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Kidney transplant (KT) candidates with donor-specific antibodies (DSA) exhibit exceedingly high antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) and allograft loss rates. Currently, treatment of ABMR remains an unmet clinical need. We report the use of the anti-C5 eculizumab and the type-2 anti-CD20 obinutuzumab in two patients with early ABMR. Eculizumab (900 mg IV) led to complete inhibition of the terminal complement cascade (unremarkable AP50 and CH50 activity) and prompt stoppage of complement-dependent antibody-mediated allograft injury (clearance of intra-graft C4d and C5b-9 deposition). Despite complement inhibition, obinutuzumab (1000 mg IV) determined full and long-lasting peripheral B-cell depletion, with significant reduction in all DSA. Graft function improved, remaining stable up to three years of follow-up. No signs of active ABMR and rebound DSA were detected. Obinutuzumab B-cell depletion and inhibition of DSA production were not affected by complement blockage. Further studies are needed to confirm the potential benefit of obinutuzumab in association with complement inhibitors.
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Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados , Rejeição de Enxerto , Transplante de Rim , Humanos , Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados/uso terapêutico , Rejeição de Enxerto/imunologia , Rejeição de Enxerto/prevenção & controle , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Complemento C5/antagonistas & inibidores , Complemento C5/imunologia , Feminino , Antígenos CD20/imunologia , Adulto , Linfócitos B/imunologia , Linfócitos B/efeitos dos fármacos , Inativadores do Complemento/uso terapêutico , Isoanticorpos/imunologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In addition to regulating the antiviral response, increased expression of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) in resident renal cells plays a role in developing some forms of glomerulonephritis. TLR3 activation leads to type I interferon (IFN) production, which induces the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). However, the role of ISG20 expression in resident renal cells remains unclear. METHODS: Cultured normal human glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) were treated with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly IC), Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), R848, and CpG (TLR3, TLR4, TLR7, and TLR9 agonists, respectively). The mRNA levels of ISG20, CX3CL1/fractalkine, and CXCL10/IP-10 were measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. ISG20 protein expression was assessed by Western blotting. RNA interference was used to knockdown IFN-ß and ISG20 expression. CX3CL1 protein levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We performed immunofluorescence to examine endothelial ISG20 expression in biopsy specimens from patients with lupus nephritis (LN). RESULTS: In GECs, the expression of ISG20 mRNA and protein was increased by polyIC, not by LPS, R848, or CpG treatment. Moreover, ISG20 knockdown prevented poly IC-induced CX3CL1 expression but had no effect on CXCL10 expression. Intense endothelial ISG20 immunoreactivity was observed in biopsy specimens obtained from patients with proliferative LN. CONCLUSION: In GECs, ISG20 was regulated via TLR3 but not via TLR4, TLR7, or TLR9 signaling. Moreover, ISG20 was involved in regulating CX3CL1 production. In addition to regulating antiviral innate immunity, ISG20 may act as a mediator of CX3CL1 production, thereby inducing glomerular inflammation, particularly in patients with LN.
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Exorribonucleases , Nefrite Lúpica , Humanos , Antivirais , Fatores de Restrição Antivirais , Células Cultivadas , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Lipopolissacarídeos/farmacologia , Células Mesangiais , Poli I-C/farmacologia , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Receptor 3 Toll-Like/genética , Receptor 4 Toll-Like/metabolismo , Receptor 7 Toll-Like/metabolismo , Receptor Toll-Like 9/metabolismo , Exorribonucleases/genéticaRESUMO
Renal biopsy (RBx) is an essential tool in the diagnostic and therapeutic process of most native kidney diseases and in the renal transplanted graft. Laser capture microdissection (LCM), combined with molecular biology, might improve the diagnostic power of RBx. However, the limited amount of available renal tissue is often an obstacle for achieving a satisfactory qualitative and quantitative analysis. In our work we present a method which allows us to obtain good quality and quantity of RNA from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) renal tissue derived from RBx performed in transplanted patients. Histology, immunohistochemistry, LCM, pre-amplify system and qRT-PCR of biomarkers related to tubular damage, inflammation and fibrosis on FFPE RBx were performed. Glomeruli, tubules and interstitium of three RBx (RB-A: no alteration; RB-B and -C: the progressive rise of creatinine) were compared. The method proposed, could well be useful in future clinical practice. It is quick, easy to perform and allows the analyses of many biomarkers. In addition, it could be extended to all types of RBx without any limitation on the sample amount. Nevertheless, the need for a higher number of well-trained technicians might represent some limitation, counterbalanced by the opportunity to elaborate more accurate diagnosis and, consequently, more targeted therapies.
