scholarly journals The Fibrotic Effects of TMAO on Human Renal Fibroblasts Is Mediated by NLRP3, Caspase-1 and the PERK/Akt/mTOR Pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (21) ◽  
pp. 11864
Author(s):  
Stefania Kapetanaki ◽  
Ashok Kumar Kumawat ◽  
Katarina Persson ◽  
Isak Demirel
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Mtor Pathway ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Molecular Pathways ◽  
Fibroblast Proliferation ◽  
Caspase 1 ◽  
Tgf Β1 ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a product of gut microbiota metabolism, has previously been shown to be implicated in chronic kidney disease. A high TMAO-containing diet has been found to cause tubulointerstitial renal fibrosis in mice. However, today there are no data linking specific molecular pathways with the effect of TMAO on human renal fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the fibrotic effects of TMAO on renal fibroblasts and to elucidate the molecular pathways involved. We found that TMAO promoted renal fibroblast activation and fibroblast proliferation via the PERK/Akt/mTOR pathway, NLRP3, and caspase-1 signaling. We also found that TMAO increased the total collagen production from renal fibroblasts via the PERK/Akt/mTOR pathway. However, TMAO did not induce fibronectin or TGF-β1 release from renal fibroblasts. We have unraveled that the PERK/Akt/mTOR pathway, NLRP3, and caspase-1 mediates TMAO’s fibrotic effect on human renal fibroblasts. Our results can pave the way for future research to further clarify the molecular mechanism behind TMAO’s effects and to identify novel therapeutic targets in the context of chronic kidney disease.

scholarly journals Permissive effect of GSK3β on profibrogenic plasticity of renal tubular cells in progressive chronic kidney disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bohan Chen ◽  
Pei Wang ◽  
Xianhui Liang ◽  
Chunming Jiang ◽  
Yan Ge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Renal Tubules ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Renal Tubular Cells ◽  
Renal Tubular ◽  
Renal Fibrogenesis ◽  
Tgf Β1

AbstractRenal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) play a key role in renal fibrogenesis. After persistent injuries that are beyond self-healing capacity, TECs will dedifferentiate, undergo growth arrest, convert to profibrogenic phenotypes, and resort to maladaptive plasticity that ultimately results in renal fibrosis. Evidence suggests that glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3β is centrally implicated in kidney injury. However, its role in renal fibrogenesis is obscure. Analysis of publicly available kidney transcriptome database demonstrated that patients with progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) exhibited GSK3β overexpression in renal tubulointerstitium, in which the predefined hallmark gene sets implicated in fibrogenesis were remarkably enriched. In vitro, TGF-β1 treatment augmented GSK3β expression in TECs, concomitant with dedifferentiation, cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, and overproduction of profibrotic cytokines like PAI-1 and CTGF. All these profibrogenic phenotypes were largely abrogated by GSK3β inhibitors or by ectopic expression of a dominant-negative mutant of GSK3β but reinforced in cells expressing the constitutively active mutant of GSK3β. Mechanistically, GSK3β suppressed, whereas inhibiting GSK3β facilitated, the activity of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), which competes for CREB-binding protein, a transcriptional coactivator essential for TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway to drive TECs profibrogenic plasticity. In vivo, in mice with folic acid-induced progressive CKD, targeting of GSK3β in renal tubules via genetic ablation or by microdose lithium mitigated the profibrogenic plasticity of TEC, concomitant with attenuated interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. Collectively, GSK3β is likely a pragmatic therapeutic target for averting profibrogenic plasticity of TECs and improving renal fibrosis.

scholarly journals P0547THE DELETION OF AKT1 ATTENUATES RENAL FIBROSIS AND TUBULAR EPITHELIAL-MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION DURING ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY TO CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE PROGRESSION

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Byung Min Ye ◽  
Il Young Kim ◽  
Min Jeong Kim ◽  
Soo Bong Lee ◽  
Dong Won Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Acute Kidney Injury ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Ckd Progression ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Tgf Β1

