ABSTRACT
Our previous experiment confirmed that high-mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1) was involved in the pathogenesis of Lupus nephritis (LN) by upregulating the proliferation of the mouse mesangial cell line (MMC) through the cyclin D1/CDK4/p16 system, but the precise mechanism is still unknown. Therefore, in the present study, we demonstrated that HMGB1 induced the proliferation of MMC cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, downregulated phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) expression, increased the level of Akt serine 473 phosphorylation, and induced p65 subunit nuclear translocation. The overexpression of PTEN prevented the upregulation of HMGB1-induced proliferation by blocking the activation of Akt. The knockdown of Akt by siRNA technology and blocking the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway using pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) and SN50, inhibitors of NF-κB, both attenuated the HMGB1-induced proliferation by counteracting the activation of the cyclin D1. In addition, while sh-Akt partly blocked the nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit, PDTC did not affect the activation of the Akt induced by HMGB1 in MMC cells. These findings indicate that HMGB1 induced the proliferation of MMC cells by activating the PTEN/phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Subject(s)
Cyclin D1/genetics , HMGB1 Protein/genetics , Lupus Nephritis/genetics , Mesangial Cells/metabolism , PTEN Phosphohydrolase/genetics , Animals , Cell Proliferation , Cyclin D1/metabolism , Gene Knockdown Techniques , HMGB1 Protein/metabolism , Lupus Nephritis/metabolism , Lupus Nephritis/pathology , Mice , NF-kappa B/genetics , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Oncogene Protein v-akt/genetics , Oncogene Protein v-akt/metabolism , PTEN Phosphohydrolase/metabolism , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics , Phosphorylation , Signal Transduction/geneticsABSTRACT
The objective is to investigate the effect of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) on lipid deposition in γ-interferon (IFN-γ)-stimulated mouse mesangial cell line (MMC) and to determine whether the Janus kinase 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (JAK2/STAT1) signaling pathway plays an important role in this process. We employed a control group, an IFN-γ stimulation group, and an IFN-γ + AG490 (JAK2 inhibitor) group. RNA interference aimed at sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) or HMGB1 was used to investigate the effect of these proteins on IFN-γ-induced lipid deposition. Western blotting was used to detect phospho (p)-JAK2, JAK2, p-STAT1, STAT1, SREBP-1, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and HMGB1 protein expression. RT-PCR was used to detect SREBP-1, FAS, and HMGB1 mRNA. Oil Red O staining and the triglyceride assay were used to detect lipid deposition and triglyceride content. Results were as follows: 1) IFN-γ increased MMC cell lipid deposition, triglyceride content, and p-JAK2, p-STAT1, SREBP-1, and FAS expression; 2) SREBP-1 inhibition prevented FAS upregulation and attenuated IFN-γ-induced MMC cell lipid deposition and triglyceride content; 3) HMGB1 upregulated SREBP-1 and FAS mRNA and protein levels, which increased lipid deposition in MMC cells. Small interfering RNA-mediated inhibition of HMGB1 decreased SREBP-1 and FAS expression and lipid accumulation; 4) AG490 decreased upregulation of HMGB1 and p-JAK2/p-STAT1, as well as IFN-γ-induced lipogenesis. In conclusion, the JAK2/STAT1 pathway mediates IFN-γ-induced lipogenesis in MMC cells through regulation of HMGB1/SREBP-1/FAS.
