Falguni Das

MicroRNA-21 Orchestrates High Glucose-induced Signals to TOR Complex 1, Resulting in Renal Cell Pathology in Diabetes

Hyperglycemia induces a wide array of signaling pathways in the kidney that lead to hypertrophy and matrix expansion, eventually culminating in progressive kidney failure. High glucose-induced reduction of the tumor suppressor protein phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome 10 (PTEN) contributes to renal cell hypertrophy and matrix expansion. We identified microRNA-21 (miR-21) as the molecular link between high glucose and PTEN suppression. Renal cortices from OVE26 type 1 diabetic mice showed significantly elevated levels of miR-21 associated with reduced PTEN and increased fibronectin content. In renal mesangial cells, high glucose increased the expression of miR-21, which targeted the 3′-UTR of PTEN mRNA to inhibit PTEN protein expression. Overexpression of miR-21 mimicked the action of high glucose, which included a reduction in PTEN expression and a concomitant increase in Akt phosphorylation. In contrast, expression of miR-21 Sponge, to inhibit endogenous miR-21, prevented down-regulation of PTEN and phosphorylation of Akt induced by high glucose. Interestingly, high glucose-stimulated miR-21 inactivated PRAS40, a negative regulator of TORC1. Finally, miR-21 enhanced high glucose-induced TORC1 activity, resulting in renal cell hypertrophy and fibronectin expression. Thus, our results identify a previously unrecognized function of miR-21 that is the reciprocal regulation of PTEN levels and Akt/TORC1 activity that mediate critical pathologic features of diabetic kidney disease.

Mesangial Cell Hypertrophy by High Glucose Is Mediated by Downregulation of the Tumor Suppressor PTEN

Diabetic nephropathy is characterized early in its course by glomerular hypertrophy and, importantly, mesangial hypertrophy, which correlate with eventual glomerulosclerosis. The mechanism of hypertrophy, however, is not known. Gene disruption of the tumor suppressor PTEN, a negative regulator of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway, in fruit flies and mice demonstrated its role in size control in a cell-specific manner. Here, we investigated the mechanism of mesangial hypertrophy in response to high extracellular glucose. We link early renal hypertrophy with significant reduction in PTEN expression in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic kidney cortex and glomeruli, concomitant with activation of Akt. Similarly, exposure of mesangial cells to high concentrations of glucose also decreased PTEN expression and its phosphatase activity, resulting in increased Akt activity. Expression of PTEN inhibited high-glucose–induced mesangial cell hypertrophy, and expression of dominant-negative PTEN was sufficient to induce hypertrophy. In diabetic nephropathy, the hypertrophic effect of hyperglycemia is thought to be mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). TGF-β significantly reduced PTEN expression in mesangial cells, with a reduction in its phosphatase activity and an increase in Akt activation. PTEN and dominant-negative Akt attenuated TGF-β–induced hypertrophy of mesangial cells. Finally, we show that inhibition of TGF-β signal transduction blocks the effect of high glucose on PTEN downregulation. These data identify a novel mechanism placing PTEN as a key regulator of diabetic mesangial hypertrophy involving TGF-β signaling.

Downregulation of catalase by reactive oxygen species via PI 3 kinase/Akt signaling in mesangial cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to many glomerular diseases by targeting mesangial cells. ROS have been shown to regulate expression of many antioxidant enzymes including catalase. The mechanism by which the expression of catalase protein is regulated by ROS is not precisely known. Here we report that increased intracellular ROS level by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduced the expression of catalase. H2O2 increased phosphorylation of Akt kinase in a dose‐dependent and sustained manner with a concomitant increase in the phosphorylation of FoxO1 transcription factor. Further analysis revealed that H2O2 promoted rapid activation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3 kinase. The PI 3 kinase inhibitor Ly294002 and expression of tumor suppressor protein PTEN inhibited Akt kinase activity, resulting in the attenuation of FoxO1 phosphorylation and preventing the downregulating effect of H2O2 on catalase protein level. Dominant negative Akt attenuated the inhibitory effect of H2O2 on expression of catalase. Constitutively active FoxO1 increased the expression of catalase. However, dominant negative FoxO1 inhibited catalase protein level. Catalase transcription was reduced by H2O2 treatment. Furthermore, expression of dominant negative Akt and constitutively active FoxO1 increased catalase transcription, respectively. These results demonstrate that ROS downregulate the expression of catalase in mesangial cells by PI 3 kinase/Akt signaling via FoxO1 as a target. J. Cell. Physiol. 211: 457–467, 2007.

