expression of fibrotic markers including transforming growth factor-β1, connective tissue growth factor, α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, and fibroblast-specific protein-1. Pirfenidone significantly decreased the infiltrating macrophages. The number of M1 and M2 macrophages was significantly lower after pirfenidone treatment. MCP-1 and MIP-1α were increased in nephrectomized rats at mRNA and protein levels. Pirfenidone treatment significantly inhibited their expression. The TNF-α, IL-6, and nitric oxide synthases-2 expressed by M1 macrophages were increased in nephrectomized rats, and pirfenidone significantly attenuated their expression. Pirfenidone treatment also significantly decreased arginase-1, dectin-1, CD206, and CD86 expressed by M2 macrophages. Thus pirfenidone inhibits M1 and M2 macrophage infiltration in 5/6 nephrectomized rats, which suggests its efficacy in the early and late periods of renal fibrosis.

scholarly journals UT-A1/A3 knockout mice show reduced fibrosis following unilateral ureteral obstruction

2020 ◽  
Vol 318 (5) ◽  
pp. F1160-F1166
Author(s):  
Fitra Rianto ◽  
Akihiro Kuma ◽  
Carla L. Ellis ◽  
Faten Hassounah ◽  
Eva L. Rodriguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Ureteral Obstruction ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction

Renal fibrosis is a major contributor to the development and progression of chronic kidney disease. A low-protein diet can reduce the progression of chronic kidney disease and reduce the development of renal fibrosis, although the mechanism is not well understood. Urea reabsorption into the inner medulla is regulated by inner medullary urea transporter (UT)-A1 and UT-A3. Inhibition or knockout of UT-A1/A3 will reduce interstitial urea accumulation, which may be beneficial in reducing renal fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, the effect of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was compared in wild-type (WT) and UT-A1/A3 knockout mice. UUO causes increased extracellular matrix associated with increases in transforming growth factor-β, vimentin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). In WT mice, UUO increased the abundance of three markers of fibrosis: transforming growth factor-β, vimentin, and α-SMA. In contrast, in UT-A1/A3 knockout mice, the increase following UUO was significantly reduced. Consistent with the Western blot results, immunohistochemical staining showed that the levels of vimentin and α-SMA were increased in WT mice with UUO and that the increase was reduced in UT-A1/A3 knockout mice with UUO. Masson’s trichrome staining showed increased collagen in WT mice with UUO, which was reduced in UT-A1/A3 knockout mice with UUO. We conclude that reduced UT activity reduces the severity of renal fibrosis following UUO.

scholarly journals Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Antagonizes Renal Interstitial Fibrosis by Promoting Catabolism of Type I Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptors

Endocrinology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 727-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Lin Yang ◽  
Yi-Shiuan Liu ◽  
Lea-Yea Chuang ◽  
Jinn-Yuh Guh ◽  
Tao-Chen Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Ureteral Obstruction ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Interstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ◽  
Type I ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Tgf Β1

TGF-β is a therapeutic target for renal fibrosis. Scientists have long sought ways to antagonize TGF-β to ameliorate diabetic nephropathy. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2) is a member of the TGF-β superfamily and is highly regulated in the kidney. Thus, the role of BMP-2 was investigated in NRK-49F cells (rat fibroblasts). We showed that TGF-β1 induces an increase in fibronectin. Treatment with exogenous BMP-2 or pCMV-BMP-2 significantly reversed the TGF-β1-induced increase in fibronectin concomitant with a significant decrease in type I TGF-β receptors (TGF-β RI). Moreover, BMP-2 significantly shortened the half-life of TGF-β RI. These results are related to proteosomal activation because MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, abolished BMP-2-mediated degradation of TGF-β RI. This was confirmed because BMP-2 time course dependently enhanced the ubiquitination level of TGF-β RI. In addition, Smads would seem to be involved in the interaction of BMP-2 and TGF-β. We demonstrated that BMP-2 significantly reversed the TGF-β1-induced increase in pSmad2/3 and reversed the TGF-β1-induced decrease in inhibitory Smad7. Most importantly, Smad7 small interfering RNA abolished the BMP-2-induced decrease in TGF-β RI. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of BMP-2 using unilateral ureteral obstruction rats. BMP-2 was administered ip for 7 d. In the unilateral ureteral obstruction kidneys, interstitial fibrosis was prominent. However, treatment with BMP-2 dramatically reduced Masson’s trichrome staining (collagen) in the interstitial and tubular areas of the kidneys concomitantly with a reduction in TGF-β RI. These results suggest that BMP-2 acts as a novel fibrosis antagonizing cytokine partly by down-regulating TGF-β RI and Smads. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 can antagonize TGF-β-inducing cellular fibrosis by intervening post-receptors signaling, thus disclosing an application of therapeutical potential against fibrosis disorders.

