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Naillat F, Deshar G, Hankkila A, Rak-Raszewska A, Sharma A, Prunskaite-Hyyrylainen R, Railo A, Shan J, Vainio SJ. Calcium signaling induces partial EMT and renal fibrosis in a Wnt4 mCherry knock-in mouse model. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167180. [PMID: 38653356 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167180] [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] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The renal tubular epithelial cells (TEC) have a strong capacity for repair after acute injury, but when this mechanism becomes uncontrollable, it leads to chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Indeed, in progress toward CKDs, the TECs may dedifferentiate, undergo epithelial-to-mesenchyme transition (EMT), and promote inflammation and fibrosis. Given the critical role of Wnt4 signaling in kidney ontogenesis, we addressed whether changes in this signaling are connected to renal inflammation and fibrosis by taking advantage of a knock-in Wnt4mCh/mCh mouse. While the Wnt4mCh/mCh embryos appeared normal, the corresponding mice, within one month, developed CKD-related phenotypes, such as pro-inflammatory responses including T-cell/macrophage influx, expression of fibrotic markers, and epithelial cell damage with a partial EMT. The Wnt signal transduction component β-catenin remained unchanged, while calcium signaling is induced in the injured TECs involving Nfat and Tfeb transcription factors. We propose that the Wnt4 signaling pathway is involved in repairing the renal injury, and when the signal is overdriven, CKD is established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Naillat
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.
| | - Ganga Deshar
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Anni Hankkila
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Abhishek Sharma
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Antti Railo
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Jingdong Shan
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Seppo J Vainio
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland; Infotech Oulu, Kvantum Institute, University of Oulu, Finland
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Miao H, Wang YN, Su W, Zou L, Zhuang SG, Yu XY, Liu F, Zhao YY. Sirtuin 6 protects against podocyte injury by blocking the renin-angiotensin system by inhibiting the Wnt1/β-catenin pathway. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:137-149. [PMID: 37640899 PMCID: PMC10770168 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-023-01148-w] [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] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Sirtuins (Sirts) are a family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent protein deacetylases that share diverse cellular functions. Increasing evidence shows that Sirts play a critical role in podocyte injury, which is a major determinant of proteinuria-associated renal disease. Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a typical glomerular disease in which podocyte damage mediates proteinuria development. In this study we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulatory roles of Sirt in podocyte injury in MN patients, rats with cationic bovine serum albumin (CBSA)-induced MN and zymosan activation serum (ZAS)-stimulated podocytes. Compared with healthy controls, MN patients showed significant reduction in intrarenal Sirt1 and Sirt6 protein expression. In CBSA-induced MN rats, significant reduction in intrarenal Sirt1, Sirt3 and Sirt6 protein expression was observed. However, only significant decrease in Sirt6 protein expression was found in ZAS-stimulated podocytes. MN patients showed significantly upregulated protein expression of Wnt1 and β-catenin and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components in glomeruli. CBSA-induced MN rats exhibited significantly upregulated protein expression of intrarenal Wnt1 and β-catenin and their downstream gene products as well as RAS components. Similar results were observed in ZAS-stimulated podocytes. In ZAS-stimulated podocytes, treatment with a specific Sirt6 activator UBCS039 preserved the protein expression of podocin, nephrin and podocalyxin, accompanied by significant inhibition of the protein expression of β-catenin and its downstream gene products, including Snail1 and Twist; treatment with a β-catenin inhibitor ICG-001 significantly preserved the expression of podocyte-specific proteins and inhibited the upregulation of downstream β-catenin gene products accompanied by significant suppression of the protein expression of RAS components. Thus, we demonstrate that Sirt6 ameliorates podocyte injury by blocking RAS signalling via the Wnt1/β-catenin pathway. Sirt6 is a specific therapeutic target for the treatment of podocyte damage-associated renal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Miao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Yan-Ni Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Wei Su
- Department of Nephrology, Baoji Central Hospital, Baoji, 721008, China
| | - Liang Zou
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
| | - Shou-Gang Zhuang
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Xiao-Yong Yu
- Department of Nephrology, Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xi'an, 710003, China.
