Haploinsufficiency of the mouse Tshz3 gene leads to kidney defects.

Renal tract defects and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) deficits represent the phenotypic core of the 19q12 deletion syndrome caused by the loss of one copy of the TSHZ3 gene. Although a proportion of Tshz3 heterozygous (Tshz3+/lacZ) mice display ureteral defects, no kidney defects have been reported in these mice. The purpose of this study was to characterize the expression of Tshz3 in adult kidney as well as the renal consequences of embryonic haploinsufficiency of Tshz3 by analyzing the morphology and function of Tshz3 heterozygous adult kidney. Here, we described Tshz3 expression in the smooth muscle and stromal cells lining the renal pelvis, the papilla and glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) of the adult kidney as well as in the proximal nephron tubules in neonatal mice. Histological analysis showed that Tshz3+/lacZ adult kidney had an average of 29% fewer glomeruli than wild-type kidney. Transmission electron microscopy of Tshz3+/lacZ glomeruli revealed a reduced thickness of the glomerular basement membrane and a larger foot process width. Compared to wild type, Tshz3+/lacZ mice showed lower blood urea, phosphates, magnesium and potassium at 2 months of age. At the molecular level, transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed genes related to inflammatory processes in Tshz3+/lacZ compare to wild-type (control) adult kidneys. Lastly, analysis of the urinary peptidome revealed 33 peptides associated with Tshz3+/lacZ adult mice. These results provide the first evidence that in the mouse Tshz3 haploinsufficiency leads to cellular, molecular and functional abnormalities in the adult mouse kidney.

Revisiting definition and assessment of intestinal trans-epithelial passage.

This study aims to remind that Intestinal Passage (IP) measurement is a complex task that cannot be achieved by a unique measure of an orally given exogenous marker in blood or urine. This will be illustrated in the case of NOD mice. Indeed, various methods have been proposed to measure IP. Among them ex vivo measurement in Ussing chambers of luminal to serosal fluxes of exogenous markers and in vivo measurement of exogenous markers in blood or urine after oral gavage are the more commonly used. Even though they are commonly used indifferently, they do not give the same information and can provide contradictory results. Published data showed that diabetic status in female Non Obese Diabetic (NOD) mice increased FD4 concentration in blood after gavage but did not modify FD4 fluxes in Ussing chamber. We observed the same results in our experimental conditions and tracked FD4 concentrations in blood over a kinetic study (Area Under the Curve-AUC). In vivo measurements are a dynamic process and address not only absorption (IP and intestinal surface) but also distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME). Diabetic status in NOD mice was associated with an increase of intestinal length (absorptive surface), itself positively correlated with AUC of FD4 in blood. We concluded that increased intestinal length induced by diabetic status will extend the absorptive surface and increase FD4 concentration in plasma (in vivo measurement) despite no modification on IP of FD4 (ex vivo measurement). In addition, this study characterized intestinal function in diabetic NOD mice. Diabetic status in NOD female mice increases intestinal length and decreases paracellular IP (FSS) without affecting transcellular IP (HRP, FD4). Histological studies of small and large intestine did not show any modification of intestinal circumference nor villi and crypt size. Finally, diabetic status was not associated with intestinal inflammation (ELISA).

Increased urine acylcarnitines in diabetic ApoE-/- mice: Hydroxytetradecadienoylcarnitine (C14:2-OH) reflects diabetic nephropathy in a context of hyperlipidemia.

Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for initiation and progression of diabetic nephropathy but the metabolic pathways altered in the diabetic kidney in a context of hyperlipidemia remain incompletely described. Assuming that changes in urine composition reflect the alteration of renal metabolism and function, we analyzed the urine metabolite composition of diabetic (streptozotocin-treatment) and control (non diabetic) ApoE-/- mice fed a high cholesterol diet using targeted quantitative metabolomics. Urine metabolome was also compared to the plasma metabolome of the same animals. As previously shown, urine albuminuria/urine creatinine ratio (uACR) and glomerular area and plasma lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides) were more elevated in diabetic mice compared to control. After adjustment to urine creatinine, the abundance of 52 urine metabolites was significantly different in diabetic mice compared to control. Among them was a unique metabolite, C14:2-OH (3-hydroxytetradecadienoylcarnitine) that, in diabetic mice, was positively and significantly correlated with uACR, glomerular hypertrophy, blood glucose and plasma lipids. That metabolite was not detected in plasma. C14:2-OH is a long-chain acylcarnitine reminiscent of altered fatty acid beta oxidation. Other acylcarnitines, particularly the short chains C3-OH, C3-DC, C4:1, C5-DC, C5-M-DC, C5-OH that are reminiscent of altered oxidation of branched and aromatic amino acids were also exclusively detected in urine but were only correlated with plasma lipids. Finally, the renal gene expression of several enzymes involved in fatty acid and/or amino acid oxidation was significantly reduced in diabetic mice compared to control. This included the bifunctional enoyl-CoA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl-CoA (Ehhadh) that might play a central role in C14:2-OH production. This study indicate that the development of diabetes in a context of hyperlipidemia is associated with a reduced capacity of kidney to oxidize fatty acids and amino acids with the consequence of an elevation of urinary acetylcarnitines including C14:2-OH that specifically reflects diabetic nephropathy.

Dual agonist occupancy of AT1-R-α2C-AR heterodimers results in atypical Gs-PKA signaling.

Hypersecretion of norepinephrine (NE) and angiotensin II (AngII) is a hallmark of major prevalent cardiovascular diseases that contribute to cardiac pathophysiology and morbidity. Herein, we explore whether heterodimerization of presynaptic AngII AT1 receptor (AT1-R) and NE α2C-adrenergic receptor (α2C-AR) could underlie their functional cross-talk to control NE secretion. Multiple bioluminescence resonance energy transfer and protein complementation assays allowed us to accurately probe the structures and functions of the α2C-AR-AT1-R dimer promoted by ligand binding to individual protomers. We found that dual agonist occupancy resulted in a conformation of the heterodimer different from that induced by active individual protomers and triggered atypical Gs-cAMP-PKA signaling. This specific pharmacological signaling unit was identified in vivo to promote not only NE hypersecretion in sympathetic neurons but also sympathetic hyperactivity in mice. Thus, we uncovered a new process by which GPCR heterodimerization creates an original functional pharmacological entity and that could constitute a promising new target in cardiovascular therapeutics.

Collective and experimental research project for master's students on the pathophysiology of obesity.

We describe here a collective and experimental research project-based learning (ERPBL) for master's students that can be used to illustrate some basic concepts on glucose/lipid homeostasis and renal function around a topical issue. The primary objective of this ERPBL was to strengthen students' knowledge and understanding of physiology and pathophysiology. The secondary objectives were to help students to develop technical/practical abilities and acquire transversal skills with real-world connections. Obesity is a worldwide public health problem that increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes and nephropathies. To study the impact of western dietary habits, students evaluated the effects of a diet enriched with fat and cola [high-fat and cola diet (HFCD)] on metabolism and renal function in mice. Students mainly worked in tandem to prepare and perform experiments, but also collectively to compile, analyze, and discuss data. Students showed that HFCD-fed mice 1) developed obesity; 2) exhibited glucose homeostasis impairments associated to ectopic fat storage; and 3) displayed reduced glomerular filtration. The educational benefit of the program was estimated using three evaluation metrics: a conventional multicriteria assessment by teachers, a pre-/posttest, and a self-evaluation questionnaire. They showed that the current approach successfully strengthened scientific student knowledge and understanding of physiology/pathophysiology. In addition, it helped students develop new skills, such as technical and transversal skills. We concluded that this ERPBL dealing with the pathophysiology of obesity was strongly beneficial for master's students, thereby appearing as an efficient and performing educational tool.

Deciphering biased-agonism complexity reveals a new active AT1 receptor entity.

Functional selectivity of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) ligands toward different downstream signals has recently emerged as a general hallmark of this receptor class. However, pleiotropic and crosstalk signaling of GPCRs makes functional selectivity difficult to decode. To look from the initial active receptor point of view, we developed new, highly sensitive and direct bioluminescence resonance energy transfer-based G protein activation probes specific for all G protein isoforms, and we used them to evaluate the G protein-coupling activity of [(1)Sar(4)Ile(8)Ile]-angiotensin II (SII), previously described as an angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor-biased agonist that is G protein independent but ß-arrestin selective. By multiplexing assays sensing sequential signaling events, from receptor conformations to downstream signaling, we decoded SII as an agonist stabilizing a G protein-dependent AT(1A) receptor signaling module different from that of the physiological agonist angiotensin II, both in recombinant and primary cells. Thus, a biased agonist does not necessarily select effects from the physiological agonist but may instead stabilize and create a new distinct active pharmacological receptor entity.