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Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Inflamação/metabolismo , Transplante de Rim/efeitos adversos , Túbulos Renais/metabolismo , Biópsia , Formaldeído , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/genética , Humanos , Inflamação/etiologia , Inflamação/patologia , Glomérulos Renais/metabolismo , Glomérulos Renais/patologia , Túbulos Renais/patologia , Microdissecção e Captura a Laser , Inclusão em Parafina , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Fixação de TecidosRESUMO
Recently, we found a strict bone association between Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and Fetuin-A, both involved in cardiovascular and mineral bone disorders. In this study, an uninvestigated bone marrow positivity for both was found. Though the role of exogenous FGF23 on mesenchymal cells (MSCs) was reported, no information is as yet available on the possible production of this hormone by MSCs. To further analyze these uninvestigated aspects, we studied human primary cells and mouse and human cell lines by means of immunostaining, qRT-PCR, enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, transfection, and a streamlined approach for the FGF23â»Fetuin-A interaction called Duolink proximity ligation assay. Mesenchymal cells produce but do not secrete FGF23 and its expression increases during osteo-differentiation. Fibroblast growth factor 23 is also involved in the regulation of Fetuin-A by binding directly to the Fetuin-A promoter and then activating its transcription. Both FGF23 overexpression and addition induced an upregulation of Fetuin-A in the absence of osteo-inducer factors. Fibroblast growth factor 23 and Fetuin-A promoter were increased by osteo-inducer factors with this effect being abolished after FGF23 silencing. In conclusion, both FGF23 and Fetuin-A are present and strictly linked to each other in MSCs with FGF23 driving Fetuin-A production. This mechanism suggests a role for these two proteins in the osteoblast differentiation.
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Fatores de Crescimento de Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Mesenquimais/citologia , Células-Tronco Mesenquimais/metabolismo , Osteogênese , alfa-2-Glicoproteína-HS/metabolismo , Animais , Biomarcadores , Linhagem Celular , Fator de Crescimento de Fibroblastos 23 , Expressão Gênica , Inativação Gênica , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , Osteogênese/genética , Ligação ProteicaRESUMO
Background/Aims The research of genes implicated in kidney glomerular function, eliciting cell fate program, is always at the forefront in nephrological studies. Several neurological molecules have been recently the object of study not only for their involvement in the central nervous system differentiation but also for their importance in the functionality of other organs and for mature phenotype, as in kidney. NeuroD, in CNS, is related to two functional roles, the early survival and the differentiation. The aim of our study was to ascertain the presence of NeuroD transcription factor in glomeruli and to understand which targets and mechanisms NeuroD controls. METHODS: We used immunofluorescence (IF) studies on both human and mice renal tissues and on cultured podocytes to describe NeuroD distribution; then we investigated NeuroD binding to the nephrin promoter region in cultured podocytes by chromatin-immuno-precipitation (ChIP) assay. The overexpression of NeuroD in podocytes was used to establish first its role in nephrin synthesis, evaluated by real-time quantitative (RTq) PCR and western-blot (WB) and successively to determine the recovery of cell morphology after adriamycin injury, measuring foot processes length. RESULTS: We identified NeuroD transcription factor in glomeruli, in the same cells positive for WT1 and synaptopodin, namely podocytes; subsequently we observed a differentiation dependent NeuroD distribution in cultured podocytes, and a consistent link of NeuroD with the Nephrin promoter leading to the regulation of Nephrin translation and transcription. Our data also describes NeuroD expression in cytoplasm as phosphoprotein linked to nephrin and actinin4. Preliminary experiments seem to indicate NeuroD involved in dynamics of cell shape regulation after adriamycin injury. CONCLUSION: we propose that NeuroD possess in podocytes a dual ability acting in the nucleus as a transcription factor and in cytoplasm stabilizing cell shape.
