Kojiro Yamamoto

A Rho-kinase inhibitor, fasudil, prevents development of diabetes and nephropathy in insulin-resistant diabetic rats

Fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, may improve insulin signaling. However, its long-term effect on metabolic abnormalities and its preventive effect on diabetic nephropathy are still unknown. We assessed these effects of fasudil in insulin-resistant diabetic rats, comparing them with those of an angiotensin II receptor blocker, olmesartan. Male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) and Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka, non-diabetic control, rats at 15 weeks of age were used. OLETF rats were randomized to receive a low or a high dose of fasudil or olmesartan for 25 weeks. To examine the therapeutic effects after the development of diabetes, OLETF rats at 30 weeks of age were given fasudil for 10 weeks. Administration of high-dose fasudil completely suppressed the development of diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia and increased serum adiponectin levels in OLETF rats. High-dose olmesartan also decreased hemoglobin A1c and increased serum adiponectin. There was a significant correlation between hemoglobin A1c and serum adiponectin or free fatty acid levels. The treatment with high-dose fasudil ameliorated proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis, renal interstitial fibrosis, and macrophage infiltration in OLETF rats. Olmesartan, even at the low dose, suppressed renal complications. The treatment with fasudil after the development of diabetes improved the metabolic abnormalities in OLETF rats, but could not suppress the progression of nephropathy. We conclude that the long-term treatment with fasudil prevents the development of diabetes, at least in part, by improving adipocyte differentiation in insulin-resistant diabetic rats. Early use of fasudil may prevent diabetic nephropathy.

Voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 blocker as a potential treatment for rat anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis

The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 has been recently identified as a molecular target that allows the selective pharmacological suppression of effector memory T cells (T(EM)) without affecting the function of naïve T cells (T(N)) and central memory T cells (T(CM)). We found that Kv1.3 was expressed on glomeruli and some tubules in rats with anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis (anti-GBM GN). A flow cytometry analysis using kidney cells revealed that most of the CD4(+) T cells and some of the CD8(+) T cells had the T(EM) phenotype (CD45RC(-)CD62L(-)). Double immunofluorescence staining using mononuclear cell suspensions isolated from anti-GBM GN kidney showed that Kv1.3 was expressed on T cells and some macrophages. We therefore investigated whether the Kv1.3 blocker Psora-4 can be used to treat anti-GBM GN. Rats that had been given an injection of rabbit anti-rat GBM antibody were also injected with Psora-4 or the vehicle intraperitoneally. Rats given Psora-4 showed less proteinuria and fewer crescentic glomeruli than rats given the vehicle. These results suggest that T(EM) and some macrophages expressing Kv1.3 channels play a critical role in the pathogenesis of crescentic GN and that Psora-4 will be useful for the treatment of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.

Alteration in the phenotype of macrophages in the repair of renal interstitial fibrosis in mice.

Aim:  Renal interstitial fibrosis is the final common pathway determining long‐term prognosis of chronic kidney diseases, but its repair process is scarcely understood. Because recent reports indicate that M2 macrophages play important roles in the repair of various tissues, special attention was paid to the phenotypes of infiltrating macrophages in the present study when the histological changes occurring in mouse kidneys after the release of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) inducing renal fibrosis were analyzed.

Effects of renin-angiotensin system blockade on macrophage infiltration in patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis.

The mechanisms of hypertensive nephrosclerosis are not fully understood. In experimental models of the disease, inflammatory reactions such as macrophage infiltration play an important role. In human hypertensive nephrosclerosis, however, there have been few studies examining the role of inflammation histologically. We investigated whether the number of infiltrating macrophages was increased in human hypertensive nephrosclerosis, and evaluated the effects of a blockade of the renin-angiotensin system on clinical and histological findings. We examined macrophage infiltration using immunohistochemistry in renal biopsy specimens obtained from 16 patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis, 5 patients with IgA nephropathy, 5 patients with membranous nephropathy, and 5 patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome. The number of infiltrating macrophages in glomeruli was significantly larger in the patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis than in those with minimal change nephrotic syndrome. The patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis were divided into groups based on their use of antihypertensive agents at the time of renal biopsy. We investigated the effects of antihypertensive agents on clinical findings, macrophage infiltration, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression. There was no difference in clinical findings between the hypertensive groups. The numbers of infiltrating macrophages and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1−positive cells in glomeruli were significantly smaller in patients treated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker, whereas calcium channel blockers had no influence on histological findings. In conclusion, inflammation is involved in the progression of human hypertensive nephrosclerosis and the inflammatory process is inhibited by blocking the renin-angiotensin system.