Akt kinase targets association of CBP with SMAD 3 to regulate TGFβ-induced expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1

Transforming growth factor‐β (TGFβ) controls expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI‐1), which regulates degradation of extracellular matrix proteins in fibrotic diseases. The TGFβ receptor‐specific Smad 3 has been implicated in the PAI‐1 expression. The mechanism by which non‐Smad signaling contributes to this process is not known. We studied the cross‐talk between Smad 3 and PI 3 kinase/Akt signaling in TGFβ‐induced PAI‐1 expression in renal mesangial cells. Inhibition of PI 3 kinase and Akt kinase blocked TGFβ‐ and Smad 3‐mediated expression of PAI‐1. In contrast, constitutively active PI 3 kinase and Akt kinase increased PAI‐1 expression, similar to TGFβ. Inhibition of PI 3 kinase and Akt kinase had no effect on TGFβ‐induced Smad 3 phosphorylation and its translocation to the nucleus. Notably, inhibition of PI 3 kinase‐dependent Akt kinase abrogated TGFβ‐induced PAI‐1 transcription, without affecting binding of Smad 3 to the PAI‐1 Smad binding DNA element. However, PI 3 kinase inhibition and dominant negative Akt kinase antagonized the association of the transcriptional coactivator CBP with Smad 3 in response to TGFβ, resulting in inhibition of Smad 3 acetylation. Together our findings identify TGFβ‐induced PI 3 kinase/Akt signaling as a critical regulator of Smad 3‐CBP interaction and Smad 3 acetylation, which cause increased PAI‐1 expression. J. Cell. Physiol. 214: 513–527, 2008.

microRNA-21 governs TORC1 activation in renal cancer cell proliferation and invasion

Metastatic renal cancer manifests multiple signatures of gene expression. Deviation in expression of mature miRNAs has been linked to human cancers. Importance of miR-21 in renal cell carcinomas is proposed from profiling studies using tumor tissue samples. However, the role of miR-21 function in causing renal cancer cell proliferation and invasion has not yet been shown. Using cultured renal carcinoma cells, we demonstrate enhanced expression of mature miR-21 along with pre-and pri-miR-21 by increased transcription compared to normal proximal tubular epithelial cells. Overexpression of miR-21 Sponge to quench endogenous miR-21 levels inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of renal cancer cells. In the absence of mutation in the PTEN tumor suppressor gene, PTEN protein levels are frequently downregulated in renal cancer. We show that miR-21 targets PTEN mRNA 3′untranslated region to decrease PTEN protein expression and augments Akt phosphorylation in renal cancer cells. Downregulation of PTEN as well as overexpression of constitutively active Akt kinase prevented miR-21 Sponge-induced inhibition of renal cancer cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, we show that miR-21 Sponge inhibited the inactivating phosphorylation of the tumor suppressor protein tuberin and attenuated TORC1 activation. Finally, we demonstrate that expression of constitutively active TORC1 attenuated miR-21 Sponge-mediated suppression of proliferation and migration of renal cancer cells. Our results uncover a layer of post-transcriptional regulation of PTEN by transcriptional activation of miR-21 to force the canonical oncogenic Akt/TORC1 signaling conduit to drive renal cancer cell proliferation and invasion.