Assuntos
Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/metabolismo , Núcleo Celular/metabolismo , Citoplasma/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/metabolismo , Actinina/metabolismo , Animais , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/antagonistas & inibidores , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/genética , Diferenciação Celular , Células Cultivadas , Cromatina/metabolismo , Doxorrubicina/farmacologia , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Glomérulos Renais/metabolismo , Glomérulos Renais/patologia , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/genética , Fosforilação , Podócitos/citologia , Podócitos/metabolismo , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Ligação ProteicaRESUMO
Idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a progressive and proteinuric kidney disease that starts with podocyte injury. Podocytes cover the external side of the glomerular capillary by a complex web of primary and secondary ramifications. Similar to dendritic spines of neuronal cells, podocyte processes rely on a dynamic actin-based cytoskeletal architecture to maintain shape and function. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a pleiotropic neurotrophin that binds to the tropomyosin-related kinase B receptor (TrkB) and has crucial roles in neuron maturation, survival, and activity. In neuronal cultures, exogenously added BDNF increases the number and size of dendritic spines. In animal models, BDNF administration is beneficial in both central and peripheral nervous system disorders. Here we show that BDNF has a TrkB-dependent trophic activity on podocyte cell processes; by affecting microRNA-134 and microRNA-132 signalling, BDNF up-regulates Limk1 translation and phosphorylation, and increases cofilin phosphorylation, which results in actin polymerization. Importantly, BDNF effectively repairs podocyte damage in vitro, and contrasts proteinuria and glomerular lesions in in vivo models of FSGS, opening a potential new perspective to the treatment of podocyte disorders.
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Citoesqueleto de Actina/efeitos dos fármacos , Actinas/metabolismo , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/farmacologia , Glomerulosclerose Segmentar e Focal/prevenção & controle , MicroRNAs/metabolismo , Podócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Células 3T3 , Citoesqueleto de Actina/metabolismo , Citoesqueleto de Actina/patologia , Fatores de Despolimerização de Actina/metabolismo , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Glomerulosclerose Segmentar e Focal/induzido quimicamente , Glomerulosclerose Segmentar e Focal/genética , Glomerulosclerose Segmentar e Focal/metabolismo , Glomerulosclerose Segmentar e Focal/patologia , Larva/efeitos dos fármacos , Larva/metabolismo , Quinases Lim/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , MicroRNAs/genética , Fosforilação , Podócitos/metabolismo , Podócitos/patologia , Polimerização , Proteinúria/metabolismo , Proteinúria/prevenção & controle , Interferência de RNA , Receptor trkB/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes/farmacologia , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Fatores de Tempo , Transfecção , Peixe-ZebraRESUMO
Podocyte injury and resulting albuminuria are hallmarks of diabetic nephropathy, but targeted therapies to halt or prevent these complications are currently not available. Here, we show that the immune-related molecule B7-1/CD80 is a critical mediator of podocyte injury in type 2 diabetic nephropathy. We report the induction of podocyte B7-1 in kidney biopsy specimens from patients with type 2 diabetes. Genetic and epidemiologic studies revealed the association of two single nucleotide polymorphisms at the B7-1 gene with diabetic nephropathy. Furthermore, increased levels of the soluble isoform of the B7-1 ligand CD28 correlated with the progression to ESRD in individuals with type 2 diabetes. In vitro, high glucose conditions prompted the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase-dependent upregulation of B7-1 in podocytes, and the ectopic expression of B7-1 in podocytes increased apoptosis and induced disruption of the cytoskeleton that were reversed by the B7-1 inhibitor CTLA4-Ig. Podocyte expression of B7-1 was also induced in vivo in two murine models of diabetic nephropathy, and treatment with CTLA4-Ig prevented increased urinary albumin excretion and improved kidney pathology in these animals. Taken together, these results identify B7-1 inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention or treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
Assuntos
Antígeno B7-1/fisiologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/complicações , Nefropatias Diabéticas/etiologia , Podócitos , Adulto , Idoso , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Regulação para CimaRESUMO
The glomerular filtration barrier (GFB), composed of endothelial cells, glomerular basement membrane, and podocytes, is a unique structure for filtering blood while detaining plasma proteins according to size and charge selectivity. Structurally, the fenestrated endothelial cells, which align the capillary loops, are in close proximity to mesangial cells. Podocytes are connected by specialized intercellular junctions known as slit diaphragms and are separated from the endothelial compartment by the glomerular basement membrane. Podocyte-endothelial cell communication or crosstalk is required for the development and maintenance of an efficient filtration process in physiological conditions. In pathological situations, communication also has an essential role in promoting or delaying disease progression. Podocytes and endothelial cells can secrete signaling molecules, which act as crosstalk effectors and, through binding to their target receptors, can trigger bidirectional paracrine or autocrine signal transduction. Moreover, the emerging evidence of extracellular vesicles derived from various cell types engaging in cell communication has also been reported. In this review, we summarize the principal pathways involved in the development and maintenance of the GFB and the progression of kidney disease, particularly in kidney transplantation.