Abstract Background and Aims Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an underestimated, yet important risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is characterized by the tubulointerstitial fibrosis and tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Akt has been reported to be involved in renal fibrosis and EMT. Thus, we investigated the role of Akt1, one of the three Akt isoforms, in the murine model of AKI to CKD progression. Method We subjected the wild type and Akt1−/− mice to unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (UIRI). UIRI was induced by clamping the left renal artery for 30 min followed by reperfusion. After 6 weeks of UIRI, the renal fibrosis and EMT were assessed by histology, immunohistochemistry, and western blot. Results After 6 weeks after UIRI, we found that Akt1, not Akt2 or Akt3, was activated in UIRI-kidney. The tubulointerstitial fibrosis was significantly alleviated in Akt1−/− mice compared with the wild type (WT) mice. Besides, the deletion of Akt1 decreased the expression of the vimentin and α-SMA and increased the expression of E-cadherin, indicating the suppression of tubular EMT. However, there was no difference in the activity of TGF-β1/Smad signalling, which is the potent inducer of renal fibrosis and EMT, between WT mice and Akt1−/− mice. The deletion of Akt1 also increased the GSK-3β activity and decreased the expression of β-catenin, Snail, and twist1. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that the deletion of Akt1 attenuates the renal fibrosis and tubular EMT independently of TGF-β1/Smad signalling during the AKI to CKD progression. Akt1 may be the therapeutic target against the AKI to CKD progression.

scholarly journals Uncovering Bupi Yishen Formula Pharmacological Mechanisms Against Chronic Kidney Disease by Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Difei Zhang ◽  
Bingran Liu ◽  
Xina Jie ◽  
Jiankun Deng ◽  
Zhaoyu Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Network Pharmacology ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Pharmacological Mechanism ◽  
Tgf Β1

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading public health problem with high morbidity and mortality, but the therapies remain limited. Bupi Yishen Formula (BYF) - a patent traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula - has been proved to be effective for CKD treatment in a high-quality clinical trial. However, BYF’s underlying mechanism is unclear. Thus, we aimed to reveal BYF pharmacological mechanism against CKD by network pharmacology and experimental studies. Network pharmacology-based analysis of the drug-compound-target interaction was used to predict the potential pharmacological mechanism and biological basis of BYF. We performed a comprehensive study by detecting the expression levels of fibrotic and inflammatory markers and main molecules of candidate signal pathway in adenine-induced CKD rats and TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells with the treatment of BYF by western blotting and RT-qPCR analyses. Using small interfering RNA, we assessed the effect of BYF on the TLR4-mediated NF-κB mechanism for CKD renal fibrosis and inflammation. Network pharmacology analysis results identified 369 common targets from BYF and CKD. Based on these common targets, the BYF intervention pathway was analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. We found that Toll-like receptor (TLR) and NF-κB signaling pathways were enriched. Then, we demonstrated that BYF significantly improved the adenine-induced CKD rat model condition by kidney dysfunction improvement and reversing renal fibrosis and inflammation. Subsequently, we investigated BYF’s effect on the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. We found that TLR4 and phospho-NF-κB (p-p65 and p-IKβα) expression was significantly upregulated in adenine-induced CKD rats, then partially downregulated by BYF. Furthermore, BYF inhibited fibrotic and inflammatory responses, as well as TLR4, p-p65, and p-IKβα in TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells. Additionally, the BYF inhibitory effect on fibrosis and inflammation, and NF-κB pathway activation were significantly reduced in TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells transfected with TLR4 siRNA. Altogether, these findings demonstrated that the suppression of TLR4-mediated NF-κB signaling was an important anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory mechanism for BYF against CKD. It also provided a molecular basis for new CKD treatment drug candidates.

scholarly journals Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosome miR-21-3p Prevents Renal Fibrosis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zongying Li ◽  
Shuyi Cao
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Paracrine Effects ◽  
Downstream Target ◽  
Renal Tubular Epithelium ◽  
Pathological Result ◽  
Renal Tubular ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies ◽  
Tgf Β1