Calprotectin is a contributor to and potential therapeutic target for vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease.

Vascular calcification is an important risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is also a complex process involving osteochondrogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and abnormal deposition of minerals in the vascular wall. In an observational, multicenter European study, including 112 patients with CKD from Spain and 171 patients on dialysis from France, we used serum proteome analysis and further validation by ELISA to identify calprotectin, a circulating damage-associated molecular pattern protein, as being independently associated with CV outcome and mortality. This was confirmed in an additional cohort of 170 patients with CKD from Sweden, where increased serum calprotectin concentrations correlated with increased vascular calcification. In primary human VSMCs and mouse aortic rings, calprotectin exacerbated calcification. Treatment with paquinimod, a calprotectin inhibitor, as well as pharmacological inhibition of the receptor for advanced glycation end products and Toll-like receptor 4 inhibited the procalcifying effect of calprotectin. Paquinimod also ameliorated calcification induced by the sera of uremic patients in primary human VSMCs. Treatment with paquinimod prevented vascular calcification in mice with chronic renal failure induced by subtotal nephrectomy and in aged apolipoprotein E-deficient mice as well. These observations identified calprotectin as a key contributor of vascular calcification, and increased circulating calprotectin was strongly and independently associated with calcification, CV outcome, and mortality in patients with CKD. Inhibition of calprotectin might therefore be a promising strategy to prevent vascular calcification in patients with CKD.

Exploration of simulated urine sample biochemistry for the diagnosis of diseases: A laboratory practical exercise.

The practical work described here is designed for third-year bachelor students in Life Sciences attending a kidney physiology course. It illustrates how urinary biochemistry can be used for a medical diagnosis. Students have to measure glucose, proteins, and creatinine concentrations in three simulated urine samples. First, they independently elaborate detailed protocols from the biochemical kit's technical sheets. Second, after correction of the protocols by the teacher, they perform the biochemical assays. Finally, students write a report in which they interpret the biochemical data and use them in the context of histological images assigned to each urine sample. With their results, their theoretical background and scientific articles supplied by the teacher, they establish the diagnosis indicating which patients are diseased and from which disease they are suffering (diabetes without nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy or hypertensive nephropathy). The originality of this practical work is to give student autonomy from the start of the project by requiring them to write the protocols, and determine the diagnosis by themselves. Simple and inexpensive, this practical forces students to mobilize their knowledge in renal physiology and pathophysiology as well as those acquired in other disciplines such as biochemistry or cellular biology. A survey conducted on two classes of students confirmed that this type of training helps students to better understand renal physiology, to realize the importance of interdisciplinarity (biochemistry, histology, and physiology) and to develop confidence in their ability to work independently.

Connectivity mapping of glomerular proteins identifies dimethylaminoparthenolide as a new inhibitor of diabetic kidney disease.

While blocking the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) has been the main therapeutic strategy to control diabetic kidney disease (DKD) for many years, 25-30% of diabetic patients still develop the disease. In the present work we adopted a systems biology strategy to analyze glomerular protein signatures to identify drugs with potential therapeutic properties in DKD acting through a RAAS-independent mechanism. Glomeruli were isolated from wild type and type 1 diabetic (Ins2Akita) mice treated or not with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) ramipril. Ramipril efficiently reduced the urinary albumin/creatine ratio (ACR) of Ins2Akita mice without modifying DKD-associated renal-injuries. Large scale quantitative proteomics was used to identify the DKD-associated glomerular proteins (DKD-GPs) that were ramipril-insensitive (RI-DKD-GPs). The raw data are publicly available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD018728. We then applied an in silico drug repurposing approach using a pattern-matching algorithm (Connectivity Mapping) to compare the RI-DKD-GPs's signature with a collection of thousands of transcriptional signatures of bioactive compounds. The sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide was identified as one of the top compounds predicted to reverse the RI-DKD-GPs's signature. Oral treatment of 2 months old Ins2Akita mice with dimethylaminoparthenolide (DMAPT, a water-soluble analogue of parthenolide) for two months at 10 mg/kg/d by gavage significantly reduced urinary ACR. However, in contrast to ramipril, DMAPT also significantly reduced glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Using a system biology approach, we identified DMAPT, as a compound with a potential add-on value to standard-of-care ACEi-treatment in DKD.