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Background: In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23) is markedly increased and has been proposed to interact with systemic inflammation. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the correlations of intact FGF23, c-terminal FGF23, and the FGF23 ratio (c-terminal to intact) with some inflammatory cytokines in 111 elderly patients with advanced CKD not yet in dialysis. Results: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was inversely correlated with intact FGF23 and c-terminal FGF23, as well as with interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Intact FGF23 levels were directly correlated with IL-6 (r = 0.403; p < 0.001) and TNFα (r = 0.401; p < 0.001) while c-terminal FGF23 was directly correlated with MCP-1 (r = 0.264; p = 0.005). The FGF23 ratio was, instead, inversely correlated with IL-6 (r = -0.326; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that intact FGF23 was directly associated with TNFα [B = 0.012 (95% CI 0.006, 0.019); p = 0.003] and c-terminal FGF23 was directly associated with MCP-1 [B = 0.001 (95% CI 0.000, 0.002); p = 0.038], while the FGF23 ratio was inversely correlated with IL-6 [B = -0.028 (95% CI -0.047, -0.010); p = 0.002]. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that, in CKD patients, intact FGF23 and the metabolites deriving from its proteolytic cleavage are differently associated with some inflammatory pathways. In particular, intact FGF23 is mainly associated with IL-6 and TNFα, c-terminal FGF23 with MCP-1, and the FGF23 ratio with IL6.
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Introduction: The dysregulation of cell fate toward osteoprecursor cells associated with most GNAS-based disorders may lead to episodic de novo extraskeletal or ectopic bone formation in subcutaneous tissues. The bony lesion distribution suggests the involvement of abnormal differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and/or more committed precursor cells. Data from transgenic mice support the concept that GNAS is a crucial factor in regulating lineage switching between osteoblasts (OBs) and adipocyte fates. The mosaic nature of heterotopic bone lesions suggests that GNAS genetic defects provide a sensitized background for ectopic osteodifferentiation, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Methods: The effect of GNAS silencing in the presence and/or absence of osteoblastic stimuli was evaluated in the human L88/5 MSC line during osteodifferentiation. A comparison of the data obtained with data coming from a bony lesion from a GNAS-mutated patient was also provided. Results: Our study adds some dowels to the current fragmented notions about the role of GNAS during osteoblastic differentiation, such as the premature transition of immature OBs into osteocytes and the characterization of the differences in the deposed bone matrix. Conclusion: We demonstrated that our cell model partially replicates the in vivo behavior results, resulting in an applicable human model to elucidate the pathophysiology of ectopic bone formation in GNAS-based disorders.