PRAS40 ACTS AS A NODAL REGULATOR OF HIGH GLUCOSE-INDUCED TORC1 ACTIVATION IN GLOMERULAR MESANGIAL CELL HYPERTROPHY

Diabetic nephropathy manifests aberrant activation of TORC1, which senses key signals to modulate protein synthesis and renal hypertrophy. PRAS40 has recently been identified as a raptor‐interacting protein and is a component and a constitutive inhibitor of TORC1. The mechanism by which high glucose stimulates TORC1 activity is not known. PRAS40 was identified in the mesangial cells in renal glomeruli and in tubulointerstitium of rat kidney. Streptozotocin‐induced diabetic renal hypertrophy was associated with phosphorylation of PRAS40 in the cortex and glomeruli. In vitro, high glucose concentration increased PRAS40 phosphorylation in a PI 3 kinase‐ and Akt‐dependent manner, resulting in dissociation of raptor–PRAS40 complex in mesangial cells. High glucose augmented the inactivating and activating phosphorylation of 4EBP‐1 and S6 kinase, respectively, with concomitant induction of protein synthesis and hypertrophy. Expression of TORC1‐nonphosphorylatable mutant of 4EBP‐1 and dominant‐negative S6 kinase significantly inhibited high glucose‐induced protein synthesis and hypertrophy. PRAS40 knockdown mimicked the effect of high glucose on phosphorylation of 4EBP‐1 and S6 kinase, protein synthesis, and hypertrophy. To elucidate the role of PRAS40 phosphorylation, we used phosphorylation‐deficient mutant of PRAS40, which in contrast to PRAS40 knockdown inhibited phosphorylation of 4EBP‐1 and S6 kinase, leading to reduced mesangial cell hypertrophy. Thus, our data identify high glucose‐induced phosphorylation and inactivation of PRAS40 as a central node for mesangial cell hypertrophy in diabetic nephropathy. J. Cell. Physiol. 225: 27–41, 2010. � 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Resveratrol inhibits PDGF receptor mitogenic signaling in mesangial cells: role of PTP1B.

Mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis is associated with overactive PDGF receptor signal transduction. We show that the phytoalexin resveratrol dose dependently inhibits PDGF‐induced DNA synthesis in mesangial cells with an IC50 of 10 µM without inducing apoptosis. Remarkably, the increased SIRT1 deacetylase activity induced by resveratrol was not necessary for this inhibitory effect. Resveratrol significantly blocked PDGF‐stimulated c‐Src and Akt kinase activation, resulting in reduced cyclin D1 expression and attenuated pRb phosphorylation and cyclin‐dependent kinase‐2 (CDK2) activity. Furthermore, resveratrol inhibited PDGFR phosphorylation at the PI 3 kinase and Grb‐2 binding sites tyrosine‐751 and tyrosine‐716, respectively. This deficiency in PDGFR phosphorylation resulted in significant inhibition of PI 3 kinase and Erk1/2 MAPK activity. Interestingly, resveratrol increased the activity of protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B, which dephosphorylates PDGF‐stimulated phosphorylation at tyrosine‐751 and tyrosine‐716 on PDGFR with concomitant reduction in Akt and Erk1/2 kinase activity. PTP1B significantly inhibited PDGF‐induced DNA synthesis without inducing apoptosis. These results for the first time provide evidence that the stilbene resveratrol targets PTP1B to inhibit PDGFR mitogenic signaling.—Venkatesan, B., Ghosh‐Choudhury, N., Das, F., Mahimainathan, L., Kamat, A., Kasinath, B. S., Abboud, H. E., Choudhury, G. G. Resveratrol inhibits PDGF receptor mitogenic signaling in mesangial cells: role of PTP1B. FASEB J. 22, 3469–3482 (2008)

Unrestrained Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complexes 1 and 2 Increase Expression of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted on Chromosome 10 to Regulate Phosphorylation of Akt Kinase

Background: Tumor suppressors PTEN and TSC2 act upstream of mTOR kinase. Results: An mTOR-mediated increase in Hif1α protein contributes to PTEN transcription. Conclusion: Both TORC1 and TORC2 up-regulate PTEN levels. Significance: An increased PTEN level in TSC2-deficient cells may contribute to reduced malignant potential of these cells. Tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) function to block growth factor-induced mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and are mutated in autosomal dominant hamartoma syndromes. mTOR binds to a spectrum of common and different proteins to form TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TORC2, which regulate cell growth, division, and metabolism. TSC2 deficiency induces constitutive activation of mTOR, leading to a state of insulin resistance due to a negative feedback regulation, resulting in reduced Akt phosphorylation. We have recently described an alternative mechanism showing that in TSC2 deficiency, enhanced PTEN expression contributes to reduced Akt phosphorylation. To explore the mechanism of PTEN regulation, we used rapamycin and constitutively active mTOR to show that TORC1 increases the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein. We found that in TSC2−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts expression of a kinase-dead mutant of mTOR, which inhibits both TORC1 and TORC2, decreases the expression of PTEN via transcriptional mechanism. Furthermore, kinase-dead mTOR increased and decreased phosphorylation of Akt at catalytic loop site Thr-308 and hydrophobic motif site Ser-473, respectively. Moreover, inhibition of deregulated TORC1 in TSC2-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts or in 293 cells by down-regulation of raptor decreased the levels of the transcription factor Hif1α and blocked PTEN expression, resulting in enhanced phosphorylation of Akt at Thr-308 and Ser-473. Finally, knockdown of rictor or mSin1 attenuated the expression of Hif1α, which decreased transcription of PTEN. These results unravel a previously unrecognized cell-autonomous function of TORC1 and TORC2 in the up-regulation of PTEN, which prevents phosphorylation of Akt and may shield against the development of malignancy in TSC patients.

