The association of profilin-1 levels with survival in chronic kidney disease

Proteomic research on new urinary biomarkers of renal disease in canine leishmaniosis: Survival and monitoring response to treatment

The objective of our study was to search for survival biomarkers (SB) and treatment response monitoring biomarkers (TRMB) in the urinary proteome of dogs with renal disease secondary to canine leishmaniosis (CanL), using UHPLC-MS/MS. The proteomic data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD042578. Initially, a group of 12 dogs was evaluated and divided into survivors (SG; n = 6) and nonsurvivors (NSG; n = 6). A total of 972 proteins were obtained from the evaluated samples. Then, bioinformatic analysis reduced them to 6 proteins like potential SB increased in the NSG, specifically, Haemoglobin subunit Alpha 1, Complement Factor I, Complement C5, Fibrinogen beta chain (fragment), Peptidase S1 domain-containing protein, and Fibrinogen gamma chain. Afterwards, SG was used to search for TRMB, studying their urine at 0, 30, and 90 days, and 9 proteins that decreased after treatment were obtained: Apolipoprotein E, Cathepsin B, Cystatin B, Cystatin-C-like, Lysozyme, Monocyte differentiation CD14, Pancreatitis-associated precursor protein, Profilin, and Protein FAM3C. Finally, enrichment analysis provided information about the biological mechanisms in which these proteins are involved. In conclusion, this study provides 15 new candidate urinary biomarkers and an improved understanding of the pathogenesis of kidney disease in CanL.

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor S Acts as a Metastatic Suppressor in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor via Profilin 1-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are aggressive sarcomas with over half of cases developed in the context of neurofibromatosis type 1. Surgical resection is the only effective therapy for MPNST. The prognosis is very dismal once recurrence or metastasis occurs. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process of recurrence and metastasis involving reorganizations of the actin cytoskeleton and actin-binding proteins (ABP) play a non-negligible role. Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor S (PTPRS), a tumor suppressor previously reported in colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and head and neck cancer, is thought to mediate cell migration and invasion by downregulation of EMT. However, its role in MPNST remains unknown. In the present study, by using tissue microarray we demonstrated low expression of PTPRS was related to poor prognosis in MPNST. Knockdown of PTPRS in MPNST cell lines increased migration/invasion and EMT processes were induced with increased N-cadherin and decreased E-cadherin, which indicated PTPRS may serve as a tumor suppressor in MPNST. In addition, we tested all EMT related ABP and found profilin 1 was significantly elevated in PTPRS downregulated MPNST cell lines. As a member of actin-binding proteins, profilins are regulators of actin polymerization and contribute to cell motility and invasion, which have been reported to be responsible for EMT. Moreover, results showed that downregulation of profilin 1 could restore the EMT processes caused by PTPRS downregulation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, high expression of profilin 1 was significantly associated with dismal prognosis. These results highlighted PTPRS served as a potential tumor suppressor in the recurrence and metastasis of MPNST via profilin 1 induced EMT processes and it might provide potential targets for future clinical therapeutics.

Knockdown of CK2α reduces P-cresol-induced fibrosis in human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells via the downregulation of profilin-1

Renal fibrosis is one of the main causes of chronic kidney disease. Many studies have focused on fibroblasts and myofibroblasts involved in renal fibrogenesis. Recently, several studies have reported that renal proximal tubule epithelial cells are possible initiators of renal fibrosis. However, the mechanism through which cells induce renal fibrosis is poorly understood. In this study, we found that CK2α induces fibrosis in renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (TH1) by regulating the expression of profilin-1 (Pfn1). CKD mouse model and TH1 cells treated with P-cresol also showed an increased level of Pfn1. The knockdown of CK2α suppressed fibrosis in TH1 cells via the downregulation of Pfn1. In particular, CK2α knockdown inhibited the expression of stress fibers and fibrosis-related proteins in P-cresol-treated TH1 cells. Furthermore, the knockdown of CK2α inhibited mitochondrial dysfunction and restored cellular senescence and cell cycle in P-cresol-treated TH1 cells. These results indicate that CK2α induces renal fibrosis through Pfn1, which makes CK2α a key target molecule in the treatment of fibrosis related to chronic kidney disease.