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Kovalik ME, Dacanay MA, Crowley SD, Hall G. Swollen Feet: Considering the Paradoxical Roles of Interleukins in Nephrotic Syndrome. Biomedicines 2024; 12:738. [PMID: 38672094 PMCID: PMC11048099 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Interleukins are a family of 40 bioactive peptides that act through cell surface receptors to induce a variety of intracellular responses. While interleukins are most commonly associated with destructive, pro-inflammatory signaling in cells, some also play a role in promoting cellular resilience and survival. This review will highlight recent evidence of the cytoprotective actions of the interleukin 1 receptor (IL-1R)- and common gamma chain receptor (IL-Rγc)-signaling cytokines in nephrotic syndrome (NS). NS results from the injury or loss of glomerular visceral epithelial cells (i.e., podocytes). Although the causes of podocyte dysfunction vary, it is clear that pro-inflammatory cytokines play a significant role in regulating the propagation, duration and severity of disease. Pro-inflammatory cytokines signaling through IL-1R and IL-Rγc have been shown to exert anti-apoptotic effects in podocytes through the phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI-3K)/AKT pathway, highlighting the potential utility of IL-1R- and IL-Rγc-signaling interleukins for the treatment of podocytopathy in NS. The paradoxical role of interleukins as drivers and mitigators of podocyte injury is complex and ill-defined. Emerging evidence of the cytoprotective role of some interleukins in NS highlights the urgent need for a nuanced understanding of their pro-survival benefits and reveals their potential as podocyte-sparing therapeutics for NS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E. Kovalik
- Division of Nephrology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27701, USA; (M.E.K.)
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Monique A. Dacanay
- Division of Nephrology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27701, USA; (M.E.K.)
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Steven D. Crowley
- Division of Nephrology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27701, USA; (M.E.K.)
| | - Gentzon Hall
- Division of Nephrology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27701, USA; (M.E.K.)
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Ma S, Qiu Y, Zhang C. Cytoskeleton Rearrangement in Podocytopathies: An Update. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:647. [PMID: 38203817 PMCID: PMC10779434 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Podocyte injury can disrupt the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB), leading to podocytopathies that emphasize podocytes as the glomerulus's key organizer. The coordinated cytoskeleton is essential for supporting the elegant structure and complete functions of podocytes. Therefore, cytoskeleton rearrangement is closely related to the pathogenesis of podocytopathies. In podocytopathies, the rearrangement of the cytoskeleton refers to significant alterations in a string of slit diaphragm (SD) and focal adhesion proteins such as the signaling node nephrin, calcium influx via transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6), and regulation of the Rho family, eventually leading to the disorganization of the original cytoskeletal architecture. Thus, it is imperative to focus on these proteins and signaling pathways to probe the cytoskeleton rearrangement in podocytopathies. In this review, we describe podocytopathies and the podocyte cytoskeleton, then discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in cytoskeleton rearrangement in podocytopathies and summarize the effects of currently existing drugs on regulating the podocyte cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chun Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; (S.M.); (Y.Q.)
