低氧诱导因子1α高表达对小鼠急性缺血性肾损伤的影响

目的 探讨低氧预处理诱导低氧诱导因子1α（HIF-1α）高表达对小鼠肾缺血再灌注损伤（IRI）的影响及其可能机制。 方法 雄性C57BL/6N小鼠35只，随机分为健康对照组、氯化钴（CoCl2）组和8%O2组，每组10只；预处理12 h后，以上3组各取5只，分为缺血再灌注（IR）组、CoCl2＋IR组、8%O2＋IR组；另设5只作为假手术对照组。采用夹闭双侧肾蒂30 min的方法建立肾缺血动物模型，观察CoCl2和8％O2预处理对小鼠IR 24 h后肾功能、肾组织病理和相关肾损伤指标的影响及与CoCl2和8％O2诱导HIF-1α及其保护性靶基因血红素氧化酶1（HO-1）表达之间的关系。 结果 CoCl2＋IR组小鼠的肾功能[BUN (35.2±12.2) mmol/L，Scr (34.0±9.7) μmol/L]和8%O2＋IR组小鼠的肾功能[BUN (31.8±9.1) mmol/L，Scr (41.6±10.6) μmol/L]均较IR组[BUN (65.8±2.6) mmol/L，Scr (229.5±11.2) μmol/L]显著改善（P < 0.01）；与此相一致，CoCl2＋IR组和8%O2＋IR组的病理学改变、细胞凋亡程度和波形蛋白的表达均明显低于IR组。另外，CoCl2组和8%O2组中HIF-1α及其靶基因HO-1的表达明显高于健康对照组。 结论 低氧预处理可上调体内HIF-1α表达，对小鼠IRI肾脏具有良好保护效果     

Oxygen as a regulator of MA-10 cell functions: effect of cobalt chloride on vascular endothelial growth factor production

Mammalian testis functions at a temperature and oxygen tension (pO(2)) lower than the core body. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) mediates the adaptive responses to hypoxia such as production of angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a variety of cells and tissues. VEGF production in Leydig cells is stimulated by luteinising hormone (LH)/cAMP. We have conducted experiments to find out whether HIF-1α is involved in LH/cAMP-induced secretion of VEGF by Leydig cell-derived MA-10 cells. Both cobalt chloride (CoCl(2)), an inducer of hypoxia, and 8-Br-cAMP enhanced HIF-1α activity followed by an increase in VEGF secretion. However, there was no change in mRNA levels of HIF-1α. Inhibition of HIF-1α activity by cyclosporine A (CsA) inhibited a rise in VEGF production in response to CoCl(2) as well as 8-Br-cAMP. Inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA), extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase/Akt (PI3-K/Akt) inhibited the increase in VEGF levels in response to both CoCl(2) and 8-Br-cAMP. The data suggest that HIF-1α is a mediator of hypoxia- as well as 8-Br-cAMP-stimulated production of VEGF in MA-10 cells; both the stimuli act through a common signalling cascade.     

Silencing HIF-1α aggravates growth inhibition and necrosis of proximal renal tubular epithelial cell under hypoxia

The kidney is particularly susceptible to ischemia/hypoxia insult while dysfunction of proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) is a primary pathologic hallmark in acute kidney injury. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a key regulator responsible for cellular hypoxic responses. Therefore, we investigated the effects of HIF-1 suppression, using small interference RNA (siRNA), upon the cell fate of PTEC under hypoxia, and explored the underlying possible molecular mechanism. Hypoxia was induced with hypoxia mimetic cobalt chloride. Our data showed that, in HIF-1α siRNA group, the HK-2 cells growth inhibition and necrosis became worse than those in hypoxia group. However, for apoptosis, no significant difference was observed between them. Consistent with the downregulation of HIF-1α in HIF-1α siRNA group, both mRNA and protein expression of glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) also reduced more significantly than those in hypoxia group. In conclusion, silencing HIF-1α gene could aggravate growth inhibition and necrosis of PTEC under hypoxia. We provide evidence, from the opposite direction, that HIF-1 activation under hypoxia may facilitate adaptation and survival of proximal renal tubular cells, and the beneficial effects may be related to its downstream genes, such as Glut-1 and VEGF.     

