2. Academic Validation
  3. Downregulation of PDZK1 by TGF-β1 promotes renal fibrosis via inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition of renal tubular cells

Downregulation of PDZK1 by TGF-β1 promotes renal fibrosis via inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition of renal tubular cells

  • Biochem Pharmacol. 2023 Dec 27:116015. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.116015.
Shuanghui Lu 1,  Xiu Chen 2,  Yujia Chen 2,  Yingqiong Zhang 2,  Jun Luo 2,  Huidi Jiang 3,  Luo Fang 4,  Hui Zhou 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
  • 2 College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
  • 3 College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua 321036, China.
  • 4 Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China. Electronic address: fangluo@zjcc.org.cn.
  • 5 College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua 321036, China. Electronic address: zhouhui@zju.edu.cn.
PMID: 38158021 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.116015
Abstract

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular cells promotes renal fibrosis and the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). PDZ domain-containing 1 (PDZK1) is highly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells; however, its role in TGF-β1-induced EMT remains poorly understood. The present study showed that PDZK1 expression was extremely downregulated in fibrotic mouse kidneys and its negative correlation with TGF-β1 expression and the degree of renal fibrosis. In addition, TGF-β1 downregulated the mRNA expression of PDZK1 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in vitro. The downregulation of PDZK1 exacerbated TGF-β1-induced EMT upon oxidative stress, while the overexpression of PDZK1 had the converse effect. Subsequent investigations demonstrated that TGF-β1 downregulated PDZK1 expression via p38 MAPK or PI3K/Akt signaling in vitro, but independently of ERK/JNK MAPK signaling. Meanwhile, inhibition of the p38/JNK MAPK or PI3K/Akt signaling using chemical inhibitors restored the PDZK1 expression, mitigated renal fibrosis, and elevated renal levels of endogenous antioxidants carnitine and ergothioneine in adenine-induced CKD mice. These findings provide the first evidence suggesting a negative correlation between PDZK1 and renal fibrosis, and identifying PDZK1 as a novel suppressor of renal fibrosis in CKD through ameliorating oxidant stress.

Keywords

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition; Oxidative stress; PDZ domain-containing 1; Transforming growth factor-beta 1; p38 MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

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