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Wang X, Song M, Li X, Su C, Yang Y, Wang K, Liu C, Zheng Z, Jia Y, Ren S, Dong W, Chen J, Wang T, Liu L, Guan M, Zhang C, Xue Y. CERS6-derived ceramides aggravate kidney fibrosis by inhibiting PINK1-mediated mitophagy in diabetic kidney disease. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C538-C549. [PMID: 37458434 PMCID: PMC10511179 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00144.2023] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
During diabetic kidney disease (DKD), ectopic ceramide (CER) accumulation in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) is associated with interstitial fibrosis and albuminuria. As RTECs are primarily responsible for renal energy metabolism, their function is intimately linked to mitochondrial quality control. The role of CER synthesis in the progression of diabetic renal fibrosis has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we observed a significant upregulation of ceramide synthase 6 (Cers6) expression in the renal cortex of db/db mice, coinciding with increased production of CER (d18:1/14:0) and CER (d18:1/16:0) by Cer6. Concurrently, the number of damaged mitochondria in RTECs rose. Cers6 deficiency reduced the abnormal accumulation of CER (d18:1/14:0) and CER (d18:1/16:0) in the kidney cortex, restoring the PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1)-mediated mitophagy in RTECs, and resulting in a decrease in damaged mitochondria and attenuation of interstitial fibrosis in DKD. Automated docking analysis suggested that both CER (d18:1/14:0) and CER (d18:1/16:0) could bind to the PINK1 protein. Furthermore, inhibiting PINK1 expression in CERS6 knockdown HK-2 cells diminished the therapeutic effect of CERS6 deficiency on DKD. In summary, CERS6-derived CER (d18:1/14:0) and CER (d18:1/16:0) inhibit PINK1-regulated mitophagy by possibly binding to the PINK1 protein, thereby exacerbating the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis in DKD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This article addresses the roles of ceramide synthase 6 (CERS6) and CERS6-derived ceramides in renal tubular epithelial cells of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) associated interstitial fibrosis. Results from knockdown of CERS6 adjusted the ceramide pool in kidney cortex and markedly protected from diabetic-induced kidney fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. Mechanically, CERS6-derived ceramides might interact with PINK1 to inhibit PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy and aggravate renal interstitial fibrosis in DKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Wang
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Minkai Song
- Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaomin Li
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Cailin Su
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanlin Yang
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Wang
- Division of Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuiting Liu
- Central Laboratory, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zongji Zheng
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yijie Jia
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shijing Ren
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhui Dong
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaqi Chen
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Single Cell Technology and Application, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lerong Liu
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Meiping Guan
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Single Cell Technology and Application, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaoming Xue
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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