scholarly journals l-Proline Alleviates Kidney Injury Caused by AFB1 and AFM1 through Regulating Excessive Apoptosis of Kidney Cells

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiying Li ◽  
Songli Li ◽  
Huaigu Yang ◽  
Yizhen Wang ◽  
Jiaqi Wang ◽  
...  

The toxicity and related mechanisms of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in the mouse kidney were studied, and the role of l-proline in alleviating kidney damage was investigated. In a 28-day toxicity mouse model, thirty mice were divided into six groups: control (without treatment), l-proline group (10 g/kg body weight (b.w.)), AFB1 group (0.5 mg/kg b.w.), AFM1 (3.5 mg/kg b.w.), AFB1 + l-proline group and AFM1 + l-proline group. Kidney index and biochemical indicators were detected, and pathological staining was observed. Using a human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cell model, cell apoptosis rate and apoptotic proteins expressions were detected. The results showed that AFB1 and AFM1 activated pathways related with oxidative stress and caused kidney injury; l-proline significantly alleviated abnormal expressions of biochemical parameters and pathological kidney damage, as well as excessive cell apoptosis in the AF-treated models. Moreover, proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) was verified to regulate the levels of l-proline and downstream apoptotic factors (Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved Caspase-3) compared with the control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, l-proline could protect mouse kidneys from AFB1 and AFM1 through alleviating oxidative damage and decreasing downstream apoptosis, which deserves further research and development.

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyuan Zou ◽  
Xiaokun Ma ◽  
Shuo Lin ◽  
Bingyuan Wu ◽  
Yang Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) plays an important role in protection of ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in brain and liver. However, role of MEG3 in myocardial I/R injury remains unclear. Here, the role of MEG3 in protection of myocardial I/R injury and its association with microRNA-7-5p (miR-7-5p) was investigated using rat cardiac I/R model and myocardial I/R cell model. Our results showed that MEG3 was significantly up-regulated and miR-7-5p was significantly down-regulated after I/R. Following I/R, the levels of intact PARP and intact caspase-3 were reduced, while the cleaved fragments of PARP and caspase-3 were increased. TUNEL assay showed an increase in cardiomyocyte apoptosis after I/R. The levels of I/R-induced creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were inhibited by knockdown of MEG3 (siMEG3). SiMEG3 increased cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis after I/R. In contrast, overexpression of MEG3 increased the I/R-induced CK and LDH activities and cell apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation. The dual-luciferase reporter system showed a direct binding of MEG3 to miR-7-5p. The level of miR-7-5p was negatively associated with the change in levels of MEG3 in H9c2 cells. The levels of intact RARP1 and caspase-3 were significantly increased by knockdown of MEG3. Co-transfection of miR-7-5p inhibitor with siMEG3 activates CK and LDH, significantly decreased cell proliferation, increased cell apoptosis, and decreased intact poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) and caspase-3. In summary, down-regulation of MEG3 protects myocardial cells against I/R-induced apoptosis through miR-7-5p/PARP1 pathway, which might provide a new therapeutic target for treatment of myocardial I/R injury.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqin Liu ◽  
Qingzhao Li ◽  
Lixin Sun ◽  
Limei Chen ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
...  

Aims: This study aims to verify if miR-30e-5p targets Beclin1 (BECN1), a key regulator of autophagy, and investigate the function of miR-30e-5p and Beclin1 through mediating autophagy and apoptosis in contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). Methods: Human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells were treated with Urografin to construct a cell model of CI-AKI. Real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction was used to detect gene expression. The dual-luciferase reporting assay and endogenous validation were used to verify targeting and regulating function. The expressions of protein were detected using Western blot. Cell proliferation was detected using methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell apoptosis was detected using terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling assay, and autophagy was detected using transmission electron microscopy. Results: HK-2 cells exposed to Urografin for 2 h induced a significant increase in miR-30e-5p. miR-30e-5p had a targeting effect on Beclin1. Moreover, Urografin exposure can enhance cell apoptosis by increasing caspase 3 gene expression and inhibiting autophagy, which was induced by decreased Beclin1 expression regulated by miR-30e-5p, thereby resulting in renal cell injury. Downregulation of miR-30e-5p or upregulation of Beclin1 restored cell vitality by promoting autophagy and suppressing apoptosis in Urografin-treated cells. Conclusions: Urografin increased the expression of miR-30e-5p in HK-2 cells and thus decreased Beclin1 levels to inhibit autophagy, but induced apoptosis, which may be the mechanism for CI-AKI.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang-Cheng Xie ◽  
Yizhi Cao ◽  
Xiu Yang ◽  
Qun-Hong Xu ◽  
Wei Wei ◽  
...  

