RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Protease-activated receptor 4 (PAR4) mediates thrombin signaling on platelets and other cells. Our recent structural studies demonstrated that a single nucleotide polymorphism in extracellular loop 3 and PAR4-P310L (rs2227376) leads to a hyporeactive receptor. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to determine how the hyporeactive PAR4 variant in extracellular loop 3 impacts platelet function in vivo using a novel knock-in mouse model (PAR4-322L). METHODS: A point mutation was introduced into the PAR4 gene F2rl3 via CRISPR/Cas9 to create PAR4-P322L, the mouse homolog to human PAR4-P310L. Platelet response to PAR4 activation peptide (AYPGKF), thrombin, ADP, and convulxin was monitored by αIIbß3 integrin activation and P-selectin translocation using flow cytometry or platelet aggregation. In vivo responses were determined by the tail bleeding assay and the ferric chloride-induced carotid artery injury model. RESULTS: PAR4-P/L and PAR4-L/L platelets had a reduced response to AYPGKF and thrombin measured by P-selectin translocation or αIIbß3 activation. The response to ADP and convulxin was unchanged among genotypes. In addition, both PAR4-P/L and PAR4-L/L platelets showed a reduced response to thrombin in aggregation studies. There was an increase in the tail bleeding time for PAR4-L/L mice. The PAR4-P/L and PAR4-L/L mice both showed an extended time to arterial thrombosis. CONCLUSION: PAR4-322L significantly reduced platelet responsiveness to AYPGKF and thrombin, which is in agreement with our previous structural and cell signaling studies. In addition, PAR4-322L had prolonged arterial thrombosis time. Our mouse model provides a foundation to further evaluate the role of PAR4 in other pathophysiological contexts.
Assuntos
Plaquetas , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Agregação Plaquetária , Complexo Glicoproteico GPIIb-IIIa de Plaquetas , Receptores de Trombina , Trombina , Animais , Plaquetas/metabolismo , Receptores de Trombina/genética , Receptores de Trombina/metabolismo , Trombina/metabolismo , Complexo Glicoproteico GPIIb-IIIa de Plaquetas/metabolismo , Complexo Glicoproteico GPIIb-IIIa de Plaquetas/genética , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Venenos de Crotalídeos/farmacologia , Venenos de Crotalídeos/toxicidade , Difosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Difosfato de Adenosina/farmacologia , Selectina-P/metabolismo , Selectina-P/genética , Mutação Puntual , Técnicas de Introdução de Genes , Transdução de Sinais , Trombose/genética , Trombose/sangue , Masculino , Cloretos , Camundongos , Ativação Plaquetária , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Humanos , Fenótipo , Compostos Férricos , Oligopeptídeos , Lectinas Tipo C , Receptores Ativados por ProteinaseRESUMO
Our previous study found that miR-26a alleviates aldosterone-induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF). However, the effect of miR-26a on TIF in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains unclear. This study clarifies the role and possible mechanism of exogenous miR-26a in controlling the progression of TIF in DKD models. Firstly, we showed that miR-26a was markedly decreased in type 2 diabetic db/db mice and mouse tubular epithelial cells (mTECs) treated with high glucose (HG, 30 mM) using RT-qPCR. We then used adeno-associated virus carrying miR-26a and adenovirus miR-26a to enhance the expression of miR-26a in vivo and in vitro. Overexpressing miR-26a alleviated the TIF in db/db mice and the extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in HG-stimulated mTECs. These protective effects were caused by reducing expression of protease-activated receptor 4 (PAR4), which involved in multiple pro-fibrotic pathways. The rescue of PAR4 expression reversed the anti-fibrosis activity of miR-26a. We conclude that miR-26a alleviates TIF in DKD models by directly targeting PAR4, which may provide a novel molecular strategy for DKD therapy.