Perinatal exposure to a dietary pesticide cocktail does not increase susceptibility to high-fat diet-induced metabolic perturbations at adulthood but modifies urinary and fecal metabolic fingerprints in C57Bl6/J mice.

BACKGROUND: We recently demonstrated that chronic dietary exposure to a mixture of pesticides at low-doses induced sexually dimorphic obesogenic and diabetogenic effects in adult mice. Perinatal pesticide exposure may also be a factor in metabolic disease etiology. However, the long-term consequences of perinatal pesticide exposure remain controversial and largely unexplored. OBJECTIVES: Here we assessed how perinatal exposure to the same low-dose pesticide cocktail impacted metabolic homeostasis in adult mice. METHODS: Six pesticides (boscalid, captan, chlopyrifos, thiachloprid, thiophanate, and ziram) were incorporated in food pellets. During the gestation and lactation periods, female (F0) mice were fed either a pesticide-free or a pesticide-enriched diet at doses exposing them to the tolerable daily intake (TDI) level for each compound, using a 1:1 body weight scaling from humans to mice. All male and female offsprings (F1) were then fed the pesticide-free diet until 18 weeks of age, followed by challenge with a pesticide-free high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks. Metabolic parameters, including body weight, food and water consumption, glucose tolerance, and urinary and fecal metabolomes, were assessed over time. At the end of the experiment, we evaluated energetic metabolism and microbiota activity using biochemical assays, gene expression profiling, and 1H NMR-based metabolomics in the liver, urine, and feces. RESULTS: Perinatal pesticide exposure did not affect body weight or energy homeostasis in 6- and 14-week-old mice. As expected, HFD increased body weight and induced metabolic disorders as compared to a low-fat diet. However, HFD-induced metabolic perturbations were similar between mice with and without perinatal pesticide exposure. Interestingly, perinatal pesticide exposure induced time-specific and sex-specific alterations in the urinary and fecal metabolomes of adult mice, suggesting long-lasting changes in gut microbiota. CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal pesticide exposure induced sustained sexually dimorphic perturbations of the urinary and fecal metabolic fingerprints, but did not significantly influence the development of HFD-induced metabolic diseases.

Apelin affects the mouse aging urinary peptidome with minimal effects on kidney.

Kidney function is altered by age together with a declined filtration capacity of 5-10% per decade after 35 years. Renal aging shares many characteristics with chronic kidney disease. Plasma levels of the bioactive peptide apelin also decline with age and apelin has been shown to be protective in chronic kidney disease. Therefore we evaluated whether apelin could also improve aging-induced renal lesions and function in mice. Since urine is for the major part composed of proteins and peptides originating from the kidney, we first studied apelin-induced changes, in the aging urinary peptidome. Despite the recently published age-associated plasma decrease of apelin, expression of the peptide and its receptor was increased in the kidneys of 24 months old mice. Twenty-eight days treatment with apelin significantly modified the urinary peptidome of 3 and 24 months old mice towards a signature suggesting more advanced age at 3 months, and a younger age at 24 months. The latter was accompanied by a decreased staining of collagen (Sirius red staining) in 24 months old apelin-treated mice, without changing aging-induced glomerular hypertrophy. In addition, apelin was without effect on aging-induced renal autophagy, apoptosis, inflammation and reduced renal function. In conclusion, treatment of aged mice with apelin had a limited effect on kidney lesions although modifying the urinary peptidome towards a younger signature. This supports evidence of apelin inducing more general beneficial effects on other aging organs, muscles in particular, as recently shown for sarcopenia, markers of which end up via the glomerular filtration in urine.

Systems biology identifies cytosolic PLA2 as a target in vascular calcification treatment.

