Dataset Information

PFKP Activation Ameliorates Foot Process Fusion in Podocytes in Diabetic Kidney Disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Glycolysis dysfunction is an important pathogenesis of podocyte injury in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Foot process fusion of podocytes and increased albuminuria are markers of early DKD. Moreover, cytoskeletal remodeling has been found to be involved in the foot process fusion of podocytes. However, the connections between cytoskeletal remodeling and alterations of glycolysis in podocytes in DKD have not been clarified.

Methods

mRNA sequencing of glomeruli obtained from db/db and db/m mice with albuminuria was performed to analyze the expression profiling of genes in glucose metabolism. Expressions of phosphofructokinase platelet type (PFKP) in the glomeruli of DKD patients were detected. Clotrimazole (CTZ) was used to explore the renal effects of PFKP inhibition in diabetic mice. Using Pfkp siRNA or recombinant plasmid to manipulate PFKP expression, the effects of PFKP on high glucose (HG) induced podocyte damage were assessed in vitro. The levels of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) were measured. Targeted metabolomics was performed to observe the alterations of the metabolites in glucose metabolism after HG stimulation. Furthermore, aldolase type b (Aldob) siRNA or recombinant plasmid were applied to evaluate the influence of FBP level alteration on podocytes. FBP was directly added to podocyte culture media. Db/db mice were treated with FBP to investigate its effects on their kidney.

Results

mRNA sequencing showed that glycolysis enzyme genes were altered, characterized by upregulation of upstream genes (Hk1, and Pfkp) and down-regulation of downstream genes of glycolysis (Pkm, and Ldha). Moreover, the expression of PFKP was increased in glomeruli of DKD patients. The CTZ group presented more severe renal damage. In vitro, the Pfkp siRNA group and ALDOB overexpression group showed much more induced cytoskeletal remodeling in podocytes, while overexpression of PFKP and suppression of ALDOB in vitro rescued podocytes from cytoskeletal remodeling through regulation of FBP levels and inhibition of the RhoA/ROCK1 pathway. Furthermore, targeted metabolomics showed FBP level was significantly increased in HG group compared with the control group. Exogenous FBP addition reduced podocyte cytoskeletal remodeling and renal damage of db/db mice.

Conclusions

These findings provide evidence that PFKP may be a potential target for podocyte injury in DN and provide a rationale for applying podocyte glycolysis enhancing agents in patients with DKD.

SUBMITTER: Zhang Z

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8794994 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Inflammatory pathways are central mechanisms in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Serum amyloid A (SAA) is increased by chronic inflammation, but SAA has not been previously evaluated as a potential DKD mediator. The aims of this study were to determine whether SAA is increased in human DKD and corresponding mouse models and to assess effects of SAA on podocyte inflammatory responses. SAA was increased in the plasma of people with DKD characterized by overt proteinuria and inversely correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (creatinine-based CKD-EPI). SAA was also elevated in plasma of diabetic mouse models including type 1 diabetes (streptozotocin/C57BL/6) and type 2 diabetes (BTBR-ob/ob). SAA mRNA (Nephromine) was increased in human DKD compared with non-diabetic and/or glomerular disease controls (glomerular fold change 1.5, P=0.017; tubulointerstitium fold change 1.4, P=0.021). The kidneys of both diabetic mouse models also demonstrated increased SAA mRNA (quantitative real-time PCR) expression compared with non-diabetic controls (type 1 diabetes fold change 2.9; type 2 diabetes fold change 42.5, P=0.009; interaction by model P=0.57). Humans with DKD and the diabetic mouse models exhibited extensive SAA protein deposition in the glomeruli and tubulointerstitium in similar patterns by immunohistochemistry. SAA localized within podocytes of diabetic mice. Podocytes exposed to advanced glycation end products, metabolic mediators of inflammation in diabetes, increased expression of SAA mRNA (fold change 15.3, P=0.004) and protein (fold change 38.4, P=0.014). Podocytes exposed to exogenous SAA increased NF-?B activity, and pathway array analysis revealed upregulation of mRNA for NF-?B-dependent targets comprising numerous inflammatory mediators, including SAA itself (fold change 17.0, P=0.006). Inhibition of NF-?B reduced these pro-inflammatory responses. In conclusion, SAA is increased in the blood and produced in the kidneys of people with DKD and corresponding diabetic mouse models. Podocytes are likely to be key responder cells to SAA-induced inflammation in the diabetic kidney. SAA is a compelling candidate for DKD therapeutic and biomarker discovery.