Background. Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is one of the main causes of iatrogenic acute kidney injury (AKI); however, therapeutic strategies for AKI remain limited. This study aims to explore the effect of relaxin (RLX) on contrast-induced HK-2 apoptosis and its underlying mechanisms.Methods. Renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were incubated either with or without ioversol, human H2 relaxin, and LY294002 (the inhibitor of the PI3K/Akt signal pathway). Cell viability was evaluated with a CCK-8 assay. Apoptotic morphologic alterations were observed using the Hoechst 33342 staining method. Apoptosis was detected with Annexin V staining. Western blot analysis was employed to measure the expression of pAkt (S473), Akt, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, and actin proteins.Results. Ioversol reduced the viability of HK-2 cells. Western blotting results revealed decreased expression of phosphorylated Akt in cells treated with ioversol. The activities of caspase-3 and Bax protein increased, while the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased. As a result, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased after treatment with ioversol. These effects were reversed when HK-2 cells were cotreated with RLX. However, with preadministration of PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor LY294002, the effect of RLX was blocked.Conclusion. Our study demonstrates that relaxin attenuates ioversol induced cell apoptosis via activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, suggesting that RLX might play a protective role in the treatment of CI-AKI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Citong Zhang ◽  
Wei Wei ◽  
Minghan Chi ◽  
Yao Wan ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
...  

Osteocyte plays an essential role in bone metabolism by regulating osteoblast and osteoclast activities. Dysfunction or apoptosis of osteocyte will severely endanger the bone homeostasis and result in bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis has been considered as one of the diabetes complications; however, the mechanism is still to be discovered. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), as the main pathogenic factor of diabetes mellitus, have the capacity to induce osteocyte apoptosis thus sabotaging bone homeostasis. Here, we examined the role of AGE during osteocyte apoptosis and how this effect would affect osteocyte’s regulation of osteoblast and osteoclast. Mouse osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells were used to study the properties of osteocyte and to examine its biological and pathological function. MTT assay and Annexin V assay showed that AGE significantly induce MLO-Y4 cell apoptosis. qPCR and Western blot results have shown that AGE upregulates proapoptotic gene p53 and its downstream target gene Bax, which leads to enhanced activation of caspase-3, thus inducing apoptosis in MLO-Y4 cells. Increased expression of sclerostin and RANKL in osteocytes has shown that AGE induces osteocyte dysfunction thus severely damaging the bone homeostasis by decreasing osteoblast and increasing osteoclast activities. Furthermore, the role of the transcription factor FOXO1, which is intensely associated with apoptosis, has been determined. Western blot has shown that AGE significantly decreases Akt activities. Immunofluorescence has shown that AGE promotes FOXO1 nuclei localization and enhances FOXO1 expression. Silencing of FOXO1 suppressed AGE-enhanced apoptosis; mRNA and protein expressions of cleaved caspase-3, sclerostin, and RANKL were downregulated as well. Moreover, exogenous FOXO1 increased caspase-3 mRNA levels and caspase-3 transcriptional activity. Lastly, ChIP assay has established the capacity of FOXO1 binding directly on the caspase-3, sclerostin, and RANKL promoter region in AGE environment, providing the mechanism of the AGE-induced osteocyte apoptosis and dysfunction. Our results have shown that FOXO1 plays a crucial role in AGE-induced osteocyte dysfunction and apoptosis through its regulation of caspase-3, sclerostin, and RANKL. This study provides new insight into diabetes-enhanced risk of osteoporosis given the critical role of AGE in the pathogenesis of diabetes and the essential part of osteocyte in bone metabolism.


2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 34-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Clementi ◽  
Grazia Maria Virzì ◽  
Alessandra Brocca ◽  
Silvia Pastori ◽  
Massimo de Cal ◽  
...  

