Tso Hsiao Chen

Role of Reactive Oxygen Species-Sensitive Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Pathway in Angiotensin II-Induced Endothelin-1 Gene Expression in Vascular Endothelial Cells

Background: Circulating angiotensin II (Ang II) increases vascular endothelin-1 (ET-1) tissue levels, which in turn mediate a major part of Ang II-stimulated vascular growth and hypertension in vivo. Ang II also stimulates the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within vascular endothelial cells. However, whether ROS are involved in Ang II-induced ET-1 gene expression, and the related intracellular mechanisms occurring within vascular endothelial cells remain unclear. Methods: Cultured endothelial cells were stimulated with Ang II, and the thus elicited ET-1 gene expression was examined by Northern blotting and a promoter activity assay. Antioxidant pretreatment of endothelial cells was performed prior to Ang II-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in order to elucidate the redox-sensitive pathway for ET-1 gene expression. Results: The ET-1 gene was induced with Ang II, which was inhibited with Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist (irbesartan). Ang II-enhanced intracellular ROS levels were inhibited by irbesartan and several antioxidants, and antioxidants also suppressed Ang II-induced ET-1 gene expression. Further, Ang II-activated ERK phosphorylation was also significantly inhibited by certain antioxidants. An ERK inhibitor, U0126, inhibited Ang II-induced ET-1 expression completely. Cotransfection of the dominant negative mutant of Ras, Raf and MEK1 (ERK kinase) attenuated the Ang II-enhanced ET-1 promoter activity, suggesting that the Ras/Raf/ERK pathway is required for Ang II-induced ET-1 gene expression. Ang II-induced activator protein-1 (AP-1) reporter activities were inhibited by antioxidants. Moreover, mutational analysis of the ET-1 gene promoter showed that the AP-1 binding site was an important cis element in Ang II-induced ET-1 gene expression. Conclusions: Our data suggest that ROS are involved in Ang II-induced ET-1 gene expression within endothelial cells. The redox-sensitive ERK-mediated AP-1 transcriptional pathway plays an important role in Ang II-induced ET-1 gene expression.

Leptin reduces gentamicin-induced apoptosis in rat renal tubular cells via the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway

Leptin, a circulating hormone secreted mainly from adipose tissues, possesses protective effects on many cell types. Serum leptin concentration increases in patients with chronic renal failure and those undergoing maintenance dialysis. Gentamicin, a widely used antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infection, can cause nephrotoxicity. In the present study, we intended to investigate the influence of leptin on apoptotic pathways and its mechanism in rat renal tubular cells treated with gentamicin. By using Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining, we found that leptin expressed a dose-dependent protective effect against gentamicin-induced apoptosis in rat renal tubular cells (NRK-52E) within 24h. Pretreatment of the cells with 50 or 100 ng/ml of leptin induced Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L), increased the phosphorylation of Bad, and decreased the cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 in gentamicin-treated NRK-52E cells. Leptin also suppressed the activation of the transcription factor NF-κB and upregulated Akt activation in gentamicin-treated NRK-52E cells. We found that leptin activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway as demonstrated by the suppression of the anti-apoptotic effect of leptin by wortmannin. The treatment of wortmannin suppressed the leptin-induced phospho-Akt, Bcl-2, phospho-Bad as well as Bcl-x(L), and recovered the leptin-reduced cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9. Based on our results, we suggested that leptin can attenuate gentamicin-induced apoptotic injury in rat renal tubular cells through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-α protects renal tubular cells from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) is a transcription factor and has been reported to inhibit cisplatin-mediated proximal tubule cell death. In addition, doxorubicin (Adriamycin)-induced nephrosis in rats is a commonly used experimental model for pharmacological studies of human chronic renal diseases. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of PPAR-α on doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and its detailed mechanism in NRK-52E cells and animal models. The mRNA level of PPAR-α was found to be reduced by doxorubicin treatment in NRK-52E cells. PPAR-α overexpression in NRK-52E cells significantly inhibited doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and the quantity of cleaved caspase-3. Endogenous prostacyclin (PGI2) augmentation, which has been reported to protect NRK-52E cells from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, induced the translocation and activation of PPAR-α. The transformation of PPAR-α short interfering RNA was applied to silence the PPAR-α gene, which abolished the protective effect of PGI2 augmentation in doxorubicin-treated cells. To confirm the protective role of PPAR-α in vivo, PPAR-α activator docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was administered to doxorubicin-treated mice, and it has been shown to significantly reduce the doxorubicin-induced apoptotic cells in renal cortex. However, this protective effect of DHA did not exist in PPAR-α-deficient mice. In NRK-52E cells, the overexpression of PPAR-α elevated the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase and inhibited doxorubicin-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). PPAR-α overexpression also inhibited the doxorubicin-induced activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), which was associated with the interaction between PPAR-α and NF-κB p65 subunit as revealed in immunoprecipitation assays. Therefore, PPAR-α is capable of inhibiting doxorubicin-induced ROS and NF-κB activity and protecting NRK-52E cells from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis.