Mechanisms of tubulointerstitial injury in IgA nephropathy

BACKGROUND: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) runs a highly variable clinical course, with frequent involvement of tubulointerstitial damage. A subgroup of IgAN with severe tubulointerstitial damage is often associated with the most rapid progression to end-stage renal failure. In IgAN, mesangial sclerosis and tubulointerstitial damage were found to be correlated with the increase in pore size of the glomerular barrier. METHODS: The direct toxicity of proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) by IgA in IgAN is still unresolved. Activation of PTEC by mediators released from infiltrating cells or resident kidney cells that induce tubular inflammation is the common final pathway in most chronic renal diseases. We hypothesize that mediators released from human mesangial cells (HMC) triggered by IgA deposition may lead to PTEC activation. RESULTS: We found that IgA binding to PTEC was less than one tenth that of HMC. The binding was nonspecific and exhibited no increased cell proliferation or enhanced synthesis of cytokines or adhesion molecules. However, when PTEC were cultured with IgA-HMC spent medium prepared from IgAN patients, there was enhanced proliferation of PTEC and increased synthesis of cytokines and adhesion molecules. CONCLUSION: These findings implicate a glomerulotubular cross-talk with mediators released from the mesangium, contributing to the pathogenesis of tubulointerstitial damage in IgAN. There are preliminary data to suggest that the expression of angiotensin II subtype-1 receptor and angiotensin II subtype-2 receptor in PTEC differs from that of HMC. These novel findings may provide clinicians new therapeutic approach for selective blockade of the tubulointerstitial injury in IgAN.     

IL-1 alpha stimulated TNF alpha production by cultured human proximal tubular epithelial cells.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) production by proximal tubuli was studied by immunoperoxidase staining of 20 renal biopsies from transplant patients. A positive staining for TNF alpha on proximal tubuli was seen in nine out of 15 patients with interstitial infiltrate, five without clinical significant rejection and four with moderate to severe interstitial rejection. TNF alpha was only expressed on tubuli within areas of interstitial infiltrate. Expression of TNF alpha in the mononuclear cell infiltrate was seen only in three patients with interstitial rejection. Absence of TNF alpha could be seen in biopsies with no renal abnormalities. To obtain more information on the regulation of TNF alpha production, proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) cultures were established and assessed for production of TNF alpha. Heterogenicity in production of TNF alpha was found in 14 tested PTEC lines cultured under serum free conditions. The presence of IL-1 alpha in the cultures induced a time- and dose-dependent enhancement of TNF alpha production by PTEC. Enhanced production of TNF alpha was not seen after stimulation with other cytokines such as IL-2 or IFN gamma. Inhibition studies with cycloheximide indicated de novo synthesis of TNF alpha. Western blot analysis of supernatants of unstimulated and IL-1 alpha stimulated PTEC indicated a 17 kd product, a size similar to that of recombinant TNF alpha. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of a 2.0 kb hybridization signal in total RNA of PTEC cultures and up regulation upon treatment of PTEC with 1 ng/ml of IL-1 alpha.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