Assuntos
Diferenciação Celular , Cromograninas , Subunidades alfa Gs de Proteínas de Ligação ao GTP , Células-Tronco Mesenquimais , Osteoblastos , Osteogênese , Humanos , Subunidades alfa Gs de Proteínas de Ligação ao GTP/genética , Subunidades alfa Gs de Proteínas de Ligação ao GTP/metabolismo , Cromograninas/genética , Diferenciação Celular/genética , Osteogênese/genética , Osteoblastos/metabolismo , Osteoblastos/citologia , Células-Tronco Mesenquimais/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Mesenquimais/citologia , Inativação Gênica , Linhagem CelularRESUMO
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is a key regulator of glucose metabolism known to be expressed by pancreatic ß cells. We herein investigated the role of GLP-1R on T lymphocytes during immune response. Our data showed that a subset of T lymphocytes expresses GLP-1R, which is upregulated during alloimmune response, similarly to PD-1. When mice received islet or cardiac allotransplantation, an expansion of GLP-1Rpos T cells occurred in the spleen and was found to infiltrate the graft. Additional single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis conducted on GLP-1Rpos and GLP-1Rneg CD3+ T cells unveiled the existence of molecular and functional dissimilarities between both subpopulations, as the GLP-1Rpos are mainly composed of exhausted CD8 T cells. GLP-1R acts as a T cell-negative costimulatory molecule, and GLP-1R signaling prolongs allograft survival, mitigates alloimmune response, and reduces T lymphocyte graft infiltration. Notably, GLP-1R antagonism triggered anti-tumor immunity when tested in a preclinical mouse model of colorectal cancer.
Assuntos
Receptor do Peptídeo Semelhante ao Glucagon 1 , Transplante das Ilhotas Pancreáticas , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Animais , Receptor do Peptídeo Semelhante ao Glucagon 1/metabolismo , Camundongos , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Masculino , Transplante de Coração , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/metabolismo , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Sobrevivência de Enxerto/imunologiaRESUMO
During chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, an increase in fibroblast growth factor (FGF23) is present. In stage 5, a positive correlation between FGF23 and omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) emerges. Hypothesizing that the rising positive correlation between monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) and n-6 in stage 4 could be the cause, we previously explored FGF23 and MCP1's roles in dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk in CKD. In the present paper, we retraced the study evaluating 40 kidney transplant patients (KTx), a cohort where several factors might modify the previous relationships found. An ELISA and gas chromatography assessed the MCP1, FGF23, and PUFA levels. Despite the FGF23 increase (p < 0.0001), low MCP1 levels were found. A decrease in the n-6/n-3 ratio (p = 0.042 CKD stage 4 vs. 5) lowered by the increase in both n-3 αlinolenic (p = 0.012) and docosapentaenoic acid (p = 0.049) was observed. A negative correlation between FGF23 and the n-6/n-3 ratio in CKD stage 4 (r2 -0.3 p = 0.043) and none with MCP1 appeared. According to our findings, different mechanisms in the relationship between FGF23, PUFAs, and MCP1 in CKD and KTx patients might be present, which is possibly related to the immunosuppressive status of the last. Future research will further clarify our hypothesis.
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Cardio-renal syndrome is a clinical condition that has recently been well defined. In acute kidney disease, this interaction might trigger chronic processes determining the onset of cardiovascular events and the progression of chronic kidney disease. Moreover, the high mortality rate of acute kidney injury (AKI) is also linked to the fact that this condition is often complicated by dysfunctions of other organs such as lungs or heart, or is associated with septic episodes. In this context the role and the potential link between bone, heart and kidney is becoming an important topic of research. The aim of this review is to describe the cardiac alterations in the presence of AKI (cardiorenal syndrome type 3) and explore how bone can interact with heart and kidney in determining and influencing the trend of AKI in the short and long term. The main anomalies of mineral metabolism in patients with AKI will be reported, with specific reference to the alterations of fibroblast growth factor 23 and Klotho as a link between the bone-kidney-heart axis.