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Zeng Y, Xiong C, Chen Y, Yang C, Li Q. Effects and mechanism of Rictor interference in podocyte injury induced by high glucose. Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:473. [PMID: 37753299 PMCID: PMC10518650 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR (Rictor) is a critical effector of mTOR protein complex 2 (mTORC2). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Rictor in the mTORC2 signaling pathway in high glucose (HG)-induced diabetic podocyte injury by silencing the expression of Rictor. In the present study, mouse podocytes were treated with glucose (150 mM) and mannitol (200 mM), the Rictor gene was silenced using small interfering RNA (siRNA). Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, whereas podocyte cytoskeletal protein expression was detected by western blotting (WB) and immunofluorescence staining. The results demonstrated that, compared with that in the control group, the podocyte apoptotic rate was significantly increased in the mannitol group (negative group) and the groups that were treated with glucose (model groups). The podocyte apoptotic rate in the model + Rictor siRNA group was significantly decreased compared with that in the negative, model and the model glucose + siRNA negative control (NC) groups. WB indicated that the protein expression levels of podocalyxin and synaptopodin were reduced in the model and model + siRNA NC groups compared with those in the normal control and negative groups. Additionally, the protein expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and P-AKT/AKT were increased in the model and model + siRNA NC groups compared with the those in control and negative groups. Compared with those the model and model + siRNA NC groups, the protein expression levels of podocalyxin and synaptopodin were increased, whilst those of the α-SMA and P-AKT/AKT proteins were decreased, in the model + Rictor siRNA group. Results from immunofluorescence analysis were basically consistent with those of WB. Therefore, results of the present study suggest that silencing of the Rictor gene may reduce the damage to podocytes induced by HG, such that the Rictor/mTORC2 signaling pathway may be involved in the remodeling of podocyte actin cytoskeletal in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zeng
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Changbin Xiong
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Yinxiang Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Chunyun Yang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Qiuyue Li
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
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Kitsou K, Askiti V, Mitsioni A, Spoulou V. The immunopathogenesis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome: a narrative review of the literature. Eur J Pediatr 2022; 181:1395-1404. [PMID: 35098401 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-04357-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is a common glomerular disease in childhood, and the immunological involvement in the pathogenesis of non-genetic INS, although not fully elucidated, is evident. This narrative review aims to offer a concise and in-depth view of the current knowledge on the immunological mechanisms of the development of INS as well as the role of the immunological components of the disease in the responsiveness to treatment. T cell immunity appears to play a major role in the INS immunopathogenesis and has been the first to be linked to the disease. Various T cell immunophenotypes are implicated in INS, including T-helper-1, T-helper-2, T-helper-17, and T regulatory cells, and various cytokines have been proposed as surrogate biomarkers of the disease; however, no distinct T helper or cytokine profile has been conclusively linked to the disease. More recently, the recognition of the role of B cell mediated immunity and the various B cell subsets that are dysregulated in patients with INS have led to new hypotheses on the underlying immunological causes of INS. Finally, the disambiguation of the exact mechanisms of the INS development in the future may be the key to the development of more targeted personalized approaches in managing INS. CONCLUSIONS INS demonstrates particularly interesting immunopathogenetic pathways, in which multiple interactions between T cell and B cell immunity and the podocyte are involved. The disambiguation of these pathways will provide promising novel therapeutic targets in INS. WHAT IS KNOWN • INS is the most common glomerular disease in the paediatric population, and its onset and relapses have been linked to various immunological triggers. • Multiple immunological mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of INS; however, no single distinct immunological profile has been recognized. WHAT IS NEW • Th17 cells and Treg cells play an important role in the immune dysregulation in INS. • Transitional B cell levels as well as the transitional/memory B cell ratio have been correlated to nephrotic relapses and have been proposed as biomarkers of INS relapses in SSNS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Kitsou
- Immunobiology and Vaccinology Research Laboratory, First Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Varvara Askiti
- Department of Nephrology, "P. and A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Andromachi Mitsioni
- Department of Nephrology, "P. and A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vana Spoulou
- Immunobiology and Vaccinology Research Laboratory, First Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Zheng Y, He X, Hou L, Wang X, Zhao C, Du Y. Study on the relationship between nephrotic syndrome and atopic diseases in childhood. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:992862. [PMID: 36313887 PMCID: PMC9606657 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.992862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to explore the relationship between nephrotic syndrome and atopic diseases in childhood. METHODS From 2018 to 2019, 234 children with first-onset primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) were selected for observation and long-term follow-up, and the clinical and laboratory data. To compare the levels of total serum IgE, histamine and bradykinin of the same children at the time of first onset, remission and relapse of PNS. The extent of podocyte foot process effacement was compared between the urinary protein negative-conversion group and the proteinuric group with the NS range. The correlation between the urine protein quantification and the extent of foot process effacement was also observed. RESULTS (1) The mean age of 234 children with first-onset PNS was 4.82 ± 3.63 years, with a male to female ratio of 162/72. (2) There were 109 cases (46.58%) with concomitant atopic diseases (AD) and 151 cases (64.53%) with elevated levels of total serum IgE. There were 136 cases with recurrence during the follow-up, of which recurrence due to allergy-related factors was greater than that due to infection-related factors. (3) The total IgE and bradykinin serum levels were significantly higher in children with first-onset PNS and recurrent PNS compared with those in remission, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The level of histamine in children with first-onset PNS was higher than that in children with remission (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the level of histamine between children in the recurrence group and those in the remission group (P > 0.05). (4) There was no significant difference in the extent of foot process effacement between the urinary protein negative-conversion group and the proteinuric group with the NS range. There was no significant correlation between the proteinuria quantification and the extent of foot process effacement. CONCLUSION There existed a high co-morbidity with AD in children with PNS, and allergy-related factors might be an important recurrence factor in children with PNS. The injury to the filtration barrier in MCD might not only be correlated with podocyte lesions but also with some serum permeability factors. Serum IgE, histamine, and bradykinin might be the plasma permeability factors in children with PNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zheng
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xuehui He
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ling Hou
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiuli Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chengguang Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yue Du
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Lee JM, Ko Y, Lee CH, Jeon N, Lee KH, Oh J, Kronbichler A, Saleem MA, Lim BJ, Shin JI. The Effect of Interleukin-4 and Dexamethasone on RNA-Seq-Based Transcriptomic Profiling of Human Podocytes: A Potential Role in Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10030496. [PMID: 33535372 PMCID: PMC7866993 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10030496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-4 (IL-4) expression is implicated in the pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome (NS). This study aimed to investigate the changes in the transcriptomes of human podocytes induced by IL-4 treatment and to analyze whether these changes could be affected by simultaneous steroid treatment. Three groups of human podocytes were treated with control, IL-4, and IL-4 plus dexamethasone (DEX), respectively. We performed whole-transcriptome sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the groups. We investigated relevant biological pathways using Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses. We also attempted to compare and validate the DEGs with the genes listed in PodNet, a literature-based database on mouse podocyte genes. A total of 176 genes were differentially expressed among the three groups. GO analyses showed that pathways related to cytoskeleton organization and cell signaling were significantly enriched. Among them, 24 genes were listed in PodNet, and 12 of them were previously reported to be associated with IL-4-induced changes in human podocytes. Of the 12 genes, the expression levels of BMP4, RARB, and PLCE1 were reversed when podocytes were simultaneously treated with DEX. In conclusion, this study explored changes in the transcriptome profiles of human podocytes treated with IL-4. Few genes were reported in previous studies and were previously validated in experiments with human podocytes. We speculate that IL-4 may exert pathogenic effects on the transcriptome of human podocytes, and a few genes may be involved in the pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwon M. Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Chungnam National University Hospital and College of Medicine, Daejeon 35015, Korea;
| | - Younhee Ko
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Gyeonggi-do 17035, Korea;
| | - Chul Ho Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea; (C.H.L.); (K.H.L.)
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Severance Children’s Hospital, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Nara Jeon
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea;
| | - Keum Hwa Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea; (C.H.L.); (K.H.L.)
| | - Jun Oh
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Andreas Kronbichler
- Department of Internal Medicine IV (Nephrology and Hypertension), Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Moin A. Saleem
- Children’s and Renal Unit and Bristol Renal, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8BJ, UK;
| | - Beom Jin Lim
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea;
- Correspondence: (B.J.L.); (J.I.S.)
| | - Jae Il Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea; (C.H.L.); (K.H.L.)
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Severance Children’s Hospital, Seoul 03722, Korea
- Institute of Kidney Disease Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
- Correspondence: (B.J.L.); (J.I.S.)
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Abstract
Finding new therapeutic targets of glomerulosclerosis treatment is an ongoing quest. Due to a living environment of various stresses and pathological stimuli, podocytes are prone to injuries; moreover, as a cell without proliferative potential, loss of podocytes is vital in the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis. Thus, sufficient understanding of factors and underlying mechanisms of podocyte injury facilitates the advancement of treating and prevention of glomerulosclerosis. The clinical symptom of podocyte injury is proteinuria, sometimes with loss of kidney functions progressing to glomerulosclerosis. Injury-induced changes in podocyte physiology and function are actually not a simple passive process, but a complex interaction of proteins that comprise the anatomical structure of podocytes at molecular levels. This chapter lists several aspects of podocyte injuries along with potential mechanisms, including glucose and lipid metabolism disorder, hypertension, RAS activation, micro-inflammation, immune disorder, and other factors. These aspects are not technically separated items, but intertwined with each other in the pathogenesis of podocyte injuries.
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