小分子RNA干扰沉默缺氧诱导因子1α加重缺氧状态肾小管上皮细胞的生长抑制和坏死

目的 探讨沉默缺氧诱导因子1α （HIF-1α）对缺氧状态肾小管上皮细胞增殖、凋亡和坏死的影响。 方法 利用氯化钴模拟缺氧状态,并应用小分子RNA干扰（siRNA）技术沉默HIF-1α基因表达。将细胞分成5组,分别是正常培养组、缺氧培养组、转染试剂组、阴性对照组和HIF-1α siRNA组。用MTT试验检测细胞的生长抑制率;用TUNEL法、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶（aspase）-3蛋白定量法检测细胞的凋亡率;检测细胞上清液中乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活力来测定细胞的坏死情况;用实时定量PCR法和Western印迹法检测细胞HIF-1α、HIF-2α、葡萄糖转运蛋白1（Glut-1）、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF） mRNA和蛋白表达水平。 结果 （1）siRNA的细胞转染效率为95%～100%。在常氧条件下,终浓度100 nmol/L 的HIF-1α siRNA沉默HIF-1α基因的效率为70%;在缺氧条件下,HIF-1α siRNA沉默HIF-1α基因的效率达到97%。（2）HIF-1α siRNA组细胞的生长抑制率显著高于其它组（P < 0.05）;细胞凋亡率在缺氧培养组、转染试剂组、阴性对照组和HIF-1α siRNA组4组间的差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）;HIF-1α siRNA组细胞培养液中LDH水平显著高于缺氧培养组、转染试剂组和阴性对照组（P < 0.05）。（3）HIF-1α siRNA组细胞的HIF-1α、Glut-1、VEGF mRNA和蛋白表达量显著低于缺氧培养组、转染试剂组、阴性对照组（P < 0.05）;而HIF-2α mRNA和蛋白表达在缺氧培养组、转染试剂组、阴性对照组和HIF-1α siRNA组4组间的差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。 结论 siRNA沉默HIF-1α能显著抑制缺氧状态下肾小管上皮细胞Glut-1和VEGF表达,加重缺氧状态下肾小管上皮细胞的生长抑制和坏死。     

Activation of tubular epithelial cells by mesangial-derived TNF-alpha: glomerulotubular communication in IgA nephropathy

BACKGROUND: IgA nephropathy (IgAN), characterized by mesangial IgA deposition, runs a variable clinical course with tubulointerstitial damage and renal failure in no less than 30% of patients. Histologically, IgA is rarely detected in renal tubules. The direct toxicity by IgA on renal tubules remains uncertain. We hypothesize that mediators released from human mesangial cells (HMC) triggered by IgA deposition may lead to activation of proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC). METHODS: The binding of IgA to PTEC or HMC was assessed by flow cytometry. IgA-HMC medium was prepared by collecting the spent medium in which growth arrested HMC were incubated with IgA isolated from patients with IgAN, healthy control subjects, or other nephritic control patients. PTEC was cultured with the IgA-HMC medium in the presence or absence of neutralizing antibodies to TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, TGF-beta, or PDGF. Gene expression and protein synthesis of TNF-alpha, MIF, or ICAM-1 by PTEC were determined by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS: The binding of IgA isolated from patients with IgAN to PTEC was increased when compared to binding of IgA from healthy control subjects (P < 0.005). However, the binding to PTEC was less than one tenth that of HMC in IgAN. The binding to PTEC was not mediated through known IgA receptors, as shown by competitive binding assays and gene expression of the receptors. Despite the in vitro binding, PTEC cultured with isolated IgA exhibited no increased cell proliferation or enhanced synthesis of TNF-alpha, MIF, or sICAM-1. However, when PTEC were cultured with IgA-HMC medium prepared from IgAN patients, there was enhanced proliferation of PTEC (P < 0.001) and increased synthesis of TNF-alpha, MIF, and sICAM-1 when compared with PTEC cultured with IgA-HMC medium from control subjects (P < 0.001). The synthesis of MIF and sICAM-1 by PTEC cultured with IgA-HMC medium was reduced by neutralizing antibodies to TNF-alpha (P < 0.001) but not by neutralizing antibodies to IL-1beta, TGF-beta, or PDGF. CONCLUSION: Our finding implicates that TNF-alpha released from the mesangium after IgA deposition activates renal tubular cells. The glomerulotubular communication could play an important role in the pathogenesis of tubulointerstitial damage in IgAN.     