Abstract Background: Renal fibrosis is the pathological result of excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the process of chronic kidney disease, but its mechanism is not clear. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can delay the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD).MSCs exerts its therapeutic effect mainly through paracrine effects, such as exosome, to change the cellular microenvironment. Here, we would explore the function of MSCs derived exosome in renal fibrosis.Materials and Methods: MRNA, microRNAs and proteins carried by exosomes produced by MSCs could save damaged cells by regulating endogenous molecules to regulate apoptosis, inflammation, fibrosis and angiogenesis. Results: In this study, we observed that exogenous miR-21-3p, interacted with smad2, the downstream target of miR-21-3p, which prevented renal fibrosis in UUO mice, and alleviate fibrosis in TGF-β1-induced renal tubular epithelium cells (HK-2). Then we forced expression of miR-21-3p in MSCs and isolated the exosomes. The extractive exosome-miR-21-3p treatment blocked renal fibrosis in UUO mice and alleviated fibrosis in TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells. Conclusion: Taken together, Overexpression of miR-21-3p prevented CKD-induced renal fibrosis via exosome-mediated miR-21-3p transfer. These results suggest possible therapeutic strategies for using exosome delivery of miR-21-3p to treat complications of CKD.

Apigenin Alleviates Renal Fibroblast Activation through AMPK and ERK Signaling Pathways In Vitro

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 1107-1118
Author(s):  
Ningning Li ◽  
Zhan Wang ◽  
Tao Sun ◽  
Yanfei Lei ◽  
Xianghua Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Fibroblast Proliferation ◽  
Fibroblast Activation ◽  
And Function ◽  
Activated Fibroblasts ◽  
Tgf Β1

Objective: Renal fibrosis is a common pathway leading to the progression of chronic kidney disease. Activated fibroblasts contribute remarkably to the development of renal fibrosis. Although apigenin has been demonstrated to play a protective role from fibrotic diseases, its pharmacological effect on renal fibroblast activation remains largely unknown. Materials and Methods: Here, we examined the functional role of apigenin in the activation of renal fibroblasts response to transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and its potential mechanisms. Cultured renal fibroblasts (NRK-49F) were exposed to apigenin (1, 5, 10 and 20 μM), followed by the stimulation of TGF-β1 (2 ng/mL) for 24 h. The markers of fibroblast activation were determined. In order to confirm the anti-fibrosis effect of apigenin, the expression of fibrosis-associated genes in renal fibroblasts was assessed. As a consequence, apigenin alleviated fibroblast proliferation and fibroblastmyofibroblast differentiation induced by TGF-β1. Result: Notably, apigenin significantly inhibited the fibrosis-associated genes expression in renal fibroblasts. Moreover, apigenin treatment significantly increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Apigenin treatment also obviously reduced TGF-β1 induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 but not Smad2/3, p38 and JNK MAPK in renal fibroblasts. Conclusion: In a summary, these results indicate that apigenin inhibits renal fibroblast proliferation, differentiation and function by AMPK activation and reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, suggesting it could be an attractive therapeutic potential for the treatment of renal fibrosis.

scholarly journals Oxidative Stress in Non-Dialysis-Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7806
Author(s):  
Patricia Tomás-Simó ◽  
Luis D’Marco ◽  
María Romero-Parra ◽  
Mari Carmen Tormos-Muñoz ◽  
Guillermo Sáez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Reduced Glutathione ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Dialysis Patients ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Molecular Lines

Background: Cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality at any stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Moreover, the high rate of cardiovascular mortality observed in these patients is associated with an accelerated atherosclerosis process that likely starts at the early stages of CKD. Thus, traditional and non-traditional or uremic-related factors represent a link between CKD and cardiovascular risk. Among non-conventional risk factors, particular focus has been placed on anaemia, mineral and bone disorders, inflammation, malnutrition and oxidative stress and, in this regard, connections have been reported between oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients. Methods: We evaluated the oxidation process in different molecular lines (proteins, lipids and genetic material) in 155 non-dialysis patients at different stages of CKD and 45 healthy controls. To assess oxidative stress status, we analyzed oxidized glutathione (GSSG), reduced glutathione (GSH) and the oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio (GSSG/GSH) and other oxidation indicators, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-oxo-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG). Results: An active grade of oxidative stress was found from the early stages of CKD onwards, which affected all of the molecular lines studied. We observed a heightened oxidative state (indicated by a higher level of oxidized molecules together with decreased levels of antioxidant molecules) as kidney function declined. Furthermore, oxidative stress-related alterations were significantly greater in CKD patients than in the control group. Conclusions: CKD patients exhibit significantly higher oxidative stress than healthy individuals, and these alterations intensify as eGFR declines, showing significant differences between CKD stages. Thus, future research is warranted to provide clearer results in this area.

Blocking AURKA with MK-5108 attenuates renal fibrosis in chronic kidney disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 166227
Author(s):  
Mingzhu Jiang ◽  
Mi Bai ◽  
Shuang Xu ◽  
Ting Wang ◽  
Juan Lei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Renal Fibrosis

scholarly journals A phosphate and calcium-enriched diet promotes progression of 5/6-nephrectomy-induced chronic kidney disease in C57BL/6 mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Radloff ◽  
N. Latic ◽  
U. Pfeiffenberger ◽  
C. Schüler ◽  
S. Tangermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Calcium Phosphate ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Bone Mineralization ◽  
Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Normal Diet

AbstractC57BL/6 mice are known to be rather resistant to the induction of experimental chronic kidney disease (CKD) by 5/6-nephrectomy (5/6-Nx). Here, we sought to characterize the development of CKD and its cardiac and skeletal sequelae during the first three months after 5/6-Nx in C57BL/6 mice fed a calcium- and phosphate enriched diet (CPD) with a balanced calcium/phosphate ratio. 5/6-NX mice on CPD showed increased renal fibrosis and a more pronounced decrease in glomerular filtration rate when compared to 5/6-Nx mice on normal diet (ND). Interestingly, despite comparable levels of serum calcium, phosphate, and parathyroid hormone (PTH), circulating intact fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) was 5 times higher in 5/6-Nx mice on CPD, relative to 5/6-Nx mice on ND. A time course experiment revealed that 5/6-Nx mice on CPD developed progressive renal functional decline, renal fibrosis, cortical bone loss, impaired bone mineralization as well as hypertension, but not left ventricular hypertrophy. Collectively, our data show that the resistance of C57BL/6 mice to 5/6-Nx can be partially overcome by feeding the CPD, and that the CPD induces a profound, PTH-independent increase in FGF23 in 5/6-Nx mice, making it an interesting tool to assess the pathophysiological significance of FGF23 in CKD.

scholarly journals NLRP3 Deficiency Attenuates Renal Fibrosis and Ameliorates Mitochondrial Dysfunction in a Mouse Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction Model of Chronic Kidney Disease

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Honglei Guo ◽  
Xiao Bi ◽  
Ping Zhou ◽  
Shijian Zhu ◽  
Wei Ding
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽  
Ureteral Obstruction ◽  
Renal Fibrosis ◽  
Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction ◽  
Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Mitochondrial Morphology ◽  
Glomerular Injury ◽  
Matrix Deposition

Background and Aims. The nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing PYD-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, its exact role in glomerular injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis is still undefined. The present study was performed to identify the function of NLRP3 in modulating renal injury and fibrosis and the potential involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in the murine unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model of CKD. Methods. Employing wild-type (WT) and NLRP3−/− mice with or without UUO, we evaluated renal structure, tissue injury, and mitochondrial ultrastructure, as well as expression of some vital molecules involved in the progression of fibrosis, apoptosis, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Results. The severe glomerular injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis induced in WT mice by UUO was markedly attenuated in NLRP3−/− mice as evidenced by blockade of extracellular matrix deposition, decreased cell apoptosis, and phenotypic alterations. Moreover, NLRP3 deletion reversed UUO-induced impairment of mitochondrial morphology and function. Conclusions. NLRP3 deletion ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction and alleviates renal fibrosis in a murine UUO model of CKD.

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