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Nephrin is an immunoglobulin-like adhesion molecule first discovered as a major component of the podocyte slit diaphragm, where its integrity is essential to the function of the glomerular filtration barrier. Outside the kidney, nephrin has been shown in other restricted locations, most notably in the central nervous system (CNS) of embryonic and newborn rodents. With the aim of better characterizing nephrin expression and its role in the CNS of adult rodents, we studied its expression pattern and possible binding partners in CNS tissues and cultured neuronal cells and compared these data to those obtained in control renal tissues and podocyte cell cultures. Our results show that, besides a number of locations already found in embryos and newborns, endogenous nephrin in adult rodent CNS extends to the pons and corpus callosum and is expressed by granule cells and Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, with a characteristic alternating expression pattern. In primary neuronal cells we find nephrin expression close to synaptic proteins and demonstrate that nephrin co-immunoprecipitates with Fyn kinase, glutamate receptors and the scaffolding molecule PSD95, an assembly that is reminiscent of those made by synaptic adhesion molecules. This role seems to be confirmed by our findings of impaired maturation and reduced glutamate exocytosis occurring in Neuro2A cells upon nephrin silencing. Of note, we disclose that the very same nephrin interactions occur in renal glomeruli and cultured podocytes, supporting our hypothesis that podocytes organize and use similar molecular intercellular signalling modules to those used by neuronal cells.
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Encéfalo/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/biossíntese , Receptores de Glutamato/metabolismo , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Córtex Cerebral/metabolismo , Glomérulos Renais/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Proteínas de Neoplasias , Neurônios/metabolismo , Podócitos/metabolismo , Proteínas Tirosina Quinases , Células de Purkinje/metabolismo , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Quinases da Família src/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relative contribution of genetic factors and dietary patterns to glomerular damage in healthy individuals and prediabetic conditions is currently unclear. All Rab3A knockout (KO) mice spontaneously develop macroalbuminuria, but only male mice exhibit a glucose-intolerant phenotype, thus making the model suitable to examine the impact of a diet on preexisting podocyte damage. METHODS: Male and female Rab3A KO and wild-type (WT) mice were chronically fed a high-glucose diet (HGD). Biochemical tests, histology and immunohistochemistry were periodically performed whilst primary podocytes served for in vitro analyses. RESULTS: Chronic administration of an HGD did not induce de novo alterations in WT kidneys but caused progressive worsening of podocyte and glomerular damage in both male and female Rab3A KO. Though glomerular lesions, reminiscent of human diabetic nephropathy, were more severe in male mice, overt proteinuria and renal damage were also evident in female mice. The in vitro analysis of Rab3A WT and KO podocytes revealed diminished actin plasticity in the cell processes of KO podocytes. Furthermore, a modest increase in glucose concentration induced profound cytoskeletal changes only in Rab3A KO cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that chronic administration of an HGD to Rab3A KO mice that have a genetic defect that impairs podocyte actin plasticity results in increased podocyte damage and leads to overt proteinuria. If the same diet is given to male Rab3A KO animals, with additionally altered glucose homeostasis, this results in renal lesions similar to those of human diabetic nephropathy.
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Dieta , Glucose/administração & dosagem , Glomérulos Renais/patologia , Proteinúria/patologia , Proteína rab3A de Ligação ao GTP/deficiência , Actinas/metabolismo , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Nefropatias Diabéticas/etiologia , Nefropatias Diabéticas/genética , Nefropatias Diabéticas/patologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Glucose/toxicidade , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Glomérulos Renais/metabolismo , Glomérulos Renais/ultraestrutura , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos da Linhagem 129 , Camundongos Knockout , Microscopia Eletrônica , Microscopia de Fluorescência , Podócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Podócitos/metabolismo , Podócitos/patologia , Proteinúria/etiologia , Proteinúria/genética , Fatores Sexuais , Proteína rab3A de Ligação ao GTP/genéticaRESUMO
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by increased vascular risk due to premature atherosclerosis independent of traditional risk factors. We previously proposed that IFN-α plays a crucial role in premature vascular damage in SLE. IFN-α alters the balance between endothelial cell apoptosis and vascular repair mediated by endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and myeloid circulating angiogenic cells (CACs). In this study, we demonstrate that IFN-α promotes an antiangiogenic signature in SLE and control EPCs/CACs, characterized by transcriptional repression of IL-1α and ß, IL-1R1, and vascular endothelial growth factor A, and upregulation of IL-1R antagonist and the decoy receptor IL-1R2. IL-1ß promotes significant improvement in the functional capacity of lupus EPCs/CACs, therefore abrogating the deleterious effects of IFN-α. The beneficial effects from IL-1 are mediated, at least in part, by increases in EPC/CAC proliferation, by decreases in EPC/CAC apoptosis, and by preventing the skewing of CACs toward nonangiogenic pathways. IFN-α induces STAT2 and 6 phosphorylation in EPCs/CACs, and JAK inhibition abrogates the transcriptional antiangiogenic changes induced by IFN-α in these cells. Immunohistochemistry of renal biopsies from patients with lupus nephritis, but not anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic Ab-positive vasculitis, showed this pathway to be operational in vivo, with increased IL-1R antagonist, downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A, and glomerular and blood vessel decreased capillary density, compared with controls. Our study introduces a novel putative pathway by which type I IFNs may interfere with vascular repair in SLE through repression of IL-1-dependent pathways. This could promote atherosclerosis and loss of renal function in this disease.
