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Jie H, Jie W, Yingxue G, Xin Z, Runnan X, Wenjie H, Jianxiong M, Bodong L. Cldn4 overexpression promotes penile cavernous smooth muscle cell fibrotic response via the JNK signaling pathway. J Sex Med 2024; 21:511-521. [PMID: 38477100 DOI: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdae021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Erectile dysfunction (ED), defined as the inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection sufficient to satisfy sexual behavior, is prevalent worldwide. AIM Using previous research, bioinformatics, and experimental confirmation, we aimed to discover genes that contribute to ED through regulating hypoxia in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs). METHODS We used the Gene Expression Omnibus to acquire the sequencing data of the corpus cavernosum transcriptome for diabetic ED and nerve injury type ED rats. We intersected the common differentially expressed genes. Further verification was performed using single cell sequencing. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence were used to investigate whether the differentially expressed genes are found in the corpus cavernosum. We used induced hypoxia to assess cell viability changes, and we developed a lentivirus overexpressing Cldn4 for in vitro and in vivo experiments to measure changes in JNK signaling, fibrosis, hypoxia, and erectile function. OUTCOMES Our results indicate that targeting the JNK pathway and decreasing local hypoxia may be better options for therapeutic intervention to improve erectile function. RESULTS We identified Cldn4 and found its expression increased in the corpora cavernosa of the 2 datasets. In addition, we found that hypoxia can increase the expression of Cldn4, activate the JNK signaling pathway, and exacerbate fibrosis in CCSMCs. Cldn4 overexpression in CCSMCs activated the JNK signaling pathway and increased fibrotic protein expression. Last, rat corpus cavernosum overexpressing Cldn4 activated the JNK signaling pathway, increased local fibrosis, and impaired erectile function. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Through bioinformatics and in vitro and in vivo experiments, we found that Cldn4 has a negative effect on ED, and targeting Cldn4 may provide new ideas for ED treatment. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS Although we have identified Cldn4 as a potential target for ED treatment, we have only conducted preliminary validation on CCMSCs, and we still need to further validate in other cell lines. CONCLUSION CCSMC hypoxia leads to increased Cldn4, in both nerve injury and diabetic ED rat models, and promotes fibrosis by activating the JNK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huang Jie
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Wang Jie
- Department of Urology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Guo Yingxue
- Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhang Xin
- Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xu Runnan
- Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Huang Wenjie
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ma Jianxiong
- Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lv Bodong
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou Zhejiang, China
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Takahashi K, Tsuji K, Nakanoh H, Fukushima K, Kitamura S, Wada J. Preventive effect of culture supernatant of epithelial-like peritoneal mesothelial cells on peritoneal fibrosis. Perit Dial Int 2024; 44:211-215. [PMID: 38017611 DOI: 10.1177/08968608231213577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) is a primary reason for discontinuing peritoneal dialysis, which involves characteristic changes of peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs). We previously reported preventive effects of implanting human epithelial-like PMCs (P-Epi) for mouse PF caused by mechanical peritoneum scrapings. In the present study, we analysed the preventive effects of culture supernatant of P-Epi in PF. Concentrated culture supernatant of P-Epi or human fibroblast-like PMCs (P-Fibro) or vehicles was injected into nude mice that had undergone mechanical scraping of the parietal and visceral peritoneum, and thickness and amount of adhesions were analysed. Although increased peritoneal adhesions and peritoneum thickening were observed in the vehicle-injected positive control group compared to the sham operation group, fewer number of adhesions and less thickness were observed in the mice treated with culture supernatant of P-Epi, but not P-Fibro, compared to the vehicle-injected positive controls. Immunofluorescent analysis revealed that the expression of extracellular matrix, type I collagen and fibronectin, was lower in the mice treated with culture supernatant of P-Epi than in the vehicle-injected positive controls. In addition, exosomes from P-Epi significantly reduced transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced expressions of type I collagen and fibronectin in 3T3 fibroblast cells. Collectively, culture supernatant of P-Epi has preventive effects on PF, thus cell therapy is not necessarily required. Further exploration of substances secreted by P-Epi and their protective mechanisms could lead to the development of therapeutic strategies to limit PF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kensaku Takahashi
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan
| | - Kenji Tsuji
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nakanoh