Far-infrared therapy induces the nuclear translocation of PLZF which inhibits VEGF-induced proliferation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Many studies suggest that far-infrared (FIR) therapy can reduce the frequency of some vascular-related diseases. The non-thermal effect of FIR was recently found to play a role in the long-term protective effect on vascular function, but its molecular mechanism is still unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the biological effect of FIR on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced proliferation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We found that FIR ranging 3∼10 µm significantly inhibited VEGF-induced proliferation in HUVECs. According to intensity and time course analyses, the inhibitory effect of FIR peaked at an effective intensity of 0.13 mW/cm2 at 30 min. On the other hand, a thermal effect did not inhibit VEGF-induced proliferation in HUVECs. FIR exposure also inhibited the VEGF-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in HUVECs. FIR exposure further induced the phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) and NO generation in VEGF-treated HUVECs. Both VEGF-induced NO and reactive oxygen species generation was involved in the inhibitory effect of FIR. Nitrotyrosine formation significantly increased in HUVECs treated with VEGF and FIR together. Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) by wortmannin abolished the FIR-induced phosphorylation of eNOS and Akt in HUVECs. FIR exposure upregulated the expression of PI3K p85 at the transcriptional level. We further found that FIR exposure induced the nuclear translocation of promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein (PLZF) in HUVECs. This induction was independent of a thermal effect. The small interfering RNA transfection of PLZF blocked FIR-increased PI3K levels and the inhibitory effect of FIR. These data suggest that FIR induces the nuclear translocation of PLZF which inhibits VEGF-induced proliferation in HUVECs.

Pioglitazone and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives To evaluate the effect of pioglitazone in people with insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Design and setting Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised, controlled trials. Data sources Literature searches were performed across PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1966 to May 2016 to identify randomised, controlled trials with more than 1 year follow-up. Outcome measures Relative risk (RR) with 95% CI was used to evaluate the association between pioglitazone and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke and cardiovascular death) and safety outcomes, after pooling data across trials in a fixed-effects model. Results Nine trials with 12 026 participants were enrolled in the current meta-analysis. Pioglitazone therapy was associated with a lower risk of MACE in patients with pre-diabetes or insulin resistance (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.93), and diabetes (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.97). Risks of heart failure (RR 1.32; CI 1.14 to 1.54), bone fracture (RR 1.52, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.99), oedema (RR, 1.63; CI 1.52 to 1.75) and weight gain (RR 1.60; CI 1.50 to 1.72) increased in pioglitazone group. Conclusions Pioglitazone was associated with reduced risk of MACE in people with insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and diabetes mellitus. However, the risks of heart failure, bone fracture, oedema and weight gain were increased.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha plays a crucial role in l-carnitine anti-apoptosis effect in renal tubular cells

BACKGROUND L-carnitine is synthesized mainly in the liver and kidneys from lysine and methionine from dietary sources. Many reports have shown that L-carnitine can protect certain cells against the toxicity of several anticancer and toxic agents, although the detailed mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of L-carnitine and its molecular mechanism in renal tubular cells undergoing gentamicin-induced apoptosis. METHODS Rat tubular cell line (NRK-52E) and mice were used as the model system. Gentamicin-induced apoptosis in renal tubular cells was examined using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labelling. We introduced short interfering RNA transfection and gene-deficient mice to investigate the protective mechanism of L-carnitine. RESULTS We found that L-carnitine inhibited gentamicin-induced reactive oxygen species generation and correlative apoptotic pathways, resulting in the protection of NRK-52E cells from gentamicin-induced apoptosis. The treatment of L-carnitine also lessened gentamicin-induced renal tubular cell apoptosis in mice. L-carnitine was found to increase the prostacyclin (PGI(2)) generation in NRK-52E cells. The siRNA transfection for PGI(2) synthase significantly reduced L-carnitine-induced PGI(2) and L-carnitines protective effect. We found that the activity of the potential PGI(2) nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), was elevated by L-carnitine treatment. The siRNA-mediated blockage of PPARalpha considerably reduced the anti-apoptotic effect of L-carnitine. In PPARalpha-deficient mice, L-carnitine treatment also lost the inhibitory effect on gentamicin-induced apoptosis in kidneys. CONCLUSIONS Based on these findings, we suggest that L-carnitine protects renal tubular cells from gentamicin-induced apoptosis through PGI(2)-mediated PPARalpha activation.

