Effects of Rab7 gene up-regulation on renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction

Rab7, an important member of the Rab family, is closely related to autophagy, endocytosis, apoptosis, and tumor suppression but few studies have described its association with renal fibrosis. In the early stage, our group studied the effects of Rab7 on production and degradation of extracellular matrix in hypoxic renal tubular epithelial cells. Because cell culture in vitro is different from the environment in vivo, it is urgent to understand the effects in vivo. In our current study, we established a renal fibrosis model in Rab7-knock-in mice (prepared by CRISPR/Cas9 technology) and wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice using unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Seven and 14 days after UUO, the expression of the Rab7 protein in WT mice, as well as the autophagic activity, renal function, and the degree of renal fibrosis in WT and Rab7-knock-in mice were examined by blood biochemical assay, hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. We found that the Rab7 expression in WT mice increased over time. Furthermore, the autophagic activity constantly increased in both groups, although it was higher in the Rab7-knock-in mice than in the WT mice at the same time point. Seven days after UUO, the degree of renal fibrosis was milder in the Rab7-knock-in mice than in the WT mice, but it became more severe 14 days after surgery. Similar results were found for renal function. Therefore, Rab7 suppressed renal fibrosis in mice initially, but eventually it aggravated fibrosis with the activation of autophagy.

Network analysis on Rab7a gene in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective: To investigate the changes of expressions of the related genes in the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-231 cells after knockout of Rab7a gene, and to elucidate the roles of Rab7a-related genes in TNBC. Methods: The breast cancer ZR-75-30, MCF-7, T-47D, MDA-MB-231 and HCC-1937 cells in the logarithmic phase were selected. The expression levels of Rab7a protein in the breast cancer ZR-75-30, MCF-7, T-47D, MDA-MB-231, and HCC-1937 cells were detected by Western blotting method. The Rab7a gene in the MDA-MB-231 cells was knockout with lentivirus and the cells were divided into negative control group and Rab7a knockout group. According to the four different knockout Rab7a sequences, the Rab7a knockout group was divided into KD1 group, KD2 group, KD3 group and KD4 group. The knockout efficiencies of Rab7a gene in the MDA-MB-231 cells in various groups were detected by qPCR method, the differential genes in the highest knockout efficiency group (KD2 group) and negative control group were detected by full gene expression microarray, and the interaction between Rab7a gene and other genes was analyzed by integrated pathway analysis (IPA) software. Results: The Rab7a protein was expressed in the TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells. Compared with negative control group, the knockout efficiency of Rab7a gene in the MDA-MB-231 cells in KD2 group was the highest (P

Impact of CD137-CD137L signaling on secretion of mouse vascular smooth muscle cells-derived exosomes: role of Rab7 pathway / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective@#To investigate whether CD137-CD137L signaling could affect the secretion of mouse vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) -derived exosomes through autophagy mediated Rab7 pathway.@*Methods@#Primary thoracic aorta VSMCs from C57BL/6J mouse were obtained by tissue block adherence method. VSMCs between the third to fifth passages were used and VSMCs were divided into 4 groups: control group, CD137 agonist group, lentivirus control group, Rab7 lentiviral interference group. VSMCs in CD137 agonist group were treated with recombinant protein of CD137L (10 μg/ml), VSMCs in lentivirus control group were treated with lentiviral followed by recombinant protein of CD137L (10 μg/ml), VSMCs in Rab7 lentiviral interference group were treated with Rab7 lentiviral intervention followed by recombinant protein of CD137L (10 μg/ml). Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of LC3Ⅱ, p62, Rab7, CD9, CD81 and Hsc70. Fluorescence microscopy was used to track the changes of autophagy in cells infected with mRFP-GFP-LC3. Transmission electron microscope was used to observe the morphology and size of VSMCs-derived exosomes. The nanoparticle tracking analysis(NTA) was used to detect the concentration and size of exosomes in each group.@*Results@#(1) The expressions of Rab7, LC3Ⅱ and p62 protein in VSMCs of CD137 activation group were significantly higher than those in control group (all P<0.05). The expressions of Rab7, LC3Ⅱ and p62 protein in Rab7 lentivirus interference group was lower than in CD137 activation group (all P<0.05), while the expressions were similar between the lentivirus control group and the CD137 activation group (all P>0.05). (2) The total number of fluorescent spots and yellow fluorescent spots in the VSMCs of the CD137 activation group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05), and the number of yellow fluorescent spots was higher than that of the red fluorescent spots in the VSMCs of the CD137 activation group ((50.3±0.9) vs. (10.3±1.5)/cell). The total numbers of fluorescent spots and yellow fluorescent spots in VSMCs of Rab7 lentivirus interference group were lower than those of CD137 activation group (both P<0.05), and the number of red fluorescent spots in VSMCs was higher than that of yellow fluorescent spots ((40.7±4.0) and (10.7±1.2)/cell) in the Rab7 lentiviral interference group. The total numbers of fluorescent spots and yellow fluorescent spots in the VSMCs were similar between the lentivirus control group and the CD137 activation group (all P>0.05). (3) Under transmission electron microscopy, the size of the VSMCs-derived exosomes was about 30-150 nm. The exosome markers (CD9, CD81) could be detected in vesicles by Western blot. NTA results showed that the concentration of VSMCs-derived exosomes was significantly higher in the CD137-activated group than in the control group (P<0.05), which was significantly lower in the Rab7 lentiviral interference group than in the CD137-activation group (P<0.05) and was similar between the lentivirus control group and the CD137 activation group (P>0.05). The expression of Hsc70 protein in exosomes secreted by CD137 activation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The expression of Hsc70 protein in exosomes was lower in Rab7 lentivirus interference group than in the CD137 activation group (P<0.05), which was similar between the lentivirus control group and the CD137 activation group (P>0.05). The expression of LC3Ⅱ protein in exosome was higher in CD137 activation group than in control group (P<0.05), which was lower in Rab7 lentivirus interference group than in CD137 activation group (P<0.05), which was similar between the lentivirus control group and the CD137 activation group (P>0.05).@*Conclusion@#The CD137-CD137L signaling may affect the secretion of mouse VSMCs-derived exosomes through modulating the Rab7 pathway mediated autophagy.

Effects of Rab7 gene silencing on cytokine and MAPK signal pathway activated by R848 in macrophage / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of Rab7 on cytokine induced by TLR7 (Toll like receptor-7) R848 activated in Raw264.7,and discusses the influence of Rab7 on MAPK signal transduction.Methods: TLR7 downstream cytokines such as TNF-α,IL-6,IFN-α,IFN-β and IP-10 activated by R848 were detected through Q-PCR in Rab7 silenced mouse macrophages,and then analysis of phosphorylation of MAPK determined with Western blot showed the effect of Rab7 on signal transduction of MAPK.Results: Rab7 inhibit production of cytokine activated by TLR7,and also,Rab7 had an inhibitory effect on MAPK signal pathway.Conclusion: The experimental results further illustrate that the Rab7 is the TLR7 signal transduction pathway negative regulatory factor,and to participate in MAPK signaling pathway.