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Urology, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Ying-Yong Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
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Wang YN, Miao H, Hua MR, Yang JZ, Pei M, Yu HX, Wei LJ, Zou L, Zhang YM, Cao G, Zhao YY. Moshen granule ameliorates membranous nephropathy by blocking intrarenal renin-angiotensin system signalling via the Wnt1/β-catenin pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 114:154763. [PMID: 37001295 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Membranous nephropathy (MN) is one of the cardinal causes of nephrotic syndrome in adults, but an adequate treatment regimen is lacking. PURPOSE We assessed the effect of Moshen granule (MSG) on patients with MN and cationic bovine serum albumin (CBSA)-induced rats. We further identified the bioactive components of MSG and revealed the underlying molecular mechanism of its renoprotective effects. METHODS We determined the effect of MSG on patients with MN and CBSA-induced rats and its components on podocyte injury in zymosan-activated serum (ZAS)-elicited podocytes and revealed their regulatory mechanism on the Wnt/β-catenin/renin-angiotensin system (RAS) signalling axis. RESULTS MSG treatment improved renal function and reduced proteinuria in MN patients and significantly reduced proteinuria and preserved the protein expression of podocin, nephrin, podocalyxin and synaptopodin in CBSA-induced MN rats. Mechanistically, MSG treatment significantly inhibited the protein expression of angiotensinogen, angiotensin converting enzyme and angiotensin II type 1 receptor, which was accompanied by inhibition of the protein expression of Wnt1 and β-catenin and its downstream gene products, including Snail1, Twist, matrix metalloproteinase-7, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and fibroblast-specific protein 1, in CBSA-induced MN rats. We further identified 81 compounds, including astragaloside IV (AGS), calycosin, barleriside A and geniposidic acid, that preserve the podocyte-specific protein expression in ZAS-induced podocytes. Among these four compounds, AGS exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects on podocyte protein expression. AGS treatment significantly inhibited the protein expression of RAS components and Wnt1 and β-catenin and its downstream gene products in ZAS-induced podocytes. In contrast, the inhibitory effect of AGS on podocyte-specific proteins, β-catenin downstream gene products and RAS components was partially abolished in ZAS-induced podocytes treated with ICG-001 and β-catenin siRNA. CONCLUSION This study first demonstrates that AGS mitigates podocyte injury by inhibiting the activation of RAS signalling via the Wnt1/β-catenin pathway by both pharmacological and genetic methods. Therefore, AGS might be considered a new β-catenin inhibitor that inhibits the Wnt1/β-catenin pathway to retard MN in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ni Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 548 Binwen Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Hua Miao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 548 Binwen Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Meng-Ru Hua
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 548 Binwen Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Jun-Zheng Yang
- Guangdong Nephrotic Drug Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Consun Pharmaceutical Group, Institute of Consun Co. for Chinese Medicine in Kidney Diseases, No. 71 Dongpeng avenue, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China
| | - Ming Pei
- Department of Nephrology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 88 Changling Road, Tianjin 300073, China
| | - Hang-Xing Yu
- Department of Nephrology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 88 Changling Road, Tianjin 300073, China
| | - Li-Juan Wei
- Department of Nephrology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 88 Changling Road, Tianjin 300073, China
| | - Liang Zou
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Chengdu University, No. 2025 Chengluo Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan 610106, China
| | - Ya-Mei Zhang
- Key disciplines of clinical pharmacy, Clinical Genetics Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital & Clinical Medical College of Chengdu University, No. 82 The Second Section of North 2nd Ring Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610081, China
| | - Gang Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 548 Binwen Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China.
| | - Ying-Yong Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 548 Binwen Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China; Key disciplines of clinical pharmacy, Clinical Genetics Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital & Clinical Medical College of Chengdu University, No. 82 The Second Section of North 2nd Ring Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610081, China.