TGF-β and CTGF have overlapping and distinct fibrogenic effects on human renal cells

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (4) ◽  
pp. F707-F716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Gore-Hyer ◽  
Daniel Shegogue ◽  
Malgorzata Markiewicz ◽  
Shianlen Lo ◽  
Debra Hazen-Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Growth Factors ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Potent Inducer ◽  
Collagen Promoter

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) are ubiquitously expressed in various forms of tissue fibrosis, including fibrotic diseases of the kidney. To clarify the common and divergent roles of these growth factors in the cells responsible for pathological extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in renal fibrosis, the effects of TGF-β and CTGF on ECM expression in primary human mesangial (HMCs) and human proximal tubule epithelial cells (HTECs) were studied. Both TGF-β and CTGF significantly induced collagen protein expression with similar potency in HMCs. Additionally, α2(I)-collagen promoter activity and mRNA levels were similarly induced by TGF-β and CTGF in HMCs. However, only TGF-β stimulated collagenous protein synthesis in HTECs. HTEC expression of tenascin-C (TN-C) was increased by TGF-β and CTGF, although TGF-β was the more potent inducer. Thus both growth factors elicit similar profibrogenic effects on ECM production in HMCs, while promoting divergent effects in HTECs. CTGF induction of TN-C, a marker of epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT), with no significant induction of collagenous protein synthesis in HTECs, may suggest a more predominant role for CTGF in EMT rather than induction of excessive collagen deposition by HTECs during renal fibrosis.

scholarly journals Fibroblast-specific plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 depletion ameliorates renal interstitial fibrosis after unilateral ureteral obstruction

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 2042-2050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan Yao ◽  
M Frances Wright ◽  
Brandon C Farmer ◽  
Laura S Peterson ◽  
Amir M Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Ureteral Obstruction ◽  
Interstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor ◽  
Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction ◽  
Tubular Epithelium ◽  
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ◽  
Activator Inhibitor ◽  
Pai 1

Abstract Background Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression increases extracellular matrix deposition and contributes to interstitial fibrosis in the kidney after injury. While PAI-1 is ubiquitously expressed in the kidney, we hypothesized that interstitial fibrosis is strongly dependent on fibroblast-specific PAI-1 (fbPAI-1). Methods Tenascin C Cre (TNC Cre) and fbPAI-1 knockdown (KD) mice with green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressed within the TNC construct underwent unilateral ureteral obstruction and were sacrificed 10 days later. Results GFP+ cells in fbPAI-1 KD mice showed significantly reduced PAI-1 expression. Interstitial fibrosis, measured by Sirius red staining and collagen I western blot, was significantly decreased in fbPAI-1 KD compared with TNC Cre mice. There was no significant difference in transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) expression or its activation between the two groups. However, GFP+ cells from fbPAI-1 KD mice had lower TGF β and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression. The number of fibroblasts was decreased in fbPAI-1 KD compared with TNC Cre mice, correlating with decreased alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression and less fibroblast cell proliferation. TNC Cre mice had decreased E-cadherin, a marker of differentiated tubular epithelium, in contrast to preserved expression in fbPAI-1 KD. F4/80-expressing cells, mostly CD11c+/F4/80+ cells, were increased while M1 macrophage markers were decreased in fbPAI-1 KD compared with TNC Cre mice. Conclusion These findings indicate that fbPAI-1 depletion ameliorates interstitial fibrosis by decreasing fibroblast proliferation in the renal interstitium, with resulting decreased collagen I. This is linked to decreased M1 macrophages and preserved tubular epithelium.

scholarly journals Proximal tubule PPARα attenuates renal fibrosis and inflammation caused by unilateral ureteral obstruction

2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (5) ◽  
pp. F618-F627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenyang Li ◽  
Nithya Mariappan ◽  
Judit Megyesi ◽  
Brian Shank ◽  
Krishnaswamy Kannan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Proximal Tubule ◽  
Ureteral Obstruction ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Obstructive Uropathy ◽  
Kidney Tissue ◽  
Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction ◽  
Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Arginase 1

We examined the effects of increased expression of proximal tubule peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α in a mouse model of renal fibrosis. After 5 days of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), PPARα expression was significantly reduced in kidney tissue of wild-type mice but this downregulation was attenuated in proximal tubules of PPARα transgenic (Tg) mice. When compared with wild-type mice subjected to UUO, PPARα Tg mice had reduced mRNA and protein expression of proximal tubule transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, with reduced production of extracellular matrix proteins including collagen 1, fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin, and reduced tubulointerstitial fibrosis. UUO-mediated increased expression of microRNA 21 in kidney tissue was also reduced in PPARα Tg mice. Overexpression of PPARα in cultured proximal tubular cells by adenoviral transduction reduced aristolochic acid-mediated increased production of TGF-β, demonstrating PPARα signaling reduces epithelial TGF-β production. Flow cytometry studies of dissociated whole kidneys demonstrated reduced macrophage infiltration to kidney tissue in PPARα Tg mice after UUO. Increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in wild-type mice was also significantly reduced in kidney tissue of PPARα Tg mice. In contrast, the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and arginase-1 was significantly increased in kidney tissue of PPARα Tg mice when compared with wild-type mice subjected to UUO. Our studies demonstrate several mechanisms by which preserved expression of proximal tubule PPARα reduces tubulointerstitial fibrosis and inflammation associated with obstructive uropathy.

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