EP1 receptor mediates Adriamycin-induced podocyte injury through activating p38 MAPK

Objective To investigate the effect of prostaglandin E2 receptor 1 (EP1) on Adriamycin (ADR)-induced glomerular podocytes injury and its possible mechanism. Methods (1) In vivo experiments: 6-8 weeks old male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control group; ADR group; EP1 agonist 17-phenyl PGE2+ADR group; EP1 antagonist SC-19220+ADR group. The mouse model of nephrotic syndrome was induced by injection of ADR (10 mg/kg) into tail vein, and then EP1 agonist (1 μg/g) and antagonist (25 μg/g) were administered respectively. Six weeks later, all mice were sacrificed and urine, blood and kidney tissues were collected. Detecting urine protein, blood chemistry, changes of renal pathology and podocyte-related proteins, electron microscopy changes of podocytes. (2) In vitro experiments: Podocytes were cultured in vitro and divided into different groups: Control group; ADR group (0.2 μmol/L); EP1 agonist (0.1, 1, 10 μmol/L)+ADR (0.2 μmol/L) group; antagonist (0.1, 0.5, 1 μmol/L)+ADR (0.2 μmol/L) group. The proliferation of podocytes was measured by CCK-8. Expression of PGE2 in podocytes was detected by ELISA. Indirect immunofluorescence was used to determine the localization of podocyte-related proteins nephrin, podocin and CD2AP. Expression of nephrin, podocin, CD2AP, COX2 in podocytes was detected by Western blotting and Real-time quantitative PCR. p38 MAPK or phospho-p38 MAPK was measured by Western blotting as well. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. Results (1) In vivo experiments: Compared with control group, obvious proteinuria, blood biochemical changes and renal pathological changes were observed in ADR group, proteinuria, blood biochemical and renal pathological changes were more serious in mice dealt with agonist, while antagonist could reduce ADR-induced injury (all P＜0.05). Results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of podocyte-related proteins nephrin, podocin and CD2AP in ADR group were significantly lower than those in control group, and EP1 agonist could further inhibit expression of these proteins, while antagonist could reverse this inhibitory effects (P＜0.05). Electron microscopic results showed that mice in ADR group appeared foot enlargement and fusion, and the agonist group further aggravated the injury, while antagonist intervention could inhibit the injury of podocytes. (2) In vitro experiments: Compared with control group, expression of PGE2 and COX2 were increased; mRNA and protein expression of nephrin, podocin, CD2AP were decreased, p38 MAPK activity and podocytes apoptosis were increased in ADR group (P＜0.05); Agonist could aggravate podocytes damage (P＜0.05), while Antagonist could down-regulate the expression of PGE2 and COX2, promote the expression of nephrin, podocin and CD2AP, and inhibit the activity of p38 MAPK and podocytes apoptosis (P＜0.05). The addition of p38 MAPK inhibitor(10 μmol/L) could reduce the inhibitory effect of EP1 agonist on the expression of podocyte-related proteins nephrin, podocin and CD2AP (P＜0.05). Conclusions EP1 receptor may activate the p38 MAPK signaling pathway to inhibit podocytes-related proteins nephrin, podocin and CD2AP, as well as mediate the ADR induced podocyte injury. Inhibition of EP1 receptor however have a protective effect.     

Triptolide protects podocytes from puromycin aminonucleoside induced injury in vivo and in vitro

Extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F have been used to treat glomerulonephritis for more than 30 years in China with dramatic antiproteinuric effects. Triptolide, a diterpene triepoxide, is one of the major active components of these extracts. To clarify its antiproteinuric effects we induced podocyte injury by puromycin aminonucleoside. Triptolide effectively reduced the proteinuria induced by puromycin in nephrotic rats without reducing the glomerular filtration rate. The antiproteinuric effect was associated with improvement in the foot process effacement, a decrease in the podocyte injury marker desmin as well as the restoration of nephrin and podocin expression and distribution. In cultured mouse podocytes triptolide pretreatment prevented the puromycin-induced disruption of the actin cytoskeleton and microfilament-associated synaptopodin while protecting nephrin and podocin expression. Triptolide suppressed reactive oxygen species generation and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation while restoring RhoA signaling activity. These results show that triptolide ameliorates puromycin aminonucleoside-mediated podocyte injury in vivo and in vitro.     