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Mohamed OS, Abdel Baky NA, Sayed-Ahmed MM, Al-Najjar AH. Lactoferrin alleviates cyclophosphamide induced-nephropathy through suppressing the orchestration between Wnt4/β-catenin and ERK1/2/NF-κB signaling and modulating klotho and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Life Sci 2023; 319:121528. [PMID: 36828132 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent with vast arrays of therapeutic activity. Currently, its medical use is limited due to its numerous adverse events, including nephrotoxicity. This study aimed to follow the molecular mechanisms behind the potential renoprotective action of lactoferrin (LF) against cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced renal injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS For fulfillment of our aim, Spragw-Dwaly rats were orally administrated LF (300 mg/kg) for seven consecutive days, followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of CP (150 mg/kg). KEY FINDINGS Treatment of CP-injured rats with LF significantly reduced the elevated creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), markedly upregulated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling with consequent increase in renal total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and decrease in renal malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Furthermore, LF treatment significantly reduced the elevated renal p-ERK1/2 expression, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) levels in CP-treated animals. Interestingly, LF treatment downregulated Wnt4/β-catenin signaling and increased both renal klotho gene expression and serum klotho level. Furthermore, LF treatment reduced apoptosis in kidney tissue via suppressing GSK-3β expression and modulating caspase-3 and Bcl2 levels. Histopathological examination of kidney tissue confirmed the protective effect of LF against CP-induced renal injury. SIGNIFICANCE The present findings document the renoprotective effect of LF against CP-induced nephropathy, which may be mediated via suppressing ERK1/2/ NF-κB and Wnt4/β-catenin trajectories and enhancing klotho expression and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola S Mohamed
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nayira A Abdel Baky
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Mohamed M Sayed-Ahmed
- Pharmacology and Experimental Oncology Unit, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Aya H Al-Najjar
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
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Salim HMU, Dandare A, Khalil F, Liaquat A, Khan MJ, Naeem A. Computational Analysis Reveals Distinctive Interaction of miRNAs with Target Genes in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Kidney Disease. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040898. [PMID: 37107656 PMCID: PMC10137451 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The regulation of genes is crucial for maintaining a healthy intracellular environment, and any dysregulation of gene expression leads to several pathological complications. It is known that many diseases, including kidney diseases, are regulated by miRNAs. However, the data on the use of miRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are not conclusive. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the potential of miRNAs as an efficient biomarker for the detection and treatment of CKD at its early stages. Gene expression profiling data were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. miRNAs directly associated with CKD were obtained from an extensive literature search. Network illustration of miRNAs and their projected target differentially expressed genes (tDEGs) was accomplished, followed by functional enrichment analysis. hsa-miR-1-3p, hsa-miR-206, hsa-miR-494 and hsa-miR-577 exhibited a strong association with CKD through the regulation of genes involved in signal transduction, cell proliferation, the regulation of transcription and apoptotic process. All these miRNAs have shown significant contributions to the inflammatory response and the processes which eventually lead to the pathogenesis of CKD. The in silico approach used in this research represents a comprehensive analysis of identified miRNAs and their target genes for the identification of molecular markers of disease processes. The outcomes of the study recommend further efforts for developing miRNA biomarkers set for the early diagnosis of CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abdullahi Dandare
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
- Department of Biochemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto P.M.B. 2346, Nigeria
| | - Fareeha Khalil
- Shifa International Hospital, Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
| | - Afrose Liaquat
- Department of Biochemistry, Shifa College of Medicine, Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Jawad Khan
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
| | - Aisha Naeem
- Health Research Governance Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
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Seth A, Bournat JC, Medina-Martinez O, Rivera A, Moore J, Flores H, Rosenfeld JA, Hu L, Jorgez CJ. Loss of WNT4 in the gubernaculum causes unilateral cryptorchidism and fertility defects. Development 2022; 149:dev201093. [PMID: 36448532 PMCID: PMC10112923 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Undescended testis (UDT) affects 6% of male births. Despite surgical correction, some men with unilateral UDT may experience infertility with the contralateral descended testis (CDT) showing no A-dark spermatogonia. To improve our understanding of the etiology of infertility in UDT, we generated a novel murine model of left unilateral UDT. Gubernaculum-specific Wnt4 knockout (KO) mice (Wnt4-cKO) were generated using retinoic acid receptor β2-cre mice and were found to have a smaller left-unilateral UDT. Wnt4-cKO mice with abdominal UDT had an increase in serum follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone and an absence of germ cells in the undescended testicle. Wnt4-cKO mice with inguinal UDT had normal hormonal profiles, and 50% of these mice had no sperm in the left epididymis. Wnt4-cKO mice had fertility defects and produced 52% fewer litters and 78% fewer pups than control mice. Wnt4-cKO testes demonstrated increased expression of estrogen receptor α and SOX9, upregulation of female gonadal genes, and a decrease in male gonadal genes in both CDT and UDT. Several WNT4 variants were identified in boys with UDT. The presence of UDT and fertility defects in Wnt4-cKO mice highlights the crucial role of WNT4 in testicular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Seth
