Erythropoietin promotes energy metabolism to improve LPS-induced injury in HK-2 cells via SIRT1/PGC1-α pathway.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of frequent complications of sepsis with high mortality. Mitochondria is the center of energy metabolism participating in the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated AKI, and SIRT1/PGC1-α signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the modulation of energy metabolism. Erythropoietin (EPO) exerts protective functions on chronic kidney disease. We aimed to assess the effects of EPO on cell damage and energy metabolism in a cell model of septic AKI. Renal tubular epithelial cells HK-2 were treated with LPS and human recombinant erythropoietin (rhEPO). Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 and mitochondrial membrane potential was determined using JC-1 fluorescent probe. Then the content of ATP, ADP and NADPH, as well as lactic acid, were measured for the assessment of energy metabolism. Oxidative stress was evaluated by detecting the levels of ROS, MDA, SOD and GSH. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß, were measured with ELISA. Moreover, qRT-PCR and western blot were performed to detect mRNA and protein expressions. shSIRT1 was used to knockdown SIRT1, while EX527 and SR-18292 were applied to inhibit SIRT1 and PGC1-α, respectively, to investigate the regulatory mechanism of rhEPO on inflammatory injury and energy metabolism. In LPS-exposed HK-2 cells, rhEPO attenuated cell damage, inflammation and abnormal energy metabolism, as indicated by the elevated cell viability, the inhibited oxidative stress, cell apoptosis and inflammation, as well as the increased mitochondrial membrane potential and energy metabolism. However, these protective effects induced by rhEPO were reversed after SIRT1 or PGC1-α inhibition. EPO activated SIRT1/PGC1-α pathway to alleviate LPS-induced abnormal energy metabolism and cell damage in HK-2 cells. Our study suggested that rhEPO played a renoprotective role through SIRT1/PGC1-α pathway, which supported its therapeutic potential in septic AKI.

rhEPO inhibited cell apoptosis to alleviate acute kidney injury in sepsis by AMPK/SIRT1 activated autophagy.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, people diagnosed sepsis may develop acute kidney injury (AKI), resulting heavy burden of health care. Recombinant human erythroprotein (rhEPO) has been suggested to have multifunction and may be used in the prevention or treatment of AKI, and its underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. METHODS: In our study, cell model induced by LPS-activated cell apoptosis in vitro and AKI animal model caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection in vivo. MTT assay and Flow Cytometry were conducted to analyze cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. Western bot was used to analyze expressions of apoptosis and autophagy associated proteins, and effects on AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. RESULTS: Our results suggested that rhEPO inhibited LPS-induced cell apoptosis in HK-2 and HEK-293. Moreover, we found that rhEPO activated autophagy to prevented cell apoptosis, changing the expression level of autophagy associated proteins such as LC3-I/LC3-II and P62, and AMPK/SIRT1 pathway was involved in its regulation. Additionally, both EX527 (SIRT1 inhibitor) and Compound C (AMPK inhibitor) blocked the autophagy effects caused by rhEPO and thus reversed the anti-apoptotic effects of rhEPO. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that rhEPO inhibited LPS-induced kidney tubular injury and decreased the expression level of apoptotic proteins by altering the expression level of autophagy related proteins and AMPK/SIRT1 pathway related proteins in vitro. CONCLUSION: Collectively, rhEPO suppressed LPS-induced cell apoptosis via AMPK/SIRT1 pathway mediated autophagy, and modulating their levels may serve as potential way in preventing AKI.

[Fate and Origin of Major Ions in River Water in the Lhasa River Basin, Tibet].

In order to understand the temporal and spatial variations of major ions in water and their sources in the Lhasa River Basin, water samples were collected monthly at the hydrological station in the Lhasa River from August 2014 to July. The results show that HCO3- is the dominant anion in the water of the Lhasa River, which accounts for 68.73% of the anions, followed by SO42-. Ca2+ is the dominant cation, which accounts for 67.75% of the cations, followed by Mg2+. The pH values of the river water range between 8.31 and 8.90, with a mean of 8.59 throughout the year, generally showing alkaline water. The highest pH values occur in summer, which is probably due to the photosynthesis of aquatic plants and the growth of phytoplankton. Electrical conductivity (EC) varies between 155.0 and 257.0 µS·cm-1, with a mean of 210.5 µS·cm-1. Because of the frequent uplift of the Tibetan Plateau that enhanced the mechanical weathering of rocks and mineral dissolution, the total dissolved solid (TDS) concentration, at an average of 181.35 mg·L-1, is significantly higher than the average value of rivers around the world. The Lhasa River is recharged by surface runoff, so the concentrations of major ions in water are higher during winter, but lower in summer. An ion source analysis indicates that Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3- are mainly derived from chemical weathering of carbonate minerals, Cl-, SO42-, and NO3- are mainly affected by precipitation and rock weathering. Furthermore, the concentrations of major ions in the water have a negative correlation with the river discharge rate, which suggests there might be a dilution effect occurring during the rainy season.