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbimortality worldwide, promising new drug candidates are lacking. We compared the arterial high-resolution proteome of patients with advanced versus early-stage CVD to predict, from a library of small bioactive molecules, drug candidates able to reverse this disease signature. Of the approximately 4000 identified proteins, 100 proteins were upregulated and 52 were downregulated in advanced-stage CVD. Arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF3), a cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) inhibitor was predicted as the top drug able to reverse the advanced-stage CVD signature. Vascular cPLA2 expression was increased in patients with advanced-stage CVD. Treatment with AACOCF3 significantly reduced vascular calcification in a cholecalciferol-overload mouse model and inhibited osteoinductive signaling in vivo and in vitro in human aortic smooth muscle cells. In conclusion, using a systems biology approach, we have identified a potentially new compound that prevented typical vascular calcification in CVD in vivo. Apart from the clear effect of this approach in CVD, such strategy should also be able to generate novel drug candidates in other complex diseases.

Transcriptional down-regulation of human alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors by IFNgamma and TNFalpha in intestinal cells.

alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors are expressed on intestinal cells and they participate in the control of epithelial functions such as solute and water transport or cell proliferation. In pathological conditions, pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted by lymphocytes are responsible for modification of intestinal cell characteristics including phenotype switch and changes in the expression of pumps and ion channels. Using the HT29 cell line as a model, the present work examined the effect of two inflammatory cytokines, interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), on the expression of the human alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor. Exposure of cells to either IFNgamma or TNFalpha resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent diminution of [(3)H]RX821002 binding sites, which is preceded by a large decrease in the amount of alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor mRNA. The cytokines did not affect the receptor mRNA half-life, but inhibited the activity of a luciferase construct containing the promoter region of alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor gene, indicating that a decrease in the transcription rate is primarily responsible for the diminution of receptor expression. Exposure of cells to either IFNgamma or TNFalpha caused increased production of reactive oxygen species and transient phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk1/2). The effect of cytokines was mimicked by H(2)O(2) but was unaffected by the addition of anti-oxidants. The blockade of Erk1/2 activation by PD98059 blunted the effect of TNFalpha but not of IFNgamma. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate that IFNgamma and TNFalpha diminish the alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor expression in HT29 cells by decreasing the transcription rate without modifying the stability of mRNA. The transcription inhibition is however triggered via different signalling pathways. The results suggest that cytokine-mediated down-regulation of alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor could contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.

EGF receptor transactivation and PI3-kinase mediate stimulation of ERK by alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor in intestinal epithelial cells: a role in wound healing.

Intestinal cells express alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptors that stimulate sodium and peptide absorption and promote cell proliferation. Involved mechanisms are poorly understood and are not fully related to inhibition of cAMP production. Previous study using a clone of CaCo2 cells expressing the human alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor (CaCo2-3B) showed that alpha(2)-adrenoreceptor agonists cause extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. Present work examines the signaling pathway triggering ERK activation and investigates the consequence of alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor stimulation on cell migration. Treatment of CaCo2-3B with the alpha(2)-adrenoreceptor agonist 5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino) quinoxaline (UK14304) induces not only ERK, but also Akt phosphorylation. Both effects are strongly attenuated by inhibition or desensitization of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) blockade, heparin-binding-EGF neutralization or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitors. Conditioned medium from UK14304-treated CaCo2-3B stimulates ERK in parental CaCo2 by a mechanism sensitive to EGF receptor and PI3-kinase inhibitors. Exposure of CaCo2-3B to UK14304 accelerates the wound healing. This effect is abolished by heparin-binding-EGF neutralization but not by mitomycin C, indicating that it results probably from increased cell spreading and/or migration. In conclusion, alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor activates ERK and Akt in intestinal cells by a common pathway which depends on PI3-kinase activation and results from EGF receptor transactivation, via an autocrine/paracrine pathway implying MMP activation and heparin-binding-EGF shedding. Therefore, alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor could have a positive role in intestinal regeneration in vivo.

Lysophosphatidic Acid Protects Against Endotoxin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury.