Thiazolidinedione attenuate proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis in Adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats via slit diaphragm protection

Aim:   The slit diaphragm (SD) of podocyte impairment contributes to massive proteinuria and progressive glomerulosclerosis in many human glomerular diseases. The aim of the study was to determine if thiazolidinedione (TZD) reduce proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) by preserving the structure and function of SD.
Methods:   Adriamycin-induced FSGS rat models were employed. Urinary protein content was measured dynamically during the experiment. Additional biochemical parameters in serum samples were measured after the animals were killed. Glomerular sclerosis index (SI) and podocyte foot processes fusion rate (PFR) were evaluated. The protein and mRNA expressing levels of nephrin, podocin and CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) in glomeruli were assessed by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The density of podocytes was also evaluated after anti-Wilms' tumour-1 immunohistochemical staining.
Results:   Rosiglitazone treatment partially reduced proteinuria, but did not significantly affect the serum levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, albumin, glucose, urea nitrogen and creatinine in Adriamycin-induced FSGS rats. Glomerular SI and podocyte foot PFR were significantly attenuated by rosiglitazone treatment. Rosiglitazone prevented the reduction of nephrin, podocin and CD2AP protein expression induced by Adriamycin, however, the mRNA expression levels of these SD-related markers did not change significantly. Rosiglitazone therapy did not reverse Adriamycin-mediated reduction of the density of podocytes.
Conclusions:   The study data suggest that TZD are promising therapeutic agents on FSGS, and the mechanism may be mediated in part by directly protecting the structure and function of SD.     

Protective effect ofACTH4-10 on adriamycin-induced podocyte injury

Objective To observe the influence of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH4-10) in the changes of podocyte proliferation, apoptosis and expression of nephrin and podocin on adriamycin(ADR) -induced podocyte injury and investigate the protective effect ofACTH4-10. Methods All podocytes were randomly divided into following groups: normal control, ADR-induced group andACTH4-10 intervention group (low, middle and high concentration). Normal control group was not treated, ADR-induced group was induced to set the model of podocyte injury by ADR (1 μmol/L) for 24 hours andACTH4-10 intervention groups were intervened by 1 μg/L, 10 μg/L and 100 μg/LACTH4-10 for 1 hours respectively, prior to setting the model of podocyte injury. Cell counting kit (CCK-8) was used to detect the multiplication of podocytes and TUNEL apoptosis detection kit was used to detect podocyte apoptosis. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to examine the expression of nephrin and podocin. Results Compared with control group, podocyte proliferation and expression of nephrin and podocin was decreased significantly in ADR-induced group (P＜0.05), meanwhile podocyte apoptosis was increased obviously (38.14% vs 5.12%). Compared with ADR-induced group, podocyte proliferation and expression of nephrin and podocin was increased generally with concentration ofACTH4-10. Although podocyte apoptosis rates (20.45%, 17.39%, 11.02%) were increased inACTH4-10 intervention group (low, middle and high concentration) while comparing with normal control group, podocyte apoptosis decreased obviously while comparing with ADR-induced group. ConclusionsACTH4-10 can stabilize the expression of nephrin and podocin on slid diaphragm, and has the protective effect on podocyte injury induced by ADR, while the effect depends on the concentration ofACTH4-10.     

