MicroRNA26a inhibits cisplatin-induced renal tubular epithelial cells apoptosis through suppressing the expression of transient receptor potential channel 6 mediated dynamin-related protein 1

The critical role of ion channels in kidney disease: perspective from AKI and CKD

Ion channels, particularly those in the transient receptor potential (TRP) family, play key roles in cellular stress responses like inflammation and apoptosis, significantly impacting renal disease progression. Some channels such as TRPV1, TRPM2, TRPC6 impact renal pathology by mediating detrimental calcium influx, exacerbating oxidative stress, and promoting inflammatory pathways. Their activities are especially pronounced in conditions like ischemia and nephrotoxicity, common in acute kidney injury, and persist into chronic kidney injury, influencing fibrosis and nephron loss. Additionally, potassium and sodium channels like Kir4.1, KATP, and ENaC play critical roles in maintaining electrolyte balance and cellular energy under stress conditions. Further exploration of ion channel functionality and regulation is necessary to clarify their roles in renal disease. This review summarizes the involvement of ion channels in AKI and CKD and examines their potential clinical value in diagnosing and treating kidney disease.

CircPICALM promotes neonatal acute kidney injury triggered by hypoxia/reoxygenation via sponging microRNA-204-5p

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been documented to regulate neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI). Based on previous RNA-sequence findings, circPICALM exhibited significantly disparate expression between AKI newborns and Controls. This study aimed to provide further insights into the regulatory mechanism of circPICALM in neonatal AKI.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice born 7 days were divided into Control group and hypoxia groups (11%O2 and 8%O2 groups). Human tubule epithelial cells (HK-2) were stimulated with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) to establish an AKI cell model. Through overexpression and knockdown techniques, the regulatory role of circPICALM in H/R-induced kidney injury was explored. Inflammatory cytokines, cell apoptosis, and oxidative stress were also detected to confirm the regulatory function of circPICALM in neonatal AKI.

RESULTS

RT-qPCR confirmed that circPICALM was highly expressed in the serum of AKI newborns, neonatal I/R mice and H/R-treated HK-2 cells. Functionally, circPICALM exacerbated H/R-induced HK-2 cell injury by aggravating apoptosis and mitochondrial oxidative stress, increasing the expression of inflammatory factors, including IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Conversely, inhibition of circPICALM alleviated H/R injury in the HK-2 cell line. The interaction between circPICALM and miR-204-5p was validated through RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase assay. Finally, circPICALM functioned as a molecular sponge of miR-204-5p and promoted the upregulation of downstream IL-1β expression.

CONCLUSION

CircPICALM plays a critical role in H/R-induced neonatal AKI by sponging miR-204-5p and then activating the downstream IL-1β signaling axis. The inhibition of circPICALM and subsequent suppression of pro-inflammatory factors could serve as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for early intervention in neonatal AKI.

Insights into non-coding RNAS: biogenesis, function and their potential regulatory roles in acute kidney disease and chronic kidney disease

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators of gene expression, and have attracted significant attention because of their various roles in biological processes. These molecules have transcriptional activity despite their inability to encode proteins. Moreover, research has revealed that ncRNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are linked to pervasive regulators of kidney disease, including anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, antifibrotic, and proangiogenic actions in acute and chronic kidney disease. Although the exact therapeutic mechanism of ncRNAs remains uncertain, their value in treatment has been studied in clinical trials. The numerous renal diseases and the beneficial or harmful effects of NcRNAs on the kidney will be discussed in this article. Afterward, exploring the biological characteristics of ncRNAs, as well as their purpose and potential contributions to acute and chronic renal disease, were explored. This may offer guidance for treating both acute and long-term kidney illnesses, as well as insights into the potential use of these indicators as kidney disease biomarkers.

The roles of TRPC6 in renal tubular disorders: a narrative review

The transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) channel, a nonselective cation channel that allows the passage of Ca2+, plays an important role in renal diseases. TRPC6 is activated by Ca2+ influx, oxidative stress, and mechanical stress. Studies have shown that in addition to glomerular diseases, TRPC6 can contribute to renal tubular disorders, such as acute kidney injury, renal interstitial fibrosis, and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the tubule-specific physiological functions of TRPC6 have not yet been elucidated. Its pathophysiological role in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is debatable. Thus, TRPC6 may have dual roles in I/R injury. TRPC6 induces renal fibrosis and immune cell infiltration in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model. Additionally, TRPC6 overexpression may modify G2 phase transition, thus altering the DNA damage checkpoint, which can cause genomic instability and RCC tumorigenesis and can control the proliferation of RCC cells. This review highlights the importance of TRPC6 in various conditions of the renal tubular system. To better understand certain renal disorders and ultimately identify new therapeutic targets to improve patient care, the pathophysiology of TRPC6 must be clarified.