Septic shock is the most common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear and no targeted therapies exist. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lipid which in vivo administration was reported to mitigate inflammation and injuries caused by bacterial endotoxemia in the liver and lung. The objective of the present study was to determine whether LPA can protect against sepsis-associated AKI. C57BL/6 mice were treated with LPA 18:1 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 h before being injected with the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and AKI was evaluated after 24 h. LPA significantly decreased the elevation of plasma urea and creatinine caused by LPS. In the kidney, LPA pretreatment significantly reduced the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNFα, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)), and completely prevented downregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha and upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 caused by LPS. LPA also prevented LPS-mediated alterations of the renal mitochondrial ultrastructure. In vitro pretreatment with LPA 18:1 significantly attenuated LPS-induced upregulation of the inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and MCP-1) in RAW264 macrophages. Moreover, in vivo LPS treatment lowered urinary LPA concentration and reduced LPA anabolic enzymes (autotaxin and acylglycerol kinase), and increased the LPA catalytic enzyme (lipid phosphate phosphatase 2) expression in the kidney cortex. In conclusion, exogenous LPA exerted a protective action against renal inflammation and injuries caused by bacterial endotoxemia. Moreover, LPS reduces the renal production of LPA suggesting that sepsis-associated AKI could be mediated, at least in part, by alleviation of the protective action of endogenous LPA.

Urinary peptidomics analysis reveals proteases involved in diabetic nephropathy.

Mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of nephropathy in diabetic patients are not fully elucidated. Deregulation of proteolytic systems is a known path leading to disease manifestation, therefore we hypothesized that proteases aberrantly expressed in diabetic nephropathy (DN) may be involved in the generation of DN-associated peptides in urine. We compared urinary peptide profiles of DN patients (macroalbuminuric, n = 121) to diabetic patients with no evidence of DN (normoalbuminuric, n = 118). 302 sequenced, differentially expressed peptides (adjusted p-value < 0.05) were analysed with the Proteasix tool predicting proteases potentially involved in their generation. Activity change was estimated based on the change in abundance of the investigated peptides. Predictions were correlated with transcriptomics (Nephroseq) and relevant protein expression data from the literature. This analysis yielded seventeen proteases, including multiple forms of MMPs, cathepsin D and K, kallikrein 4 and proprotein convertases. The activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, predicted to be decreased in DN, was investigated using zymography in a DN mouse model confirming the predictions. Collectively, this proof-of-concept study links urine peptidomics to molecular changes at the tissue level, building hypotheses for further investigation in DN and providing a workflow with potential applications to other diseases.

Association of kidney fibrosis with urinary peptides: a path towards non-invasive liquid biopsies?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A hallmark of CKD progression is renal fibrosis characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation of the urinary proteome classifier CKD273 and individual urinary peptides with the degree of fibrosis. In total, 42 kidney biopsies and urine samples were examined. The percentage of fibrosis per total tissue area was assessed in Masson trichrome stained kidney tissues. The urinary proteome was analysed by capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry. CKD273 displayed a significant and positive correlation with the degree of fibrosis (Rho = 0.430, P = 0.0044), while the routinely used parameters (glomerular filtration rate, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio) did not (Rho = -0.222; -0.137; -0.070 and P = 0.16; 0.39; 0.66, respectively). We identified seven fibrosis-associated peptides displaying a significant and negative correlation with the degree of fibrosis. All peptides were collagen fragments, suggesting that these may be causally related to the observed accumulation of ECM in the kidneys. CKD273 and specific peptides are significantly associated with kidney fibrosis; such an association could not be detected by other biomarkers for CKD. These non-invasive fibrosis-related biomarkers can potentially be implemented in future trials.

Cardioprotective Angiotensin-(1-7) Peptide Acts as a Natural-Biased Ligand at the Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor.

Hyperactivity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system through the angiotensin II (Ang II)/Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1-R) axis constitutes a hallmark of hypertension. Recent findings indicate that only a subset of AT1-R signaling pathways is cardiodeleterious, and their selective inhibition by biased ligands promotes therapeutic benefit. To date, only synthetic biased ligands have been described, and whether natural renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system peptides exhibit functional selectivity at AT1-R remains unknown. In this study, we systematically determined efficacy and potency of Ang II, Ang III, Ang IV, and Ang-(1-7) in AT1-R-expressing HEK293T cells on the activation of cardiodeleterious G-proteins and cardioprotective ß-arrestin2. Ang III and Ang IV fully activate similar G-proteins than Ang II, the prototypical AT1-R agonist, despite weaker potency of Ang IV. Interestingly, Ang-(1-7) that binds AT1-R fails to promote G-protein activation but behaves as a competitive antagonist for Ang II/Gi and Ang II/Gq pathways. Conversely, all renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system peptides act as agonists on the AT1-R/ß-arrestin2 axis but display biased activities relative to Ang II as indicated by their differences in potency and AT1-R/ß-arrestin2 intracellular routing. Importantly, we reveal Ang-(1-7) a known Mas receptor-specific ligand, as an AT1-R-biased agonist, selectively promoting ß-arrestin activation while blocking the detrimental Ang II/AT1-R/Gq axis. This original pharmacological profile of Ang-(1-7) at AT1-R, similar to that of synthetic AT1-R-biased agonists, could, in part, contribute to its cardiovascular benefits. Accordingly, in vivo, Ang-(1-7) counteracts the phenylephrine-induced aorta contraction, which was blunted in AT1-R knockout mice. Collectively, these data suggest that Ang-(1-7) natural-biased agonism at AT1-R could fine-tune the physiology of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Increased urinary lysophosphatidic acid in mouse with subtotal nephrectomy: potential involvement in chronic kidney disease.