Background: The identification of highly reliable outcome predictors in severe sepsis is important to define disease severity, predict bedside prognosis and monitor response to treatment. Cell-free plasma DNA (cfDNA) has been recently proposed as a possible prognostic marker of clinical outcome in septic patients. In this study, we investigated the prognostic value of cfDNA in patients with sepsis and its possible correlation with caspase-3, IL-6 and IL-18 levels. Methods: We enrolled 34 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Out of these 34, 27 patients were septic and 7 were non-septic. cfDNA was extracted from plasma and quantified by real time PCR. Plasma levels of caspase-3, IL-6 and IL-18 were measured by ELISA. Results: We observed significantly higher levels of cfDNA in septic patients. No significant differences were found between cfDNA levels in patients with Gram+, Gram- and fungal infections. Out of the 27 septic patients, 12 developed acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and cfDNA levels resulted to be higher in this group. Out of the 27 septic patients, 11 had a negative outcome during the ICU stay. The cfDNA concentrations at admission were higher in non-survivors than in survivors. Caspase-3, IL-6 and IL-18 levels were significantly higher in septic patients when compared to these levels in non-septic patients and correlated with cfDNA levels. Conclusion: cfDNA can be considered a good prognostic marker of clinical outcome in septic patients. Its levels increase in case of AKI complicating sepsis, in particular if CRRT is needed, and are associated with poor outcome. Caspase-3, IL-6 and IL-18 levels are higher in septic patients and correlate to cfDNA concentrations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 702-712
Author(s):  
Zhifeng Liu ◽  
Jingjing Ji ◽  
Dong Zheng ◽  
Lei Su ◽  
Tianqing Peng ◽  
...  

Abstract To explore the role of calpain and its signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI), animal models of endotoxemia were established by administration of LPS to mice with endothelial-specific Capn4 knockout (TEK/Capn4−/−), mice with calpastatin (an endogenous calpain inhibitor) overexpression (Tg-CAST) and mice with myeloid-specific Capn4 knockout (LYZ/Capn4−/−). Mouse pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMECs) were used as a model of the microvascular endothelium and were stimulated with LPS. Renal function, renal inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) expression, cellular apoptosis, plasma and renal levels of NO and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members (p38, ERK1/2, and JNK1/2) were examined. Moreover, a calpain inhibitor, calpastatin overexpression adenoviruses and MAPK inhibitors were used. Significant renal dysfunction was induced by LPS stimulation, and recovery was observed in TEK/Capn4−/− and Tg-CAST mice but not in LYZ/Capn4−/− mice. Endothelial Capn4 knockout also abrogated the LPS-induced increases in renal iNOS expression, caspase-3 activity and apoptosis and plasma and renal NO and ROS levels but did not obviously affect renal eNOS expression. Moreover, LPS increased both calpain and caspase-3 activity, and only the expression of iNOS in PMECs was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of p38 and JNK. Inhibiting calpain activity or p38 phosphorylation alleviated the increased iNOS expression, NO/ROS production, and cellular apoptosis induced by LPS. These results suggest that endothelial calpain plays a protective role in LPS-induced AKI by inhibiting p38 phosphorylation, thus attenuating iNOS expression and further decreasing NO and ROS overproduction-induced endothelial apoptosis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 1029-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Zhang ◽  
Xin Meng ◽  
Lijun Mei ◽  
Jian Hu ◽  
Chedong Zhao ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are theorized to play key roles in the development of heart diseases. However, the role of lncRNAs in cardiomyocyte apoptosis is largely unknown. The present study examined the role of lncRNA SNHG1 in the human cardiomyocytes (HCMs) apoptosis and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: SNHG1, miR-195 and mRNA expression was detected by qRT-PCR; protein level was determined by western blot; cell viability was detected by MTT assay; cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity assay; the interaction between SNHG1 and miR195 was examined by using luciferase reporter assay. Results: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment significantly suppressed cell viability and increased cell apoptotic rate and caspase-3 activity in HCMs. Overexpression of SNHG1 attenuated the effects of H2O2 on HCMs viability and apoptosis; while SNHG1 exerted the opposite effects. SNHG1 was found to sponge miR-195 and suppress the expression of miR-195 in HCMs. Overexpression of miR-195 suppressed cell viability and induced apoptosis in HCMs, and miR-195 was found to negatively regulate the expression of BCL-2 like protein 2 (BCL2L2) via targeting its 3’ untranslated region. Overexpression of BCL2L2 partially reversed the effects of miR-195 overexpression on cell viability and cell apoptosis of HCMs. MiR-195 overexpression or BCL2L2 knockdown attenuated the effects of SNHG1 overexpression on cell viability, cell apoptosis and protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 and Bax in H2O2-treated HCMs. Conclusion: Our results suggest a novel SNHG1/miR-195/BCL2L2 axis in the regulation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Modulation of SNHG1 may represent a novel strategy to treat cardiomyocyte apoptosis-related heart diseases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuna Tong ◽  
Shan Liu ◽  
Rong Gong ◽  
Lei Zhong ◽  
Xingmei Duan ◽  
...  

