Jose L. Reyes

Prevention of Alloxan-Induced Diabetes Mellitus in the Rat by Silymarin

Silymarin is a free-radical scavenger and a membrane stabilizer which prevents lipoperoxidation and its associated cell damage in some experimental models. It has been proposed that lipid peroxidation caused by free radicals may be involved in alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus. Alloxan elicits pancreatic lipid peroxidation which precedes the appearance of hyperglycemia in mice. We studied the effects of silymarin on rat pancreas, the effect of this flavonoid on pancreatic, hepatic and blood glutathione (GSH) together with the pancreatic malondialdehyde concentrations in response to alloxan. On its own, silymarin increases pancreatic and blood GSH without changes in either hepatic GSH or in blood glucose. Silymarin prevents the increase in lipid peroxidation produced by alloxan. It also blunts the sustained increment in plasma glucose induced by alloxan. We suggest that silymarin has a protective effect on the pancreatic damage in experimental diabetes mellitus. This may be related to its antioxidative properties and to the increase in concentrations of plasma and pancreatic glutathione.

The protective effect of alpha-tocopherol against dichromate-induced renal tight junction damage is mediated via ERK1/2

Renal tight junctions (TJ) play a central role in modulating the paracellular pathway. We examined the function, quantity and distribution of TJ proteins: occludin and claudin-2 (cln-2), on proximal tubule in a model of acute renal failure (ARF) associated with oxidative damage. Since ERK1/2-p modulates TJ integrity, we studied their participation in dichromate (Cr(6+)) toxicity. We evaluated whether co-administration of the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TOC) prevents Cr(6+) toxicity in TJ. Female Wistar rats received potassium dichromate 15 mg/kg, s.c. (5.3 mg/kg of Cr(6+)) single dose, with or without alpha-TOC (125 mg/kg, p.o., daily). Two and 7 days after Cr(6+) treatment, oxidative damage was assessed by renal lipid peroxidation (LPO), proximal function was estimated by sodium and glucose fractional excretions. Occludin, cln-2, and ERK1/2-p were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot. ARF induced by Cr(6+) provoked augment in the sodium and glucose urinary looses, increases in occludin quantity (6.6- and 15-fold on days 2 and 7, respectively) and the mislocation of cln-2. Electrophoresis migration showed a higher molecular weight band only in the Cr(6+)-administered groups, suggesting occludin hyperphosphorylation. Alpha-TOC treatment diminished the LPO, improved tubular function, and preserved TJ location and expression. In summary, we show disruption of occludin and cln-2 in ARF induced by Cr(6+)-intoxication. This study provides evidence of the beneficial effect of alpha-TOC on TJ structure and function undergoing oxidative damage, and we suggest the participation of ERK1/2 in the mechanisms leading to protection by the antioxidant.

Ouabain induces endocytosis and degradation of tight junction proteins through ERK1/2-dependent pathways

In addition to being a very well-known ion pump, Na(+), K(+)-ATPase is a cell-cell adhesion molecule and the receptor of digitalis, which transduces regulatory signals for cell adhesion, growth, apoptosis, motility and differentiation. Prolonged ouabain (OUA) blockage of activity of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase leads to cell detachment from one another and from substrates. Here, we investigated the cellular mechanisms involved in tight junction (TJ) disassembly upon exposure to toxic levels of OUA (≥300 nM) in epithelial renal canine cells (MDCK). OUA induces a progressive decrease in the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER); inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, PD153035), cSrc (SU6656 and PP2) and ERK1/2 kinases (PD98059) delay this decrease. We have determined that the TER decrease depends upon internalization and degradation of the TJs proteins claudin (CLDN) 2, CLDN-4, occludin (OCLN) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1). OUA-induced degradation of proteins is either sensitive (CLDN-4, OCLN and ZO-1) or insensitive (CLDN-2) to ERK1/2 inhibition. In agreement with the protein degradation findings, OUA decreases the cellular content of ZO-1 and CLDN-2 mRNAs but surprisingly, increases the mRNA of CLDN-4 and OCLN. Changes in the mRNA levels are sensitive (CLDN-4, OCLN and ZO-1) or insensitive (CLDN-2) to ERK1/2 inhibition as well. Thus, toxic levels of OUA activate the EGFR-cSrc-ERK1/2 pathway to induce endocytosis, internalization and degradation of TJ proteins. We also observed decreases in the levels of CLDN-2 protein and mRNA, which were independent of the EGFR-cSrc-ERK1/2 pathway.