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Surgery, Nemours Children's Health, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Juan C. Bournat
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Armando Rivera
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joshua Moore
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hunter Flores
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jill A. Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Liya Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Carolina J. Jorgez
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Miao H, Zhang Y, Yu X, Zou L, Zhao Y. Membranous nephropathy: Systems biology-based novel mechanism and traditional Chinese medicine therapy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:969930. [PMID: 36176440 PMCID: PMC9513429 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.969930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a renal-limited non-inflammatory autoimmune disease in the glomerulus, which is the second or third main cause of end-stage kidney diseases in patients with primary glomerulonephritis. Substantial achievements have increased our understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of murine and human MN. The identification of nephritogenic autoantibodies against neutral endopeptidase, phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) antigens provide more specific concept-driven intervention strategies for treatments by specific B cell-targeting monoclonal antibodies to inhibit antibody production and antibody-antigen immune complex deposition. Furthermore, additional antibody specificities for antigens have been discovered, but their pathogenic effects are uncertain. Although anti-PLA2R and anti-THSD7A antibodies as a diagnostic marker is widely used in MN patients, many questions including autoimmune response development, antigenic epitopes, and podocyte damage signalling pathways remain unresolved. This review describes the current available evidence regarding both established and novel molecular mechanisms based on systems biology approaches (gut microbiota, long non-coding RNAs, metabolite biomarkers and DNA methylation) in MN, with an emphasis on clinical findings. This review further summarizes the applications of traditional Chinese medicines such as Tripterygium wilfordii and Astragalus membranaceus for MN treatment. Lastly, this review considers how the identification of novel antibodies/antigens and unresolved questions and future challenges reveal the pathogenesis of MN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Miao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yamei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Genetics & Key Disciplines of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital and Clinical Medical College of Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoyong Yu
- Department of Nephrology, Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoyong Yu, ; Liang Zou, ; Yingyong Zhao,
| | - Liang Zou
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoyong Yu, ; Liang Zou, ; Yingyong Zhao,
| | - Yingyong Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Genetics & Key Disciplines of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital and Clinical Medical College of Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoyong Yu, ; Liang Zou, ; Yingyong Zhao,
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Differences in Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Features between Podocytes and Parietal Epithelial Cells (PECs) Are Observed in Developing, Healthy Postnatal, and Pathologically Changed Human Kidneys. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147501. [PMID: 35886848 PMCID: PMC9322852 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
During human kidney development, cells of the proximal nephron gradually differentiate into podocytes and parietal epithelial cells (PECs). Podocytes are terminally differentiated cells that play a key role in both normal and pathological kidney function. Therefore, the potential of podocytes to regenerate or be replaced by other cell populations (PECs) is of great interest for the possible treatment of kidney diseases. In the present study, we analyzed the proliferation and differentiation capabilities of podocytes and PECs, changes in the expression pattern of nestin, and several early proteins including WNT4, Notch2, and Snail, as well as Ki-67, in tissues of developing, postnatal, and pathologically changed human kidneys by using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Developing PECs showed a higher proliferation rate than podocytes, whereas nestin expression characterized only podocytes and pathologically changed kidneys. In the developing kidneys, WNT4 and Notch2 expression increased moderately in podocytes and strongly in PECs, whereas Snail increased only in PECs in the later fetal period. During human kidney development, WNT4, Notch2, and Snail are involved in early nephrogenesis control. In kidneys affected by congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), WNT4 decreased in both cell populations, whereas Notch2 decreased in FSGS. In contrast, Snail increased both in CNF and FSGS, whereas Notch2 increased only in CNF. Electron microscopy revealed cytoplasmic processes spanning the urinary space between the podocytes and PECs in developing and healthy postnatal kidneys, whereas the CNF and FSGS kidneys were characterized by numerous cellular bridges containing cells with strong expression of nestin and all analyzed proteins. Our results indicate that the mechanisms of gene control in nephrogenesis are reactivated under pathological conditions. These mechanisms could have a role in restoring glomerular integrity by potentially inducing the regeneration of podocytes from PECs.
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Sanabria-de la Torre R, García-Fontana C, González-Salvatierra S, Andújar-Vera F, Martínez-Heredia L, García-Fontana B, Muñoz-Torres M. The Contribution of Wnt Signaling to Vascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23136995. [PMID: 35805996 PMCID: PMC9266892 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23136995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). These vascular abnormalities result in a chronic hyperglycemic state, which influences many signaling molecular pathways that initially lead to increased oxidative stress, increased inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction, leading to both microvascular and macrovascular complications. Endothelial dysfunction represents the initial stage in both types of vascular complications; it represents “mandatory damage” in the development of microvascular complications and only “introductory damage” in the development of macrovascular complications. Increasing scientific evidence has revealed an important role of the Wnt pathway in the pathophysiology of the vascular wall. It is well known that the Wnt pathway is altered in patients with T2DM. This review aims to be an update of the current literature related to the Wnt pathway molecules that are altered in patients with T2DM, which may also be the cause of damage to the vasculature. Both microvascular complications (retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy) and macrovascular complications (coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease) are analyzed. This review aims to concisely concentrate all the evidence to facilitate the view on the vascular involvement of the Wnt pathway and its components by highlighting the importance of exploring possible therapeutic strategy for patients with T2DM who develop vascular pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Sanabria-de la Torre
- Department of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (R.S.-d.l.T.); (S.G.-S.); (L.M.-H.); (M.M.-T.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain;
| | - Cristina García-Fontana
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain;
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit, University Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, 18016 Granada, Spain
- CIBER de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (C.G.-F.); (B.G.-F.); Tel.: +34-958023460 (C.G.-F.)
| | - Sheila González-Salvatierra
- Department of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (R.S.-d.l.T.); (S.G.-S.); (L.M.-H.); (M.M.-T.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain;
| | - Francisco Andújar-Vera
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain;
- Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Andalusian Research Institute in Data Science and Computational Intelligence (DaSCI Institute), 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Luis Martínez-Heredia
- Department of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (R.S.-d.l.T.); (S.G.-S.); (L.M.-H.); (M.M.-T.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain;
| | - Beatriz García-Fontana
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain;
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit, University Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, 18016 Granada, Spain
- CIBER de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (C.G.-F.); (B.G.-F.); Tel.: +34-958023460 (C.G.-F.)
| | - Manuel Muñoz-Torres
- Department of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (R.S.-d.l.T.); (S.G.-S.); (L.M.-H.); (M.M.-T.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain;
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit, University Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, 18016 Granada, Spain
- CIBER de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Lin L, Wang X, Niu M, Wu Q, Wang H, Zu Y, Wang W. Biomimetic epithelium/endothelium on chips. ENGINEERED REGENERATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.engreg.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Roles and action mechanisms of WNT4 in cell differentiation and human diseases: a review. Cell Death Discov 2021; 7:287. [PMID: 34642299 PMCID: PMC8511224 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00668-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
WNT family member 4 (WNT4), which belongs to the conserved WNT protein family, plays an important role in the development and differentiation of many cell types during the embryonic development and adult homeostasis. Increasing evidence has shown that WNT4 is a special ligand that not only activates the β-catenin independent pathway but also acts on β-catenin signaling based on different cellular processes. This article is a summary of the current knowledge about the expression, regulation, and function of WNT4 ligands and their signal pathways in cell differentiation and human disease processes. WNT4 is a promoter in osteogenic differentiation in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) by participating in bone homeostasis regulation in osteoporotic diseases. Non-canonical WNT4 signaling is necessary for metabolic maturation of pancreatic β-cell. WNT4 is also necessary for decidual cell differentiation and decidualization, which plays an important role in preeclampsia. WNT4 promotes neuronal differentiation of neural stem cell and dendritic cell (DC) into conventional type 1 DC (cDC1). Besides, WNT4 mediates myofibroblast differentiation in the skin, kidney, lung, and liver during scarring or fibrosis. On the negative side, WNT4 is highly expressed in cancer tissues, playing a pro-carcinogenic role in many cancer types. This review provides an overview of the progress in elucidating the role of WNT4 signaling pathway components in cell differentiation in adults, which may provide useful clues for the diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of human diseases.
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The Role of Wnt Signalling in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11050496. [PMID: 32365994 PMCID: PMC7290783 DOI: 10.3390/genes11050496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) encompasses a group of diverse diseases that are associated with accumulating kidney damage and a decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). These conditions can be of an acquired or genetic nature and, in many cases, interactions between genetics and the environment also play a role in disease manifestation and severity. In this review, we focus on genetically inherited chronic kidney diseases and dissect the links between canonical and non-canonical Wnt signalling, and this umbrella of conditions that result in kidney damage. Most of the current evidence on the role of Wnt signalling in CKD is gathered from studies in polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and nephronophthisis (NPHP) and reveals the involvement of β-catenin. Nevertheless, recent findings have also linked planar cell polarity (PCP) signalling to CKD, with further studies being required to fully understand the links and molecular mechanisms.
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A New Cu(II)-Containing Coordination Polymer: Crystal Structure, Molecular Docking and Protective Effect on Primary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis by Regulating NF-κB Pathway. J Inorg Organomet Polym Mater 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10904-019-01353-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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