三种不同药物作用下足细胞分子的变化

目的 从足细胞分子的角度探讨抗蛋白尿药物作用的细胞分子机制。方法 建立阿霉素肾病大鼠模型。注射阿霉素后次日分别给予利生普利、泼尼松以及全反式维甲酸(ATRA)干预蛋白尿。注射阿霉素后第3、7、14、28 天每组处死6 只大鼠，留取肾脏标本。应用间接免疫荧光染色、实时PCR、Western印迹分别检测各个时间点nephrin、podocin、CD2相关蛋白(AP)、α辅肌动蛋白(actinin)-4 的分布、mRNA 和蛋白表达量的变化。应用免疫沉淀检测nephrin 与podocin、nephrin与CD2AP 分子间作用以及nephrin 磷酸化水平。结果 与对照组相比，第14天时肾病组尿蛋白显著增加(P < 0.01)。与肾病组相比，利生普利、泼尼松和ATRA干预后均显著降低了蛋白尿( P < 0.05)， 减轻了足突融合。通过分析不同时间点足细胞分子的表达，显示3种干预药物均引起了nephrin、podocin、CD2AP 表达的变化，维持了正常的nephrin 磷酸化水平，而且利生普利和泼尼松首先抑制了podocin 分子，而ATRA首先抑制了CD2AP 分子的异常变化。与此同时，nephrin、podocin、CD2AP 和α-actinin-4 分子的分布在干预后也趋于正常。此外，无论在肾病组还是干预组大鼠，nephrin 与podocin、nephrin 与CD2AP 分子间一直保持着共沉淀关系。 结论 利生普利、泼尼松和ATRA 都通过稳定重要的足细胞分子nephrin、podocin、CD2AP 来发挥它们的抗蛋白尿作用。     

Podocyte-specific deletion of integrin-linked kinase results in severe glomerular basement membrane alterations and progressive glomerulosclerosis

Alterations in glomerular podocyte cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts are key events in progressive glomerular failure. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) has been implicated in podocyte cell-matrix interaction and is induced in proteinuria. For evaluation of ILK function in vivo, mice with a Cre-mediated podocyte-specific ILK inactivation were generated. These mice seemed normal at birth but developed progressive focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and died in terminal renal failure. The first ultrastructural lesions that are seen at onset of albuminuria are glomerular basement membrane (GBM) alterations with a significant increase in true harmonic mean GBM thickness. Podocyte foot process effacement and loss of slit diaphragm followed with progression to unselective proteinuria. No significant reduction of slit membrane molecules (podocin and nephrin), key GBM components (fibronectin, laminins, and collagen IV isoforms), or podocyte integrins could be observed at onset of proteinuria. However, alpha3-integrins were relocalized into a granular pattern along the GBM, consistent with altered integrin-mediated matrix assembly in ILK-deficient podocytes. As the increased GBM thickness precedes structural podocyte lesions and key components of the GBM were expressed at comparable levels to controls, these data suggest an essential role of ILK for the close interconnection of GBM structure and podocyte function.     

Prorenin receptor is essential for normal podocyte structure and function

The prorenin receptor is an accessory subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase, suggesting that it has fundamental functions beyond activation of the local renin-angiotensin system. Podocytes express the prorenin receptor, but its function in these cells is unknown. Here, podocyte-specific, conditional, prorenin receptor-knockout mice died of kidney failure and severe proteinuria within 4 weeks of birth. The podocytes of these mice exhibited foot process effacement with reduced and altered localization of the slit-diaphragm proteins nephrin and podocin. Furthermore, the podocytes contained numerous autophagic vacuoles, confirmed by enhanced accumulation of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-positive intracellular vesicles. Ablation of the prorenin receptor selectively suppressed expression of the V(0) c-subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase in podocytes, resulting in deacidification of intracellular vesicles. In conclusion, the prorenin receptor is important for the maintenance of normal podocyte structure and function.     

The relationship among nephrin, podocin, CD2AP, and alpha-actinin might not be a true 'interaction' in podocyte

The abnormality of a single podocyte molecule, caused by a single gene mutation, such as NPHS1, NPHS2, CD2AP, and ACTN4, can lead to the hereditary/congenital nephrotic syndromes (NS). Further studies suggested that more than one podocyte molecule were together involved in acquired or experimental NS. However, we do not know much on the relationship among these podocyte molecules, and the molecular response induced by the change of each podocyte protein to the remaining ones. We respectively knockdown the nephrin, podocin, CD2AP, or alpha-actinin-4 mRNA by using reconstructed RNA interference vector--psiRNA-hH1GFPzeo in mouse podocyte clone. The molecular behavior or response was revealed by the quantitative expression both at mRNA and protein levels with RT-PCR and Western blot, and by the molecular distribution detected with confocal microscopy. With nephrin knockdown, only CD2AP increased, whereas podocin showed no change. Contrarily, with podocin or CD2AP knockdown, nephrin decreased, while CD2AP or podocin increased. Nephrin, podocin, or CD2AP knockdown did not change the expression of alpha-actinin-4, whereas alpha-actinin-4 knockdown begetted the reduction of nephrin, and the increment of podocin and CD2AP. The redistributions of nephrin, podocin, and CD2AP were revealed around a predominant nuclear staining compared with the membrane surface staining in the control podocytes. Our data imply that the response between the four podocyte molecules is very complicated and evidently different. There is not always an interaction between podocyte molecules. The normal localization of podocyte molecules would depend on their normal expression quantity and the molecular reactions between them.     