Propofol attenuates hypoxia-induced apoptosis in alveolar epithelial type II cells through down-regulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α

To investigate the protective effect of propofol against hypoxia-induced apoptosis in alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells and to explore whether hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is involved in this process. Primary cultured rat ATII cells were randomly assigned to one of the following four groups, namely, Group C: treated under normoxia (21% O(2)), Group P(20): treated with propofol (20 μM) under normoxia (21% O(2)), Group H: treated under hypoxia (5% O(2)), and Group P(20)-H: pre-treated with propofol (20 μM) before hypoxia exposure (5% O(2)). Apoptosis in ATII cells was detected by Annexin V-FITC binding using FACScan. Expressions of HIF-1α and Bnip3L mRNA and protein in ATII cells were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis, respectively. Hypoxia exposure (Group H) significantly increased HIF-1α protein expression (P<0.01 vs. Group C) and significantly promoted apoptosis in ATII cells (P<0.01 vs. Group C). Expression of Bnip3L, a target gene of HIF-1α, was also significantly increased at both mRNA and protein levels in response to hypoxia (P<0.01 vs. Group C). Pretreatment with propofol (20 μM, Group P(20)-H) significantly decreased HIF-1α protein expression (P<0.01 vs. Group H) and significantly inhibited apoptosis in ATII cells (P<0.01 vs. Group H), accompanied by decreased expression of Bnip3L at both mRNA and protein levels (P<0.01 vs. Group H). Propofol (20 μM) can attenuate hypoxia-induced apoptosis in ATII cells and inhibit HIF-1α-hypoxia responsive element (HRE) axis involving Bnip3L, which may partly mediate the cytoprotective effects of propofol.     

Effect of human anti-DNA antibodies on proximal renal tubular epithelial cell cytokine expression: implications on tubulointerstitial inflammation in lupus nephritis

This study aimed to investigate the effects of human anti-DNA antibodies (Ab) from patients with lupus on renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC), focusing on alterations in cell morphology and proinflammatory cytokine synthesis. Immunohistochemistry showed increased tubulointerstitial IL-6 expression and IgG deposition in renal biopsies from patients with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis, not observed in controls or membranous lupus nephritis, which correlated with the severity of inflammatory cell infiltration. Sera from patients with lupus nephritis contained IgG that bound to cultured PTEC. Such binding increased with disease activity and correlated with the level of anti-DNA Ab. Incubation of PTEC with anti-DNA Ab that were isolated during active (active Ab) or inactive (inactive Ab) disease induced IL-6 synthesis, both apically and from the basolateral aspect. This was accompanied by altered cell morphology, increased cell proliferation (P < 0.05), and lactate dehydrogenase release (P < 0.05). The binding of inactive Ab and active Ab to PTEC resulted in differential and sequential upregulation of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 secretion (P < 0.05). Early induction of TNF-alpha was observed with active Ab; the two then acted synergistically to induce IL-6 secretion. Exposure of PTEC to inactive Ab was associated with modest induction of TNF-alpha, which was not involved in downstream induction of other proinflammatory peptides. These data suggest distinct immunopathogenetic mechanisms during disease flare or remission. Conditioned media from human mesangial cells acted synergistically with anti-DNA Ab to induce cytokine secretion in PTEC. Results from these studies underscore the pivotal role of PTEC in the pathogenesis of tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis in lupus nephritis.     

Hypoxia and PDGF have a synergistic effect that increases the expression of the angiogenetic peptide vascular endothelial growth factor in Achilles tendon fibroblasts

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, is an essential step in the process of tendon healing and tendon graft remodelling, e.g. after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. To address the question of whether platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) could influence vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in tenocytes, we challenged primary cultures of rat tenocytes with different stimulators (hypoxia, PDGF) and measured their VEGF secretion. METHODS: To measure the VEGF secretion and the effect of PDGF, we used cell culture and stimulation of rat tenocytes (2-5 days old), immunohistochemistry as well as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Tenocytes cultivated under normal oxygen pressure released measurable amounts of VEGF into their culture supernatants. Stimulation with PDGF, a cytokine that activates mitogen-activated protein kinases, raised VEGF secretion 2-fold. Hypoxic conditions alone (5% O(2)) raised VEGF secretion only 2-fold. However, the combination of cytokines and hypoxia increased VEGF production 5-fold, apparently a synergistic effect. CONCLUSION: These data are useful to further our understanding of angiogenesis in tendon healing and tendon graft remodelling after ACL reconstruction.     