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Fukushima
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Center for Systems Biology, Program in Membrane Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shinji Kitamura
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan
- Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health and Welfare Science, Okayama Prefectural University Japan
| | - Jun Wada
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan
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Hou L, Du Y. Neuropilin 1 promotes unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced renal fibrosis via RACK1 in renal tubular epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2023; 325:F870-F884. [PMID: 37823194 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00069.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropilin 1 (NRP1) is a single-channel transmembrane glycoprotein whose role and mechanism in renal fibrosis remain incompletely elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the effect of NRP1 on renal fibrosis and its potential mechanism. NRP1 expression in the renal sections from patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model was detected. Nrp1 overexpression or knockdown plasmid was transfected into mice, TKPTS mouse kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells (TECs), and rat kidney fibroblasts, after which pathological injury evaluation and fibrosis marker detection were conducted. The direct interaction of the receptor of activated protein C kinase 1 (RACK1) with NRP1 was validated by immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. We found that the upregulated renal NRP1 expression in patients with CKD was located in proximal TECs, consistent with the degree of interstitial fibrosis. In the UUO mouse model, NRP1 expression was upregulated in the kidney, and overexpression of Nrp1 increased the mRNA and protein expression of fibronectin (Fn) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), whereas Nrp1 knockdown significantly reduced Fn and α-SMA expression and downregulated the inflammatory response. NRP1 promoted transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced profibrotic responses in the TKPTS cells and fibroblasts, and Nrp1 knockdown partially reversed these responses. Immunoprecipitation combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry verified that NRP1 can directly bind to RACK1, and Rack1 knockdown reversed the NRP1-induced fibrotic response. In summary, NRP1 may enhance the TGF-β1 pathway by binding to RACK1, thus promoting renal fibrosis.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Although a few studies have confirmed the correlation between neuropilin 1 (NRP1) and renal diseases, the mechanism of NRP1 in renal fibrosis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of NRP1 on renal fibrosis through in vitro and in vivo experiments and explored the possible downstream mechanisms. We found that NRP1 can stimulate the TGF-β1 signaling pathway, possibly by binding to RACK1, thereby promoting renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Hou
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Du
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
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Sang Y, Tsuji K, Nakanoh H, Fukushima K, Kitamura S, Wada J. Role of Semaphorin 3A in Kidney Development and Diseases. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3038. [PMID: 37835781 PMCID: PMC10572269 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13193038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Kidney diseases are worldwide public health problems affecting millions of people. However, there are still limited therapeutic options against kidney diseases. Semaphorin 3A (SEMA3A) is a secreted and membrane-associated protein, which regulates diverse functions, including immune regulation, cell survival, migration and angiogenesis, thus involving in the several pathogeneses of diseases, including eyes and neurons, as well as kidneys. SEMA3A is expressed in podocytes and tubular cells in the normal adult kidney, and recent evidence has revealed that excess SEMA3A expression and the subsequent signaling pathway aggravate kidney injury in a variety of kidney diseases, including nephrotic syndrome, diabetic nephropathy, acute kidney injury, and chronic kidney disease. In addition, several reports have demonstrated that the inhibition of SEMA3A ameliorated kidney injury via a reduction in cell apoptosis, fibrosis and inflammation; thus, SEMA3A may be a potential therapeutic target for kidney diseases. In this review article, we summarized the current knowledge regarding the role of SEMA3A in kidney pathophysiology and their potential use in kidney diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhen Sang
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (Y.S.)
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Kenji Tsuji
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (Y.S.)
| | - Hiroyuki Nakanoh
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (Y.S.)
| | - Kazuhiko Fukushima
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (Y.S.)
- Center for Systems Biology, Program in Membrane Biology, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Shinji Kitamura
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (Y.S.)
- Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health and Welfare Science, Okayama Prefectural University, Okayama 719-1197, Japan
| | - Jun Wada
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (Y.S.)