血管紧张素Ⅱ灌注诱导nephrin表达改变与足细胞凋亡

目的 研究血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）灌注对大鼠足细胞裂隙膜分子nephrin表达及足细胞凋亡的影响，以及探讨AngⅡ引起蛋白尿及肾小球硬化的机制。方法 36只雄性Sprague Dawley大鼠分为AngⅡ灌注组(400 ng&#8226;kg-1&#8226;min-1)、生理盐水灌注组和正常对照组，测定28 d内大鼠血压及尿蛋白。分别于14、28 d处死动物取肾，观察组织学改变，并用免疫荧光、免疫电镜检测nephrin分布。RT-PCR及Western印迹法分别检测nephrin mRNA及蛋白表达。TUNEL法检测足细胞凋亡。结果 (1) AngⅡ灌注组大鼠血压升高，14 d达峰值并维持该水平至28 d；AngⅡ灌注7 d即出现蛋白尿，并持续增加。(2) AngⅡ灌注14 d时，足细胞裂隙膜变窄；灌注28 d时，足突增宽及节段性融合，部分足细胞有凋亡小体形成，少数肾小球出现节段性硬化。TUNEL法检测发现足细胞凋亡[（2.7±1.6）个/肾小球切面]，凋亡数与蛋白尿量呈正相关（r = 0.86，P < 0.01）。(3) AngⅡ灌注14 d时，肾皮质nephrin mRNA及蛋白表达上调（P < 0.05）。nephrin由正常的沿毛细血管袢线状分布向粗颗粒、团块状分布模式转变。AngⅡ灌注28 d时，肾皮质nephrin mRNA及蛋白表达下降（P < 0.05），且nephrin蛋白表达与足细胞凋亡数呈负相关（r = －0.63，P < 0.01）。 结论 AngⅡ灌注诱导的nephrin表达及分布改变可能导致了足细胞凋亡及肾小球硬化的发生与发展。     

Overexpression of interleukin-13 induces minimal-change-like nephropathy in rats

IL-13 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of minimal-change nephrotic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the role of IL-13 on the development of proteinuria and expression of podocyte-related genes that are associated with nephrotic syndrome. IL-13 was overexpressed in Wistar rats through transfection of a mammalian expression vector cloned with the rat IL-13 gene, into the quadriceps by in vivo electroporation. Serum IL-13, albumin, cholesterol, and creatinine and urine albumin were measured serially. Kidneys were harvested after day 70 for histology and electron microscopy. Glomerular gene expression of nephrin, podocin, dystroglycan, B7-1, and IL-13 receptor subunits were examined using real-time PCR with hybridization probes and expressed as an index against beta-actin. Protein expression of these molecules was determined by immunofluorescence staining. The IL-13-transfected rats (n = 41) showed significant albuminuria, hypoalbuminemia, and hypercholesterolemia when compared with control rats (n = 17). No significant histologic changes were seen in glomeruli of IL-13-transfected rats. However, electron microscopy showed up to 80% of podocyte foot process fusion. Glomerular gene expression was significantly upregulated for B7-1, IL-4Ralpha, and IL-13Ralpha2 but downregulated for nephrin, podocin, and dystroglycan. Immunofluorescence staining intensity was reduced for nephrin, podocin, and dystroglycan but increased for B7-1 and IL-4Ralpha in IL-13-transfected rats compared with controls. In conclusion, these results suggest that IL-13 overexpression in the rat could lead to podocyte injury with downregulation of nephrin, podocin, and dystroglycan and a concurrent upregulation of B7-1 in the glomeruli, inducing a minimal change-like nephropathy that is characterized by increased proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia, and fusion of podocyte foot processes.     