High glucose upregulation of early-onset Parkinson's disease protein DJ-1 integrates the PRAS40/TORC1 axis to mesangial cell hypertrophy

The Akt kinase signaling pathway is frequently deregulated in many human diseases including cancer, autoimmune disease and diabetes. In nephropathy, associated with diabetes, increased Akt signal transduction results in glomerular especially mesangial cell hypertrophy. The mechanism of Akt activation by elevated glucose is poorly understood. The oncogene DJ-1 prevents oxidative damage and apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in animal models of Parkinsons disease and in culture. We identified DJ-1 to increase in response to high glucose in renal glomerular mesangial cells concomitant with an increase in phosphorylation of Akt in a time-dependent manner. Plasmid-derived overexpression as well as downregulation of DJ-1 by siRNA showed the requirement of this protein in high glucose-stimulated Akt phosphorylation. The tumor suppressor protein PTEN acts as a negative regulator of Akt activation. Interestingly, DJ-1 was associated with PTEN and this interaction was significantly increased in response to high glucose. High glucose-induced increase in DJ-1 promoted phosphorylation of the PRAS40, a negative regulator of TORC1 kinase activity, resulting in activating and inactivating phosphorylation of S6 kinase and 4EBP-1, respectively. Furthermore, DJ-1 increased protein synthesis and hypertrophy of mesangial cells. Our results provide evidence for a unique mechanism whereby DJ-1 induces Akt/PRAS40/TORC1-mediated hypertrophy in response to high glucose.

NFκB-mediated cyclin D1 expression by microRNA-21 influences renal cancer cell proliferation

MicroRNAs regulate post-transcriptomic landscape in many tumors including renal cell carcinoma. We have recently shown significantly increased expression of miR-21 in renal tumors and that this miRNA contributes to the proliferation of renal cancer cells in culture. However, the mechanism by which miR-21 regulates renal cancer cell proliferation is poorly understood. Addiction to constitutive NFκB activity is hallmark of many cancers including renal cancer. Using miR-21 Sponge in renal cancer cells to block endogenous function of miR-21, we show inhibition of phosphorylation of p65 subunit of NFκB, IKKβ and IκB, which results in attenuation of NFκB transcriptional activity. Subtle reduction in the tumor suppressor PTEN has been linked to various malignancies. We showed previously that miR-21 targeted PTEN in renal cancer cells. Inhibition of PTEN by siRNAs restored miR-21 Sponge-induced suppression of phosphorylation of p65, IKKβ, IκB and NFκB transcriptional activity along with reversal of miR-21 Sponge-reduced phosphorylation of Akt. Expression of constitutively active Akt protected against miR-21 Sponge- and PTEN-mediated decrease in p65/IKKβ/IκB phosphorylation and NFκB transcriptional activity. Furthermore, IKKβ and p65 were required for miR-21-induced renal cancer cell proliferation. Interestingly, miR-21 controlled the expression of cyclin D1 through NFκB-dependent transcription. Finally, we demonstrate that miR-21-regulated renal cancer cell proliferation is mediated by cyclin D1 and CDK4. Together, our results establish a molecular order of a phosphatase-kinase couple involving PTEN/Akt/IKKβ and NFκB-dependent cyclin D1 expression for renal carcinoma cell proliferation by increased miR-21 levels.