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Aterosclerose/metabolismo , Interferon-alfa/metabolismo , Interleucina-1/metabolismo , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/metabolismo , Neovascularização Fisiológica , Adulto , Aterosclerose/imunologia , Diferenciação Celular/fisiologia , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Feminino , Expressão Gênica , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Proteína Antagonista do Receptor de Interleucina 1/biossíntese , Interleucina-1/imunologia , Rim/irrigação sanguínea , Rim/metabolismo , Rim/patologia , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/genética , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/patologia , Nefrite Lúpica/metabolismo , Nefrite Lúpica/patologia , Masculino , Microscopia de Fluorescência , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Receptores de Interleucina-1/biossíntese , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Células-Tronco , Fator A de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular/biossínteseRESUMO
Irinotecan (CTP-11) is one of the standard therapies for colorectal cancer (CRC). CTP-11 is enzymatically converted to the hydrophobic 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38), a one hundred-fold more active metabolite. Conjugation of hydrophobic anticancer drugs to nanomaterials is a strategy to improve their solubility, efficacy, and selectivity. Carbon dots (CDs) have garnered interest for their small sizes (<10 ânm), low toxicity, high water solubility, and bright fluorescence. This paper describes the use of CDs to improve drug vehiculation, stability, and chemotherapeutic efficiency of SN38 through a direct intracellular uptake in CRC. The covalent conjugation of SN38 to CDs via a carbamate bond provides a CD-SN38 hybrid material for slow, sustained, and pH-responsive drug release. CD-SN38 successfully penetrates the CRC cells with a release in the nucleus affecting first the cell cycle and then the cytoskeleton. Moreover, CD-SN38 leads to a deregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), one of the major components of the cancer niche considered a possible target therapy for reducing the cancer progression. This work shows the combined therapeutic and imaging potential of CD-based hybrid materials for the treatment of CRC. Future efforts for targeted therapy of chronic diseases characterized by altered ECM deposition, such as chronic kidney disease and chronic allograft nephropathy in kidney transplant patients are envisaged.
RESUMO
Introduction: High serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) characterize chronic kidney disease (CKD) since its early stages and have been suggested to contribute to inflammation and cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms linking FGF23 with these pathological conditions remain still incompletely defined. The alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG), a liver-produced anti-inflammatory cytokine, is highly modulated by inflammation itself, also through the TNFα/NFκB signaling pathway. In our previous study, we found that FGF23 modulates the production of AHSG in the liver in a bimodal way, with stimulation and inhibition at moderately and highly increased FGF23 concentrations, respectively. Methods: The present study, aiming to gain further insights into this bimodal behavior, was performed in hepatocyte human cells line (HepG2), using the following methods: immunochemistry, western blot, chromatin immunoprecipitation, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), qRT-PCR, and gene SANGER sequencing. Results: We found that FGF23 at 400 pg/ml activates nuclear translocation of NFκB, possibly increasing AHSG transcription. At variance, at 1,200 pg/ml, FGF23 inactivates NFκB through the activation of two specific NFκB inhibitors (IκBα and NKIRAS2) and induces its detachment from the AHSG promoter, reducing AHSG transcription. Conclusion: These results add another piece to the puzzle of FGF23 involvement in the multifold interactions between CKD, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease, suggesting the involvement of the NFκB pathway, which might represent a potential therapeutic target in CKD.