Induction of progressive glomerulonephritis by podocyte-specific overexpression of platelet-derived growth factor-D

Platelet-derived growth factor-D (PDGF-D), normally expressed in podocytes, mediates mesangial cell proliferation in vivo. To study this further, we created transgenic mice with podocyte-specific overexpression of PDGF-D. Hemizygous mice were grossly indistinguishable from wild-type littermates through 11 months of age; however, hemizygous mice older than 4 weeks commonly exhibited increased cell proliferation within the glomerular tuft. Many hemizygous mice also developed widespread segmental glomerulosclerosis and focal extracapillary proliferation with fibrin/fibrinogen deposition, extensive tubulointerstitial damage, proteinuria, and renal insufficiency. Electron microscopy found focal foot process effacement. Renal mRNA expression of podocin and nephrin, as well as the number of glomerular WT-1-positive cells, were significantly reduced in hemizygous compared to wild-type mice, indicating loss and/or dedifferentation of podocytes. PDGF-A, -B, and both PDGF receptor chain mRNAs, fibronectin, type IV collagen, RANTES, MCP-1, and CCR-2 mRNAs were all increased in the renal cortex of PDGF-D transgenic mice. Only 8.5% of newborn mice were homozygous overexpressors exhibiting a mortality rate of 37% at 4 weeks. Thus, podocyte-specific overexpression of PDGF-D caused mesangioproliferative disease, glomerulosclerosis, and crescentic glomerulonephritis. Hence, podocyte-specific growth factor overexpression can induce paracrine mesangial cell proliferation upstream of the filtration flow.     

Inducible podocyte injury and proteinuria in transgenic zebrafish

Damage or loss of podocytes causes glomerulosclerosis in murine models, and mutations in podocyte-specific genes cause nephrotic syndrome in humans. Zebrafish provide a valuable model for kidney research, but disruption of pronephroi leads to death within a few days, thereby preventing the study of CKD. In this study, we generated an inducible model of podocyte injury in zebrafish (pod::NTR-mCherry) by expressing a bacterial nitroreductase, which converts metronidazole to a cytotoxin, specifically in podocytes under the control of the zebrafish nphs2/podocin promoter. Application of the prodrug metronidazole to the transgenic fish induces acute damage to the podocytes in pronephroi of larval zebrafish and the mesonephroi of adult zebrafish, resulting in foot-process effacement and podocyte loss. We also developed a functional assay of the glomerular filtration barrier by creating transgenic zebrafish expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) as a tracer for proteinuria. In the VDBP-GFP and pod::NTR-mCherry double-transgenic fish, induction of podocyte damage led to whole-body edema, and the proximal tubules reabsorbed and accumulated VDBP-GFP that leaked through the glomeruli, mimicking the phenotype of human nephrotic syndrome. Moreover, expression of wt1b::GFP, a marker for the developing nephron, extended into the Bowman capsule in response to podocyte injury, suggesting that zebrafish have a podocyte-specific repair process known to occur in mammalian metanephros. These data support the use of these transgenic zebrafish as a model system for studies of glomerular pathogenesis and podocyte regeneration.     

The effect of acteoside on puromycin nephropathy and podocyte injury model

Objective To explore the effect of acteoside (one of the ingredients of Total Glycosides Extracted from Rehmannia capsules) on treatment of proteinuria and protection of podocytes. Methods In this study, puromycin nephropathy rat model was successfully established. After detecting the degree of proteinuria, the expression of podocyte injury markers and the degree of podocyte foot process fusion were investigated by electron microscope. In addition, puromycin treated podocyte injury model was also successfully established in vitro. Podocyte viability, migration, cytoskeleton and injury marker were detected. Results In vivo study showed that acteoside could effectively reduce proteinuria (P＜0.05), restore the expression of podocyte injury markers such as nephrin and synaptopodin (all P＜0.05), and alleviate the degree of podocyte foot process fusion. In vitro study showed that acteoside could effectively restored podocyte viability (P＜0.05), reduce abnormal migration ability (P＜0.05), protecte cytoskeleton and restore the expression of podocyte injury marker nephrin (P＜0.05). Conclusions This study confirms that acteoside can reduce the degree of proteinuria in puromycin nephropathy rat model in vivo and alleviate the degree of podocyte injury in vitro as well as enrich the molecular mechanism of Total Glycosides Extracted from Rehmannia capsules in treatment of proteinuria.     