Hypoxia induces the overexpression of microRNA-21 in pancreatic cancer cells

BackgroundPancreatic cancer cells exist in a hypoxic microenvironment containing numerous factors that impact tumor survival, proliferation, and metastasis. MicroRNAs (miRs) are differentially expressed in cancer but also altered by hypoxia. We hypothesized that hypoxia could induce expression of miR-21, an oncomir in pancreatic cancer cells.Materials and methodsWe examined how hypoxia regulates miR-21 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines (BxPC-3, AsPC-1) by stem-loop RT-PCR. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to study how hypoxia alters hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α binding to the hypoxia response element of miR-21. BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 cells were transfected with a constitutively stable HIF-1α subunit or vector control (pcDNA3.1) to determine the influence of miR-21 in normoxia. The effect of mature miR-21 sense and antisense oligonucleotides on proliferation and apoptosis in hypoxic and normoxic conditions was assessed via WST-1 assay and flow cytometry.ResultsMiR-21 levels increased in all cell lines grown in hypoxic conditions versus normoxia, whereas siRNA targeting HIF-1α reduced miR-21 expression. Hypoxic conditions resulted in direct binding of HIF-1α to the predicted binding site in miR-21. Transfection with a constitutively stable HIF-1α expression plasmid in normoxia resulted in upregulated miR-21, similar to that seen in hypoxia. Cells transfected with antisense constructs targeting miR-21 had reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis in normoxia, whereas miR-21 overexpression abrogated hypoxia-associated reductions in proliferation.ConclusionsMiR-21 is induced by hypoxia in pancreatic cancer cells via HIF-1α upregulation. MiR-21 overexpression allows cells to avoid apoptosis in a hypoxic microenvironment. Inhibition of miR-21 expression may increase cellular susceptibility to hypoxia in pancreatic cancer.     

低氧环境对小鼠未成熟关节透明软骨细胞培养的影响

目的研究低氧和低氧模拟化合物氯化钴对小鼠未成熟关节透明软骨细胞氧感应基因和细胞表型的影响。方法经酶消化分离出小鼠未成熟关节透明软骨细胞，分别在21％氧、2％氧和150μmol/L氯化钴条件下培养一定时间。通过倒置显微镜、透射电镜和扫描电镜观察细胞形态学变化。应用定量PCR和Western Blot检测葡萄糖转运体-1（GLUT-1）、葡萄糖转运体-3（GLUT-3）、磷酸果糖激酶-1（PGK-1）和低氧诱导因子-1α（HIF—1α）的表达。应用定量PCR观察软骨细胞表型改变。应用四甲基偶氮唑盐法（MTT）检测低氧及氯化钴对软骨细胞活性的影响。用葡萄糖检测试剂盒测葡萄糖摄取量。结果不同培养条件下软骨细胞形态无明显差异。2％氧和氯化钴可增加GLUT-1、GLUT-3及PGK-1mRNA表达。2％氧和氯化钴可促进GLUT-1、GLUT-3和HIF—1α蛋白表达。低氧和氯化钴促进细胞活性，增加葡萄糖摄取并促进细胞外基质合成。结论软骨细胞能通过调节氧感应基因适应低氧环境，HIF—1α可能起关键作用。低氧能在一定程度上增加软骨细胞活性和细胞外基质合成。模拟体内氧环境培养细胞能更好地了解软骨细胞特性。