Spontaneous shift in transcriptional profile of explanted glomeruli via activation of the MAP kinase family

Unfolded protein response causes a phenotypic shift of inflamed glomerular cells toward redifferentiation through dual blockade of Akt and Smad signaling pathways

During recovery from acute glomerulonephritis, cell proliferation, matrix expansion, and expression of the dedifferentiation marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) subside spontaneously. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this recovery process remain elusive. In mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, the unfolded protein response (UPR) is induced in activated, dedifferentiated mesangial cells. We investigated the role of the UPR in mesangial cell deactivation and redifferentiation and found that, during experimental glomerulonephritis in rats, reinforcement of the UPR significantly attenuated mesangial cell proliferation, matrix expansion, and expression of α-SMA. Consistent with this in vivo result, induction of the UPR suppressed cell proliferation and transcriptional expression of type IV collagen (ColIV) and α-SMA in activated mesangial cells. The UPR reduced phosphorylation of Akt in vitro and in vivo, and it was responsible for attenuation of cell proliferation. The UPR also preferentially depressed levels of total and phosphorylated Smads without affecting transcriptional levels, and it was responsible for suppression of ColIV and α-SMA. Translational suppression via the eIF2α pathway, but not proteasome-mediated protein degradation, was responsible for the down-regulation of Smads. These results suggest the novel potential of the UPR to facilitate a phenotypic shift of activated glomerular cells toward deactivation and redifferentiation. The UPR may serve as endogenous machinery that supports recovery of glomeruli from acute inflammation.

Spontaneous activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in isolated normal glomeruli

In this report, we describe that NF-κB is spontaneously activated in isolated, normal glomeruli. Ex vivo incubation of isolated rat glomeruli triggered expression of a NF-κB-dependent gene, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), in parallel with downregulation of IκBα and IκBβ proteins and activation of the p65 NF-κB subunit. The induction of MCP-1 was also observed in mesangial cells coincubated with isolated glomeruli or exposed to media conditioned by isolated glomeruli (GCM), which was abrogated by inhibition of NF-κB. The activation of NF-κB by glomerulus-derived factors was confirmed using reporter mesangial cells that produce secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) under the control of the κB enhancer element. When the reporter cells were adoptively transferred into normal glomeruli, expression of SEAP mRNA and activity of SEAP were also upregulated in the explanted glomeruli. The molecular weight of factors responsible for activation of NF-κB was >50 kDa, and TNF-α was identified as one of glomerulus-derived activators. To examine upstream events involved, we focused on MAP kinases that are spontaneously activated in explanted glomeruli. Selective suppression of ERK or p38 MAP kinase significantly attenuated activation of NF-κB in mesangial cells triggered by coculture with isolated glomeruli. Interestingly, the suppressive effects by MAP kinase inhibitors were not observed in mesangial cells treated with GCM. These data suggested that NF-κB was spontaneously activated in explanted glomeruli via autocrine/paracrine factors including TNF-α and that the production of NF-κB activators by glomeruli was, at least in part, through MAP kinase pathways.

Therapeutic effect of all-trans retinoic acid on rats with anti-GBM antibody glomerulonephritis

BACKGROUND

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects and is currently used in the treatment of leukemia and dermatologic diseases. We tested the therapeutic potential of ATRA on anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) glomerulonephritis rats.

METHODS

Glomerulonephritis was induced in male Wistar-Kyoto rats on day 0 by an intravenous injection of antirat GBM antibody. On day 14 after the induction of anti-GBM glomerulonephritis, some rats were sacrificed (N = 5). Another 10 rats were divided into two groups: the vehicle group (N = 5) and the ATRA treated group (N = 5). ATRA was orally administrated from day 14 to day 27 after disease induction. Blood pressure, body weight, urinary protein excretion, and blood chemistry was determined on days 1, 14, 21, and 27. Kidney samples were obtained on day 28. The kidneys were examined with periodic acid-Schiff staining (PAS) and immunohistochemistry using antibodies against the proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), rat monocyte and macrophage (ED-1), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA). Glomerular RNA was extracted from isolated glomeruli, and reverse transcription (RT) followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed.

RESULTS

ATRA administration produced a 55% reduction of proteinuria in glomerulonephritis rats. Light microscopic analysis revealed severe necrosis/crescent formation (>50% of the glomerulus) affecting 34% of glomeruli in vehicle rats, whereas ATRA treatment reduced the glomeruli showing severe change to 14%. ATRA also significantly reduced PCNA-positive cells, ED-1-positive cells and alpha-SMA-positive area in the glomeruli. RT-PCR analyses revealed that a wide variety of genes including inflammation related [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein delta (C/EBPdelta)], cell proliferation-related [platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)] and fibrosis-related [transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), type I collagen, and alpha-SMA) genes were suppressed in the glomeruli of ATRA-treated rats.

CONCLUSION

ATRA administration significantly reduced severe necrosis/crescent formation and urinary protein excretion in glomerulonephritis rats. Suppression of a wide variety of gene expression may partly explain the mechanism of ATRA's antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects. These data suggest a novel therapeutic application of ATRA toward glomerulonephritis.

Secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 by endothelial cells of the bovine corpus luteum: regulation by cytokines but not prostaglandin F2alpha

Information regarding the regulation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in regression of the corpus luteum (CL) is limited. This study tested the hypothesis that endothelial cells derived from bovine CL are a source of MCP-1, and that proinflammatory cytokines, prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), and progesterone regulate MCP-1 expression. Endothelial cells were treated without (Control) or with PGF2alpha (1 micro M), TNFalpha (100 ng/ml), interferon-gamma (IFNgamma, 200 IU/ml), and TNFalpha + IFNgamma for 24 and 48 h in the absence or presence of progesterone (P4, 250 ng/ml). Increases in MCP-1 mRNA and protein were observed in response to TNFalpha within 24 and 48 h of culture, respectively (P < 0.05). Interferon-gamma stimulated (P < 0.05) both MCP-1 mRNA and protein after 24 h of culture, and this effect was also sustained through 48 h of culture (P < 0.05). Cotreatment of cultures with TNFalpha + IFNgamma lead to further increases (P < 0.05) in MCP-1 in both 24- and 48-h cultures. Surprisingly, neither PGF2alpha nor P4 affected MCP-1 production. Subsequent experiments revealed that the endothelial cells lacked prostaglandin F2alpha receptor mRNA, and the MAPK pathway, although present and responsive to growth factor stimulation, was unresponsive to PGF2alpha stimulation. In summary, endothelial cells derived from bovine CL respond to TNFalpha and IFNgamma stimulation with an increase in MCP-1 secretion. In contrast, neither PGF2alpha nor P4 directly influenced endothelial expression of MCP-1. These results suggest that cytokines stimulate the synthesis of MCP-1 observed during PGF2alpha-induced luteal regression.