Role of dynamin-related protein 1-dependent mitochondrial fission in drug-induced toxicity

Dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) is an essential controller of mitochondrial fission whose activity is tightly controlled to ensure balanced mitochondrial dynamics and maintain internal cellular homeostasis. Growing evidence suggests that DRP1-dependent mitochondrial fission plays a role in drug-induced toxicity (DIT). Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying DIT and the precise regulation of DRP1 function will inform the development of potential therapeutic treatments for DIT. This review comprehensively summarizes the diverse DITs and their potential mechanism associated with DRP1-dependent mitochondrial fission and discusses in vivo and in vitro model studies of toxicity protection targeting DRP1.

MicroRNAs Involved in Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway during Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity: Potential Use of Natural Products against DDP-Induced Apoptosis

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II), DDP) is an antineoplastic agent widely used in the treatment of solid tumors because of its extensive cytotoxic activity. However, the main limiting side effect of DDP use is nephrotoxicity, a rapid deterioration in kidney function due to toxic chemicals. Several studies have shown that epigenetic processes are involved in DDP-induced nephrotoxicity. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), a class of epigenetic processes, are molecules that regulate gene expression under physiological and pathological conditions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the most characterized class of ncRNAs and are engaged in many cellular processes. In this review, we describe how different miRNAs regulate some pathways leading to cell death by apoptosis, specifically the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Accordingly, many classes of natural products have been tested for their ability to prevent DDP-induced apoptosis. The study of epigenetic regulation for underlying cell death is still being studied, which will allow new strategies for the diagnosis and therapy of this unwanted disease, which is presented as a side effect of antineoplastic treatment.

Dysregulated MicroRNAs as Biomarkers or Therapeutic Targets in Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity: A Systematic Review

The purpose of this systematic review was to map out and summarize scientific evidence on dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) that can be possible biomarkers or therapeutic targets for cisplatin nephrotoxicity and have already been tested in humans, animals, or cells. In addition, an in silico analysis of the two miRNAs found to be dysregulated in the majority of studies was performed. A literature search was performed using eight databases for studies published up to 4 July 2021. Two independent reviewers selected the studies and extracted the data; disagreements were resolved by a third and fourth reviewers. A total of 1002 records were identified, of which 30 met the eligibility criteria. All studies were published in English and reported between 2010 and 2021. The main findings were as follows: (a) miR-34a and miR-21 were the main miRNAs identified by the studies as possible biomarkers and therapeutic targets of cisplatin nephrotoxicity; (b) the in silico analysis revealed 124 and 131 different strongly validated targets for miR-34a and miR-21, respectively; and (c) studies in humans remain scarce.

Epigenetic Mechanisms Involved in Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity: An Update

Cisplatin is an antineoplastic drug used for the treatment of many solid tumors. Among its various side effects, nephrotoxicity is the most detrimental. In recent years, epigenetic regulation has emerged as a modulatory mechanism of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, involving non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation and histone modifications. These epigenetic marks alter different signaling pathways leading to damage and cell death. In this review, we describe how different epigenetic modifications alter different pathways leading to cell death by apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, among others. The study of epigenetic regulation is still under development, and much research remains to fully determine the epigenetic mechanisms underlying cell death, which will allow leading new strategies for the diagnosis and therapy of this disease.

Long Non-coding RNA GAS5 Worsens Coronary Atherosclerosis Through MicroRNA-194-3p/TXNIP Axis

It is formerly conducted that long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) is involved in the process of coronary atherosclerosis (AS). The regulatory effects of GAS5 on the microRNA (miR)-194-3p/thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) axis in AS have been insufficiently explored yet. Thereafter, this work is started from GAS5/miR-194-3p/TXNIP axis in AS. AS rats were modeled to obtain their coronary vascular tissues and endothelial cells (ECs), in which GAS5, miR-194-3p, and TXNIP expression were tested. ECs were identified by immunohistochemistry. The mechanism among GAS5, miR-194-3p, and TXNIP was determined. ECs were transfected with inhibited GAS5 or overexpressed miR-194-3p to decipher their functions in proliferation and apoptosis of ECs in AS. Raised GAS5 and TXNIP and degraded miR-194-3p expression levels exhibited in AS. GAS5 bound to miR-194-3p while miR-194-3p targeted TXNIP. Depleting GAS5 or restoring miR-194-3p enhanced proliferation and depressed apoptosis of ECs in AS. This work clearly manifests that inhibited GAS5 facilitates the growth of ECs through miR-194-3p-targeted TXNIP in AS, consolidating the basal reference to the curing for AS.