Increased incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with consecutive progression to end-stage renal disease represents a significant burden to healthcare systems. Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) is a classical hallmark of CKD and is well correlated with the loss of renal function. The bioactive lysophospholipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), acting through specific G-protein-coupled receptors, was previously shown to be involved in TIF development in a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction. Here, we study the role of LPA in a mouse subjected to subtotal nephrectomy (SNx), a more chronic and progressive model of CKD. Five months after surgical nephron reduction, SNx mice showed massive albuminuria, extensive TIF, and glomerular hypertrophy when compared to sham-operated animals. Urinary and plasma levels of LPA were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. LPA was significantly increased in SNx urine, not in plasma, and was significantly correlated with albuminuria and TIF. Moreover, SNx mice showed significant downregulation in the renal expression of lipid phosphate phosphohydrolases (LPP1, 2, and 3) that might be involved in reduced LPA bioavailability through dephosphorylation. We concluded that SNx increases urinary LPA through a mechanism that could involve co-excretion of plasma LPA with albumin associated with a reduction of its catabolism in the kidney. Because of the previously demonstrated profibrotic activity of LPA, the association of urinary LPA with TIF suggests the potential involvement of LPA in the development of advanced CKD in the SNx mouse model. Targeting LPA metabolism might represent an interesting approach in CKD treatment.

Cardiac fibroblasts regulate sympathetic nerve sprouting and neurocardiac synapse stability.

Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) plays a key role in cardiac homeostasis and its deregulations always associate with bad clinical outcomes. To date, little is known about molecular mechanisms regulating cardiac sympathetic innervation. The aim of the study was to determine the role of fibroblasts in heart sympathetic innervation. RT-qPCR and western-blots analysis performed in cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts isolated from healthy adult rat hearts revealed that Pro-Nerve growth factor (NGF) and pro-differentiating mature NGF were the most abundant neurotrophins expressed in cardiac fibroblasts while barely detectable in cardiomyocytes. When cultured with cardiac fibroblasts or fibroblast-conditioned medium, PC12 cells differentiated into/sympathetic-like neurons expressing axonal marker Tau-1 at neurites in contact with cardiomyocytes. This was prevented by anti-NGF blocking antibodies suggesting a paracrine action of NGF secreted by fibroblasts. When co-cultured with cardiomyocytes to mimic neurocardiac synapse, differentiated PC12 cells exhibited enhanced norepinephrine secretion as quantified by HPLC compared to PC12 cultured alone while co-culture with fibroblasts had no effect. However, when supplemented to PC12-cardiomyocytes co-culture, fibroblasts allowed long-term survival of the neurocardiac synapse. Activated fibroblasts (myofibroblasts) isolated from myocardial infarction rat hearts exhibited significantly higher mature NGF expression than normal fibroblasts and also promoted PC12 cells differentiation. Within the ischemic area lacking cardiomyocytes and neurocardiac synapses, tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity was increased and associated with local anarchical and immature sympathetic hyperinnervation but tissue norepinephrine content was similar to that of normal cardiac tissue, suggesting depressed sympathetic function. Collectively, these findings demonstrate for the first time that fibroblasts are essential for the setting of cardiac sympathetic innervation and neurocardiac synapse stability. They also suggest that neurocardiac synapse functionality relies on a triptych with tight interaction between sympathetic nerve endings, cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts. Deregulations of this triptych may be involved in pathophysiology of cardiac diseases.