Aldosterone is synthesized in and activates bulbospinal neurons through mineralocorticoid receptors and ENaCs in the RVLM

The effects of aldosterone and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blockers on presympathetic neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) are well studied. To directly investigate whether aldosterone, eplerenone (an MR blocker), FAD286 (an aldosterone synthase inhibitor) and benzamil (an epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) blocker) affect RVLM neurons, we examined changes in the membrane potentials (MPs) of bulbospinal RVLM neurons using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique during superfusion with these drugs to brainstem–spinal cord preparations. Aldosterone superfusion (0.1 μmol/l) depolarized the RVLM neurons. In contrast, eplerenone superfusion (1 μmol/l) hyperpolarized them. To evaluate the existence of aldosterone, FAD286 superfusion (10 μmol/l) was performed, and the RVLM neurons became hyperpolarized during FAD superfusion. These data suggest that MRs exist and that aldosterone is synthesized in the brainstem. Benzamil superfusion (1 μmol/l) hyperpolarized the RVLM neurons. To clarify whether aldosterone, eplerenone, FAD286 and benzamil acted directly on the RVLM neurons, a low-Ca2+, high-Mg2+ solution was used to block the synaptic input to the RVLM neurons, and the above-mentioned drugs were added during the low-Ca2+ superfusion. During the aldosterone superfusion, the RVLM neurons became depolarized, and they became hyperpolarized during eplerenone, FAD286 or benzamil superfusion. Importantly, when aldosterone was superfused after the benzamil solution, the MPs of the RVLM neurons did not depolarize. These results suggest that MRs are present in the RVLM neurons and that aldosterone is synthesized in the RVLM. The RVLM neurons themselves possess ENaCs, and ENaCs are the underlying mechanism by which aldosterone activates RVLM neurons.

Involvement of epimorphin in the repair of experimental renal fibrosis in mice.

Interaction between epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells is essential in normal organ morphogenesis and in tissue repair after injury. Epimorphin, a mesenchymal protein that regulates epithelial morphogenesis through epithelial–mesenchymal interactions, has recently attracted attention as an important modulator of tissue repair. In this study we analyzed the role of epimorphin in renal fibrosis. We first found a progressive increase in epimorphin expression corresponding to the progression of renal fibrosis in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). To determine whether this expression has a role in the repair or progression of renal fibrosis, we analyzed a model of renal fibrosis repair, the UUO-release (UUO-R) model. Epimorphin expression was increased at 3 and 7 days after the UUO-R rather than on the day of release, but was decreased at 21 days after the release. Inhibition of endogenous epimorphin with anti-epimorphin antibody (MC-1) significantly delayed the repair of fibrosis. When compared with normal-IgG-injected mice, MC-1-injected mice showed significantly decreased renal matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expressions by western blotting and increased expression of TGF-β and collagen-I mRNA by real-time RT-PCR. Recombinant epimorphin induced prominent increases in MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in the culture media of renal interstitial fibroblasts in vitro. These findings indicate that epimorphin has a pivotal role in the repair of renal fibrosis by modulating both extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and its production.

Protective effects of Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil on rats with chronic kidney disease

The protective effects of Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil against renal diseases have recently been reported. We compared the therapeutic effects of fasudil on the spontaneously hypercholesterolemic (SHC) rat, a model of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with proteinuria, with those of the angiotensin receptor blocker olmesartan (OL) by paying attention to the proteinuria and the macrophage phenotype. SHC rats were allocated to six treatment groups: a vehicle (Ve) group, a low-dose fasudil (FL) group, a high-dose fasudil (FH) group, an OL group, a combination of low-dose fasudil and OL (CL) group, and a combination of high-dose fasudil and OL (CH) group. Sprague-Dawley rats treated with vehicle served as a control (n = 7/each). The rats were treated for 24 wk. Compared with the Ve group, proteinuria was significantly decreased in the FH, OL, and CL groups, and it completely disappeared in the CH group. Glomerular stainings of nephrin and F-actin were focally impaired in the Ve group but were restored in the CH group. Western blotting showed that the CH group had significantly increased renal nephrin expression compared with the Ve group. Interstitial infiltration of macrophages was significantly increased in the Ve group, which was significantly attenuated in all treatment groups. The ratio of CD206 (M2 macrophage marker) to CD68 mRNA was significantly greater in the CH group than in the Ve group. These results indicate that fasudil with OL reduces proteinuria by protecting podocyte integrity and alters the interstitial macrophage density/phenotype, thereby exerting renoprotective effects against CKD.