Diabetes-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis is regarded as a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Treating diabetes-induced kidney damage and renal dysfunction has been thought a promising therapeutic option to attenuate the development and progression of DN. In this study, we investigated the renoprotective effect of ethyl vanillin (EVA), an active analogue of vanillin isolated from vanilla beans, on streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced rat renal injury model and high glucose-induced NRK-52E cell model. The EVA treatment could strongly improve the deterioration of renal function and kidney cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, treating with EVA significantly decreased the level of MDA and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and stabilized antioxidant enzyme system in response to oxidative stress by enhancing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, EVA also markedly suppressed cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) expression in STZ-induced rats. Therefore, these results of our investigation provided that EVA might protect against kidney injury in DN by inhibiting oxidative stress and cell apoptosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Guo ◽  
Hui-Bin Liu ◽  
Chuan Sun ◽  
Xiu-Qing Yan ◽  
Juan Hu ◽  
...  

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of sudden death worldwide. MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) has been reported to target antiapoptotic genes in various diseases models, but the functional role of miR-155 in response to MI injury needs further investigations. This study investigated the role of miR-155 in myocardial ischemia injury. TUNEL and flow cytometry were performed to measure cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis was employed to detect protein expressions of Bcl-2, XIAP, Bax, and caspase-3. qRT-PCR was used to quantify miRNA levels. We showed that miR-155 was dynamically elevated in murine hearts subjected to MI and in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocyte (NRVM) injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In response to H2O2, the silencing of miR-155 using AMO-155 (antisense inhibitor oligodeoxyribonucleotides) significantly increased cell viability and reduced cell apoptosis. Moreover, AMO-155 reversed the H2O2-induced downregulation of Bcl-2 and XIAP and upregulation of Bax and cleaved-caspase-3. Further study revealed that AMO-155 resulted in a decrease of H2O2-induced JC-1-labelled monomeric cell number. In addition, AMO-155 markedly decreased infarct size, ameliorated impaired cardiac function, and significantly reduced apoptotic cell percentages in MI mice heart. The RNA-binding protein Quaking (QKI) was predicted as a target gene of miR-155 through bioinformatic analysis, and AMO-155 attenuated the downregulation of QKI in H2O2-treated cardiomyocytes and MI mice heart. Knockdown of QKI by siRNA abolished the antiapoptotic effects of AMO-155. Taken together, miR-155 is upregulated in the MI heart and NRVMs in response to H2O2 stress, and downregulating of miR-155 protects cardiomyocytes against apoptosis. Mechanistically, it is probably due to the repression of QKI signaling pathway.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Grazia Maria Virzì ◽  
Anna Clementi ◽  
Sabrina Milan Manani ◽  
Chiara Castellani ◽  
Giovanni Giorgio Battaglia ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Recent research highlighted the potential role of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), resulted by apoptosis or cell necrosis, as a prognostic marker in the setting of different clinical conditions. Cardiorenal syndrome type 1 (CRS type 1) is characterized by a rapid worsening of cardiac function leading to acute kidney injury (AKI). Apoptosis of renal epithelial cells is proposed as a mechanism involved in CRS type 1. In this study, we investigated cfDNA levels in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) and CRS type 1 and the possible correlation between cfDNA levels and inflammatory and apoptotic parameters. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We enrolled 17 AHF patients and 15 CRS type 1 who exhibited AKI at the time of admission (caused by AHF) or developed AKI during the first 48 h from admission. cfDNA was extracted from plasma and quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Plasma levels of NGAL, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18, and caspase-3 were measured. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We observed significantly higher levels of cfDNA in patients with CRS type 1 than patients with AHF. Caspase-3, IL-6, IL-18, and NGAL levels resulted significantly increased in patients with CRS type 1. Moreover, a positive correlation between cfDNA levels and caspase-3 levels was found, as well as between cfDNA levels and IL-6 and renal parameters. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our study explores the premise of cfDNA as a marker for apoptosis and inflammation in CRS type 1 patients. cfDNA could potentially serve as an index for noninvasive monitoring of tissue damage and apoptosis in patients with AKI induced by AHF.


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