足细胞与Alport综合征蛋白尿的关系

目的 探讨足细胞与Alport综合征（AS）蛋白尿的关系。 方法 AS 患者21例,男13例,女8例,根据24 h尿蛋白量将患者分3组, 10例<30 mg/kg为轻度蛋白尿组, 4例30~50 mg/kg为中度蛋白尿组,7例>50 mg/kg为重度蛋白尿组。正常肾组织对照3例。电镜下根据平均足突宽度=л/4×（Σ基底膜长度/Σ足突个数）,计算每例患者足突宽度。分析足突宽度与蛋白尿关系。用免疫组化方法分析肾组织中裂孔隔膜分子nephrin、podocin和细胞骨架分子synaptopodin的表达。 结果 AS患者肾小球足细胞足突宽度（420~2270 nm）与24 h尿蛋白量呈正相关（r = 0.765,P < 0.01）。轻度蛋白尿组足突宽度[475（420~900 nm）]显著低于重度蛋白尿组[1520（480~2270） nm]（P < 0.05）。重度蛋白尿组患儿nephrin和podocin表达分布发生改变;表现为弥漫足突融合者synaptopodin表达分布发生改变。2例蛋白尿病程较短（1年）患儿无弥漫足突融合,synaptopodin分布正常,但nephrin和podocin分布异常。 结论 肾小球足细胞足突融合、裂孔隔膜及足细胞骨架分子参与AS患儿大量蛋白尿的发生,裂孔隔膜损伤似乎早于足细胞骨架改变。对蛋白尿早期干预可能有助于延缓疾病进展。     

Fluvastatin ameliorates podocyte injury in proteinuric rats via modulation of excessive Rho signaling

Statins have been reported to confer renoprotection in several experimental models of renal disease through pleiotropic actions. The roles of statins in glomerular podocytes have not been explored. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of fluvastatin on podocyte and tubulointerstitial injury in puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced nephrosis. PAN induced massive proteinuria and serum creatinine elevation on day 7, which were significantly suppressed by fluvastatin. Immunofluorescence studies of podocyte-associated proteins nephrin and podocin revealed diminished and discontinuous staining patterns in rats with PAN nephrosis, indicating severe podocyte injury. Fluvastatin treatment dramatically mitigated the abnormal staining profiles. Reduction of nephrin expression by PAN and its reversal by fluvastatin were confirmed by quantitative analyses. By electron microscopy, effacement of foot processes was ameliorated in fluvastatin-treated rats. Fluvastatin also mitigated tubulointerstitial damage in PAN nephrosis, with the repression of PAN-induced NF-kappaB and activator protein-1 activation in the kidneys. In addition, expression of activated membrane-bound small GTPase RhoA was markedly increased in the glomeruli of PAN nephrosis, which was inhibited by fluvastatin treatment. In cultured podocytes, fluvastatin suppressed PAN-evoked activation of RhoA and actin cytoskeletal reorganization. Furthermore, fasudil, a specific Rho-kinase inhibitor, successfully ameliorated PAN-induced podocyte damage and proteinuria. In summary, fluvastatin alleviated podocyte and tubulointerstitial injury in PAN nephrosis. The beneficial effects of fluvastatin on podocytes can be attributable to direct modulation of excessive RhoA activity. Our data suggest a therapeutic role for statins in clinical conditions that are relevant to podocyte injury.     