The Role of Nephritis-Associated Plasmin Receptor (NAPlr) in Glomerulonephritis Associated with Streptococcal Infection

It is well known that glomerulonephritis can occur after streptococcal infection, which is classically referred to as acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). The pathogenic mechanism of APSGN has been described by so-called immune complex theory, which involves glomerular deposition of nephritogenic streptococcal antigen and subsequent formation of immune complexes in situ and/or the deposition of circulating antigen-antibody complexes. However, the exact entity of the causative antigen has remained a matter of debate. We isolated a nephritogenic antigen for APSGN from the cytoplasmic fractions of group A streptococcus (GAS) depending on the affinity for IgG of APSGN patients. The amino acid and the nucleotide sequences of the isolated protein revealed to be highly identical to those of reported plasmin(ogen) receptor of GAS. Thus, we termed this antigen nephritis-associated plasmin receptor (NAPlr). Immunofluorescence staining of the renal biopsy tissues with anti-NAPlr antibody revealed glomerular NAPlr deposition in essentially all patients with early-phase APSGN. Furthermore, glomerular plasmin activity was detected by in situ zymography in the distribution almost identical to NAPlr deposition in renal biopsy tissues of APSGN patients. These data suggest that NAPlr has a direct, nonimmunologic function as a plasmin receptor and may contribute to the pathogenesis of APSGN by maintaining plasmin activity.

Effects of liposome-encapsulated clodronate on chlorhexidine gluconate-induced peritoneal fibrosis in rats

BACKGROUND Long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) causes morphologic and functional changes in the peritoneum that hamper the continuation of PD therapy. Because macrophages play important roles in the development of peritoneal fibrosis and liposome-encapsulated clodronate (LC) induces macrophage apoptosis, we examined the effect of LC on chlorhexidine gluconate (CG)-induced peritoneal fibrosis in rats. METHODS Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into five groups of 10 receiving intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections (1.5 mL/100 g) of either 0.1% CG (four groups) or vehicle (one group) three times a week. Three of the CG-treated groups also received intravenous injections of clodronate twice a week: 10 mg of LC, 20 mg of LC or 20 mg of unencapsulated clodronate (UC20). Twenty-one days after the first i.p. injection, the rats were sacrificed and the parietal peritoneum was harvested. RESULTS The number of peritoneal macrophages in the rats given clodronate was significantly smaller than that in rats not given clodronate (92.0 ± 4.6 cells per field). It was 54.1 ± 3.2 cells per field in the group given 20 mg UC, 43.2 ± 5.2 cells per field in the group given 10 mg LC and 27.2 ± 2.8 cells per field in the group given 20 mg LC. This decrease in macrophage number was paralleled by decreases in peritoneal thickening, in the number of mesothelial cells staining positive for cytokeratin and α-smooth muscle actin and in messenger RNA expression for transforming growth factor-β1 and collagen types I and III. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that macrophages play a critical role in the development of peritoneal fibrosis and that LC may be useful for treating peritoneal fibrosis in PD patients.

Clinical and immunological implications of increase in CD208+ dendritic cells in tonsils of patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy

Background The therapeutic effect of tonsillectomy for immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) has been widely recognized, but the mechanism by which tonsillar immunity leads to glomerulonephritis has been unclear. We investigated subtypes and localization of dendritic cells (DCs) in tonsils and looked for relationships between the tonsillar DCs and the clinical features and renal histological changes of patients with IgAN. Methods We examined tonsils from 33 IgAN patients, using as control tonsillar specimens from subjects without glomerulonephritis. Five distinct markers of DCs (CD303, CD1c, CD209, CD208 and CD1a) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of these DC markers were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The clinical data and histological results obtained evaluating renal biopsy tissues were statistically compared with immunological data. Results Of the five subtypes of DCs, CD208+ DCs were significantly increased in the tonsils of IgAN patients compared with that of controls. Furthermore, the number of CD208+ DCs in the tonsils was positively and linearly correlated with the proportion of crescentic glomeruli in renal biopsy tissues and with the urinary protein level. Only few CD208+ cells, however, were found in the kidney biopsy specimens of IgAN patients. Conclusions These observations suggest that increased CD208+ DCs in tonsils may play a directive role in the pathogenesis of IgAN. The present results support the therapeutic significance of tonsillectomy for IgAN patients.