Angiotensin II Stimulates Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor 1α Accumulation in Glomerular Mesangial Cells

Abstract: Hypoxia increases hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α) protein levels by inhibiting ubiquitination and degradation of HIF‐1α, which regulates the transcription of many genes. Recent studies have revealed that many ligands can stimulate HIF‐1α accumulation under nonhypoxic conditions. In this study, we show that angiotensin II (Ang II) increased HIF‐1α protein levels in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner under normoxic conditions. Treatment of mesangial cells with Ang II (100 nM) increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ang II (100 nM) increased the phosphorylation of PDK‐1 and Akt/PKB in glomerular mesangial cells. Ang II‐stimulated HIF‐1α accumulation was blocked by the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI‐3K) inhibitors, Ly 294001, and wortmannin, suggesting that PI‐3K was involved. Because increased ROS generation by Ang II may activate the PI‐3K‐PKB/Akt signaling pathway, these results suggest that Ang II may stimulate a ROS‐dependent activation of the PI‐3K‐PKB/Akt pathway, which leads to HIF‐1α accumulation.

Celecoxib induces heme-oxygenase expression in glomerular mesangial cells.

Abstract: Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used as analgesics. They inhibit cyclooxygenases (COX), preventing the formation of prostaglandins, including prostacyclin and thromboxane. A serious side effect of COX‐1 and COX‐2 inhibitors is renal damage. To investigate the molecular basis of the renal injury, we evaluated the expression of the stress marker, heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1), in celecoxib‐stimulated mesangial cells. We report here that a COX‐2 selective NSAID, celecoxib, induced a concentration‐ and time‐dependent increase of HO‐1 expression in glomerular mesangial cells. Celecoxib‐induced HO‐1 protein expression was inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide, suggesting that de novo transcription and translation are required in this process. N‐acetylcysteine, a free radical scavenger, strongly decreased HO‐1 expression, suggesting the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Celecoxib‐induced HO‐1 expression was attenuated by pretreatment of the cells with SP 600125 (a specific JNK inhibitor), but not SB 203580 (a specific p38 MAPK inhibitor), or PD 98059 (a specific MEK inhibitor). Consistently, celecoxib activated c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) as demonstrated by kinase assays and by increasing phosphorylation of this kinase. N‐acetylcysteine reduced the stimulatory effect of celecoxib on stress kinase activities, suggesting an involvement of JNK in HO‐1 expression. On the other hand, LY 294002, a phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI‐3K)‐specific inhibitor, prevented the enhancement of HO‐1 expression. This effect was correlated with inhibition of the phosphorylation of the PDK‐1 downstream substrate Akt/protein kinase B (PKB). In conclusion, our data suggest that celecoxib‐induced HO‐1 expression in glomerular mesangial cells may be mediated by ROS via the JNK‐PI‐3K cascade.

MicroRNA-328 inhibits renal tubular cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by targeting the CD44 in pressure-induced renal fibrosis

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs in stressed tubular epithelial cells, contributing to renal fibrosis. Initial mechanisms promoting EMT are unknown. Pressure force is an important mechanism contributing to the induction and progression of renal fibrogenesis in ureteric obstruction. In our study of cultured rat renal tubular cells (NRK-52E) under 60 mmHg of pressure, we found that the epithelial marker E-cadherin decreased and mesenchymal markers, e.g., α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin and Snail, increased. Pressure also induced the expression of connective tissue growth factor and transforming growth factor-β. MicroRNA array assays showed that pressure reduced miR-328 at the initial stage of pressurization. We identified a potential target sequence of miR-328 in rat CD44 3′-untranslated regions. In contrast with the miR-328 expression, CD44 expression was up-regulated at the initial pressurization stage. We also found that miR-328 expression decreased and CD44 increased in ureteric obstruction kidneys in the animal study. CD44 siRNA transfection significantly increased E-cadherin expression and inhibited pressure-induced EMT. Both hyaluronan binding peptide pep-1 and osteopontin neutralizing antibody inhibited pressure-induced EMT. Our results suggest that miR-328-mediated CD44 transient upregulation is an important trigger of the pressure-induced EMT in renal fibrosis.

Renin-angiotensin system blockade in heart failure patients on long-term haemodialysis in Taiwan

Heart failure is among the most frequent complications of patients on long‐term haemodialysis. The benefits of renin–angiotensin system (RAS) blockade on the outcomes of these patients have yet to be determined.