1,25(OH)2D3 ameliorates high glucose-induced podocyte injury via PI3K/p-Akt signalling pathway

Objective To investigate the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on high glucose induced podocyte injury and its signal transduction mechanism. Methods Differentiated mouse podocytes were exposed to normal glucose, high glucose, and different concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 or LY294002 (a selective PI3K inhibitor) for 24 h. PCR and immunofluorescent staining were used to detect nephrin, podocin, and desmin. Western blotting was used to detect protein expression of nephrin, podocin, desmin, PI3K, Akt and p-Akt. Results Compared with high glucose group, 1,25(OH)2D3 (100 nmol/L and 1000 nmol/L) significantly up-regulated the expression of podocin and nephrin in podocytes induced by high glucose (P＜0.05). Meanwhile, 1,25(OH)2D3 (100 nmol/L) significantly reduced the expression of desmin (P＜0.05). PI3K and p-Akt were obviously reduced in high glucose group. In the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3, the trends were reversed. However the above effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 were abolished when p-Akt was blocked by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Conclusions 1,25 (OH)2D3 can inhibit high glucose-induced podocyte injury through PI3K/p-Akt signaling pathway.     

Retinoic acid inhibits HIV-1-induced podocyte proliferation through the cAMP pathway

HIV-associated nephropathy is characterized by renal podocyte proliferation and dedifferentiation. This study found that all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) reverses the effects of HIV-1 infection in podocytes. Treatment with atRA reduced cell proliferation rate by causing G1 arrest and restored the expression of the differentiation markers (synaptopodin, nephrin, podocin, and WT-1) in HIV-1-infected podocytes. It is interesting that both atRA and 9-cis RA increased intracellular cAMP levels in podocytes. Podocytes expressed most isoforms of retinoic acid receptors (RAR) and retinoid X receptors (RXR) with the exception of RXRgamma. RARalpha antagonists blocked atRA-induced cAMP production and its antiproliferative and prodifferentiation effects on podocytes, suggesting that RARalpha is required. For determination of the effect of increased intracellular cAMP on HIV-infected podocytes, cells were stimulated with either forskolin or 8-bromo-cAMP. Both compounds inhibited cell proliferation significantly and restored synaptopodin expression in HIV-infected podocytes. The effects of atRA were abolished by Rp-cAMP, an inhibitor of the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway and were enhanced by rolipram, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4, suggesting that the antiproliferative and prodifferentiation effects of atRA on HIV-infected podocytes are cAMP dependent. Furthermore, both atRA and forskolin suppressed HIV-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 and 2 and Stat3 phosphorylation. In vivo, atRA reduced proteinuria, cell proliferation, and glomerulosclerosis in HIV-1-transgenic mice. These findings suggest that atRA reverses the abnormal phenotype in HIV-1-infected podocytes by stimulating RARalpha-mediated intracellular cAMP production. These results demonstrate the mechanism by which atRA reverses the proliferation of podocytes that is induced by HIV-1.     

Glomerular expression of nephrin and synaptopodin, but not podocin, is decreased in kidney sections from women with preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. In other disease states, proteinuria has been linked to altered expressions of podocyte foot-process proteins, but this has not been studied in women with preeclampsia. We sought to test the hypothesis that proteinuria in preeclampsia is associated with dysregulated expression of the podocyte cytoskeleton and/or tight junction proteins. METHODS: Renal tissue was obtained from autopsy material from seven women who had severe preeclampsia during the second half of their pregnancies up to 48 h after delivery, and who subsequently died. As controls, we used autopsy material from two women who died accidentally during the second half of their otherwise normal pregnancies. Immunohistochemical stains for nephrin, synaptopodin and podocin were performed on representative sections prepared from paraffin-embedded material. RESULTS: Expression of both nephrin and synaptopodin was markedly decreased in preeclamptic compared with control kidney sections. By contrast, both cases and controls demonstrated strong staining for podocin. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that down-regulation of nephrin and synaptopodin is associated with proteinuria in women with preeclampsia. Recent studies have demonstrated that soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (sFlt-1) levels are elevated in preeclampsia compared with normal pregnancy. Studies in mice have shown that sFlt-1 may play a role in inducing proteinuria by neutralizing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and suppressing nephrin. Proteinuria and elevations of sFlt-1 in preeclampsia are temporally related, further supporting a possible role of sFlt-1 in the dysregulation of podocyte foot-process proteins.