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Wang K, Liao Q, Chen X. Research progress on the mechanism of renal interstitial fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18723. [PMID: 37593609 PMCID: PMC10428074 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a common result for various chronic kidney diseases developing to the end stage. It is a pathological process characterized by the destruction of normal kidney structure and the subsequent replacement with fibrous tissue, which primarily involves fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition. Obstruction is a common cause of renal fibrosis, and obstructive renal fibrosis is a common disease in urology. Obstructive renal fibrosis, characterized by its insidious onset, is the result of a complex interplay of multiple factors. These factors encompass renal tubular epithelial cell injury, the presence of a hypoxic microenvironment in affected kidney tissue, inflammatory cell infiltration, release of inflammatory mediators, and the release of renal fibrosis growth factors, among others. This paper reviews the research progress on the mechanism and treatment of renal interstitial fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangning Wang
- Department of Urology Surgery, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410008, China
| | - Qiuling Liao
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410011, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Urology Surgery, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410008, China
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Amin A, Badenes M, Tüshaus J, de Carvalho É, Burbridge E, Faísca P, Trávníčková K, Barros A, Carobbio S, Domingos PM, Vidal-Puig A, Moita LF, Maguire S, Stříšovský K, Ortega FJ, Fernández-Real JM, Lichtenthaler SF, Adrain C. Semaphorin 4B is an ADAM17-cleaved adipokine that inhibits adipocyte differentiation and thermogenesis. Mol Metab 2023; 73:101731. [PMID: 37121509 PMCID: PMC10197113 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The metalloprotease ADAM17 (also called TACE) plays fundamental roles in homeostasis by shedding key signaling molecules from the cell surface. Although its importance for the immune system and epithelial tissues is well-documented, little is known about the role of ADAM17 in metabolic homeostasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of ADAM17 expression, specifically in adipose tissues, on metabolic homeostasis. METHODS We used histopathology, molecular, proteomic, transcriptomic, in vivo integrative physiological and ex vivo biochemical approaches to determine the impact of adipose tissue-specific deletion of ADAM17 upon adipocyte and whole organism metabolic physiology. RESULTS ADAM17adipoq-creΔ/Δ mice exhibited a hypermetabolic phenotype characterized by elevated energy consumption and increased levels of adipocyte thermogenic gene expression. On a high fat diet, these mice were more thermogenic, while exhibiting elevated expression levels of genes associated with lipid oxidation and lipolysis. This hypermetabolic phenotype protected mutant mice from obesogenic challenge, limiting weight gain, hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance. Activation of beta-adrenoceptors by the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, a key regulator of adipocyte physiology, triggered the shedding of ADAM17 substrates, and regulated ADAM17 expression at the mRNA and protein levels, hence identifying a functional connection between thermogenic licensing and the regulation of ADAM17. Proteomic studies identified Semaphorin 4B (SEMA4B), as a novel ADAM17-shed adipokine, whose expression is regulated by physiological thermogenic cues, that acts to inhibit adipocyte differentiation and dampen thermogenic responses in adipocytes. Transcriptomic data showed that cleaved SEMA4B acts in an autocrine manner in brown adipocytes to repress the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis, thermogenesis, and lipid uptake, storage and catabolism. CONCLUSIONS Our findings identify a novel ADAM17-dependent axis, regulated by beta-adrenoceptors and mediated by the ADAM17-cleaved form of SEMA4B, that modulates energy balance in adipocytes by inhibiting adipocyte differentiation, thermogenesis and lipid catabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulbasit Amin
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Oeiras, Portugal; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
| | - Marina Badenes
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Oeiras, Portugal; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusofona University, Lisbon, Portugal; Faculty of Veterinary Nursing, Polytechnic Institute of Lusofonia, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Johanna Tüshaus
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany; Neuroproteomics, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Érika de Carvalho
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Oeiras, Portugal; Instituto de Tecnologia Química da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB-Nova), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Emma Burbridge
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Oeiras, Portugal; Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland
| | - Pedro Faísca
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Květa Trávníčková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - André Barros
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Stefania Carobbio
- Centro de Investigacíon Principe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, Spain; Metabolic Research Laboratories, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Pedro M Domingos
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB-Nova), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Antonio Vidal-Puig
- Centro de Investigacíon Principe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, Spain; Metabolic Research Laboratories, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Luís F Moita
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Sarah Maguire
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland
| | - Kvido Stříšovský
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Francisco J Ortega
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), and Institute of Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - José Manuel Fernández-Real
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), and Institute of Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefan F Lichtenthaler
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany; Neuroproteomics, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Colin Adrain
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Oeiras, Portugal; Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland.
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