Zona occludens-2 protects against podocyte dysfunction induced by ADR in mice

Zona occludens-2 (ZO-2) is a protein present at the tight junction and nucleus of epithelial cells. ZO-2 represses the transcription of genes regulated by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This pathway plays a critical role in podocyte injury and proteinuria. Here, we analyze whether the overexpression of ZO-2 in the glomerulus, by hydrodynamics transfection, prevents podocyte injury mediated by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the mouse model of adriamycin (ADR) nephrosis. By immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy, we show that ZO-2 is present in mice glomerulus, not at the slit diaphragms where nephrin concentrates, but in the cytoplasm and at processes of podocytes. Our results indicate that in the glomeruli of mice treated with ADR, ZO-2 overexpression increases the amount of phosphorylated β-catenin, inhibits the expression of the transcription factor snail, prevents nephrin and podocalyxin loss, reduces podocyte effacement and massive fusions, restrains proteinuria, and supports urea and creatinine clearance. These results suggest that ZO-2 could be a new target for the regulation of hyperactive Wnt/β-catenin signaling in proteinuric kidney diseases.

ZO-2 silencing induces renal hypertrophy through a cell cycle mechanism and the activation of YAP and the mTOR pathway

The absence of ZO-2 promotes an increase in cell size by two mechanisms: an increase in cyclin D, which extends the time that the cells spend in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, and an accumulation of YAP at the nucleus, which promotes its transcriptional activity, triggering the activation of the mTORC1 complex and its target, S6K1.

Indomethacin decreases furosemide-induced natriuresis and diuresis on the neonatal kidney

Indomethacin is used to pharmacologically occlude patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants. It induces renal untoward effects and furosemide is administered simultaneously to counteract them. The effect of furosemide is blunted by indomethacin. We analyzed comparatively the interactions of furosemide and indomethacin at the organic anion transport system in adult and newborn individuals. Adult and 5-day-old Wistar rats were allocated into three groups: (1) indomethacin (10xa0mg/kg, ip); (2) furosemide (2xa0mg/kg, ip); and (3) indomethacin/furosemide, at the same doses. Urinary flow, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), sodium and potassium fractional excretions, and free-water and osmolal clearances were estimated. Para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) uptake was measured in renal cortical slices to study the organic anion’s secretory pathway. In adult and newborn rats, furosemide-induced increments in urinary fluxes and excretions of sodium and potassium were blunted by indomethacin administered simultaneously. PAH uptake was decreased to a further extent by indomethacin than by furosemide, suggesting that inhibition of the diuretic effect might be related to competition in the secretion of furosemide. Inhibitory interaction between indomethacin and furosemide was achieved at approximately 10-fold lower concentrations in the newborn than in the adult rats, suggesting that tubular secretion in the neonate is more sensitive to the action of these drugs than in the adult individual.

Inhibition of the transepithelial potential difference and short circuit current in the isolated frog skin by alloxan.

1. Electrical parameters: short circuit current (SCC), transepithelial potential difference (PD) and electrical resistance (R) were measured in isolated frog skin (Rana pipiens) in the presence and in the absence of alloxan. 2. Alloxan decreased SCC and PD in a concentration-dependent pattern, while R remained unchanged. 3. The effect on SCC and PD was observed after 25 min of exposure to the drug. Maximal average effect was 20% in SCC and 17.5% in PD. 4. These results suggest that alloxan decreased epithelial sodium transport, through interference with the activity of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase.