scholarly journals Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Mediates the Protective Effect of the Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitor on Renal Fibrosis via Reducing the Phenotypic Conversion of Renal Microvascular Cells in Monocrotaline-Treated Rats

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Xu ◽  
Jingjing Wang ◽  
Yusheng Cheng ◽  
Xiang Li ◽  
Mengyu He ◽  
...  

Chronic kidney diseases are characterized by renal fibrosis with excessive matrix deposition, leading to a progressive loss of functional renal parenchyma and, eventually, renal failure. Renal microcirculation lesions, including the phenotypic conversion of vascular cells, contribute to renal fibrosis. Here, renal microcirculation lesions were established with monocrotaline (MCT, 60 mg/kg). Sitagliptin (40 mg/kg/d), a classical dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, attenuated the renal microcirculation lesions by inhibiting glomerular tuft hypertrophy, glomerular mesangial expansion, and microvascular thrombosis. These effects of sitagliptin were mediated by glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), since they were blocked by the GLP-1R antagonist exendin-3 (Ex-3, 40 ug/kg/d). The GLP-1R agonist liraglutide showed a similar renal protective effect in a dose-independent manner. In addition, sitagliptin, as well as liraglutide, alleviated the MCT-induced apoptosis of renal cells by increasing the expression of survival factor glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), which was abolished by the GLP-1R antagonist Ex-3. Sitagliptin and liraglutide also effectively ameliorated the conversion of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from a synthetic phenotype to contractile phenotype. Moreover, sitagliptin and liraglutide inhibited endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) via downregulating transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Collectively, these findings suggest that DPP-4 inhibition can reduce microcirculation lesion-induced renal fibrosis in a GLP-1-dependent manner.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurore Devocelle ◽  
Lola Lecru ◽  
Hélène François ◽  
Christophe Desterke ◽  
Cindy Gallerne ◽  
...  

Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis is the final common pathway in end-stage renal disease and is characterized by aberrant accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components secreted by myofibroblasts. Tubular type 2 EMT, induced by TGF-β, plays an important role in renal fibrosis, by participating directly or indirectly in myofibroblasts generation. TGF-β1-induced apoptosis and fibrosis in experimental chronic murine kidney diseases are concomitantly associated with an intrarenal decreased expression of the IL-15 survival factor. Since IL-15 counteracts TGF-β1 effects in different cell models, we analyzed whether (1) human chronic inflammatory nephropathies evolving towards fibrosis could be also characterized by a weak intrarenal IL-15 expression and (2) IL-15 could inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and excess matrix deposition in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTEC). Our data show that different human chronic kidney diseases are characterized by a strong decreased expression of intrarenal IL-15, which is particularly relevant in diabetic nephropathy, in which type 2 tubular EMT plays an important role in fibrosis. Moreover, primary epithelial tubular cultures deprived of growth supplements rapidly produce active TGF-β1 inducing a “spontaneous” EMT process characterized by the loss of membrane-bound IL-15 (mbIL-15) expression. Both “spontaneous” EMT and recombinant human (rh) TGF-β1-induced EMT models can be inhibited by treating RPTEC and HK2 cells with rhIL-15. Through a long-lasting phospho-c-jun activation, IL-15 inhibits rhTGF-β1-induced Snail1 expression, the master inducer of EMT, and blocks TGF-β1-induced tubular EMT and downstream collagen synthesis. In conclusion, our data suggest that intrarenal IL-15 could be a natural inhibitor of TGF-β in human kidney able to guarantee epithelial homeostasis and to prevent EMT process. Thus, both in vivo and in vitro an unbalance in intrarenal IL-15 and TGF-β1 levels could render RPTEC cells more prone to undergo EMT process. Exogenous IL-15 treatment could be beneficial in some human nephropathies such as diabetic nephropathy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Qiu ◽  
Yirui Cao ◽  
Guowei Tu ◽  
Jiawei Li ◽  
Ying Su ◽  
...  

BackgroundRenal fibrosis is inevitable in all progressive chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) and represents a serious public health problem. Immune factors contribute to the progression of renal fibrosis. Thus, it is very possible that immunosuppression cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), could bring benefits to renal fibrosis. Herein, this study investigated the antifibrotic and reno-protective effect of MDSCs and the possible mechanisms.MethodsMurine and cell models of unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) renal fibrosis were used. Bone marrow-induced MDSCs and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were pretreated before surgery. Kidney weight, pathological injury, extracellular matrix deposition, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition progression were examined. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1)/Smad/Snail signaling pathway involvement was investigated through Western blotting and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Accumulation of MDSC, CD4+ T cell, regulatory T (Treg), and T helper 1 (TH1) cell accumulation, and CCL5 and CCR5 expression level in MDSCs and non-MDSCs were evaluated using flow cytometry.ResultsIn vitro- and in vivo-induced MDSCs significantly ameliorated UUO-induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis, inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad/Snail signaling pathway, and enhanced MDSC and Treg infiltration in the kidney while downregulating the TH1 cells. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed CCL5 elevation in the two MDSC-treated groups.ConclusionIn vitro- and in vivo-induced MDSCs alleviated renal fibrosis similarly through promoting the CCL5–CCR5 axis interaction and TGF-β1/Smad/Snail signaling pathway inhibition. Our results indicate an alternative treatment for renal fibrosis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (7) ◽  
pp. E677-E685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Burmeister ◽  
Jennifer Ayala ◽  
Daniel J. Drucker ◽  
Julio E. Ayala

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) suppresses food intake via activation of a central (i.e., brain) GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). Central AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a nutrient-sensitive regulator of food intake that is inhibited by anorectic signals. The anorectic effect elicited by hindbrain GLP-1R activation is attenuated by the AMPK stimulator AICAR. This suggests that central GLP-1R activation suppresses food intake via inhibition of central AMPK. The present studies examined the mechanism(s) by which central GLP-1R activation inhibits AMPK. Supporting previous findings, AICAR attenuated the anorectic effect elicited by intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of the GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 (Ex-4). We demonstrate that Ex-4 stimulates glycolysis and suppresses AMPK phosphorylation in a glucose-dependent manner in hypothalamic GT1-7 cells. This suggests that inhibition of AMPK and food intake by Ex-4 requires central glucose metabolism. Supporting this, the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) attenuated the anorectic effect of Ex-4. However, icv glucose did not enhance the suppression of food intake by Ex-4. AICAR had no effect on Ex-4-mediated reduction in locomotor activity. We also tested whether other carbohydrates affect the anorectic response to Ex-4. Intracerebroventricular pretreatment with the sucrose metabolite fructose, an AMPK activator, attenuated the anorectic effect of Ex-4. This potentially explains the increased food intake observed in sucrose-fed mice. In summary, we propose a model whereby activation of the central GLP-1R reduces food intake via glucose metabolism-dependent inhibition of central AMPK. We also suggest that fructose stimulates food intake by impairing central GLP-1R action. This has significant implications given the correlation between sugar consumption and obesity.


2014 ◽  
Vol 221 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella Amato ◽  
Sara Baldassano ◽  
Rosa Liotta ◽  
Rosa Serio ◽  
Flavia Mulè

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) is a naturally occurring peptide secreted by intestinal L-cells. Though its primary function is to serve as an incretin, GLP1 reduces gastrointestinal motility. However, only a handful of animal studies have specifically evaluated the influence of GLP1 on colonic motility. Consequently, the aims of this study were to investigate the effects induced by exogenous GLP1, to analyze the mechanism of action, and to verify the presence of GLP1 receptors (GLP1Rs) in human colon circular muscular strips. Organ bath technique, RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence were used. In human colon, exogenous GLP1 reduced, in a concentration-dependent manner, the amplitude of the spontaneous contractions without affecting the frequency and the resting basal tone. This inhibitory effect was significantly reduced by exendin (9–39), a GLP1R antagonist, which per se significantly increased the spontaneous mechanical activity. Moreover, it was abolished by tetrodotoxin, a neural blocker, or Nω-nitro-l-arginine – a blocker of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). The biomolecular analysis revealed a genic and protein expression of the GLP1R in the human colon. The double-labeling experiments with anti-neurofilament or anti-nNOS showed, for the first time, that immunoreactivity for the GLP1R was expressed in nitrergic neurons of the myenteric plexus. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that GLP1R is expressed in the human colon and, once activated by exogenous GLP1, mediates an inhibitory effect on large intestine motility through NO neural release.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-507
Author(s):  
Yunhe Gu ◽  
Peiyao Guo ◽  
Guangbiao Xu

Transforming growth factor-β1 promotes excessive extracellular matrix deposition and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of tubular epithelial cells, thus stimulating the progression of renal fibrosis. Carvacrol has been shown to alleviate cardiac and liver fibrosis and attenuate renal injury. However, the role of carvacrol on renal fibrosis has not been examined. First, measurements using Cell Counting Kit-8 showed that carvacrol reduced cell viability of tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 in a dose-dependent fashion. Second, transforming growth factor-β1 induced excessive extracellular matrix deposition in HK-2 cells with enhanced collagen I, collagen IV, and fibronectin expression. However, carvacrol decreased the expression of collagen I, collagen IV in a dose-dependent manner and fibronectin to attenuate the extracellular matrix deposition in HK-2. Third, carvacrol attenuated TGF-β1-induced decrease of E-cadherin and increase of snail, vimentin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin in HK-2 cells. Transforming growth factor-β1-induced increase in PI3K and AKT phosphorylation in HK-2 were also reversed by carvacrol. Collectively, carvacrol ameliorates renal fibrosis through inhibition of transforming growth factor-β1-induced extracellular matrix deposition and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of HK-2 cells, providing potential therapy for the treatment of renal fibrosis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 2552-2558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingsong Liu ◽  
Ying Zhong ◽  
Guoyong Liu ◽  
Xiaobai Zhang ◽  
Bofei Xiao ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Transforming growth factor β 1 (TGFβ1) plays a critical role in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) during renal injury, a major cause of acute renal failure, renal fibrosis and obstructive nephropathy. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain ill-defined. Here, we addressed this question. Methods: Expression of TGFβ1, Snail, and phosphorylated Stat3 was examined by immunohistochemistry in the kidney after induction of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in mice. In vitro, primary TECs were purified by flow cytometry, and then challenged with TGFβ1 with/without presence of specific inhibitors for phosphorylation of SMAD3 or Stat3. Protein levels were determined by Western blotting. Results: We detected significant increases in Snail and phosphorylated Stat3, an activated form for Stat3, in the kidney after induction of UUO in mice. In vitro, TGFβ1-challenged primary TECs upregulated Snail, in a SMAD3/Stat3 dependent manner. Conclusion: Our study sheds light on the mechanism underlying the EMT of TECs after renal injury, and suggests Stat3 signaling as a promising innovative therapeutic target for prevention of renal fibrosis.


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