Dataset Information

Inhibition of Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 2 in murine podocytes

ABSTRACT: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is characterized by damage to podocytes, a crucial pathological feature. While several mechanisms of podocyte injury have been suggested, many questions remain unanswered. Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), a serine/threonine kinase with diverse cellular functions, appears to play a significant role. We observed activation of ROCK2 in podocytes of mice with FSGS induced by adriamycin (ADR), as well as in cultured podocytes exposed to ADR. To delve deeper, we used conditional knockout mice where the ROCK2 gene was specifically disrupted in podocytes (PR2KO). These mice showed resistance to ADR-induced albuminuria, glomerular sclerosis, and podocyte damage. Additionally, pharmacological inhibition of ROCK2 significantly improved podocyte loss and kidney sclerosis in a mouse model of FSGS by counteracting profibrotic factors. RNA sequencing of podocytes treated with a ROCK2 inhibitor confirmed ROCK2's role as a regulator of the cyclic nucleotide signaling pathway. Our findings underscore the potential of ROCK2 inhibition as a therapeutic avenue for FSGS.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE262013 | GEO | 2024/03/20

REPOSITORIES: GEO

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a uremic toxin and ligand of the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr), a transcriptional regulator. Elevated serum IS may contribute to the progression of kidney disease. Therefore, we assessed mouse podocyte damage mediated by IS. Ahr was predominantly localized to the podocyte nucleus in vivo and in vitro. In isolated glomeruli, IS-exposure for 2 – 24 h induced Cyp1a1 expression, the most sensitive biomarker of Ahr activation. Mice exposed to IS for 4–8 weeks exhibited microalbuminuria, and mild glomerular injury characterized by ischemic changes, partial podocyte foot process effacement, as well as vascular and tubulointerstitial damage. Chronically IS-exposed kidneys exhibited decreased mRNA, decreased protein levels, and altered staining patterns for podocin, synaptopodin, and non-muscle myosin IIA (Myh9). Immortalized podocytes, upon differentiation, exhibited Ahr nuclear translocation beginning 30 min after 1 mM IS-exposure. At 2 h, there was a dose-dependent decrease in podocyte mRNA expression of WT1, Podxl, Snypo, Myh9, Actn4, and Cd2ap. After 24 h of exposure to IS, podocytes were smaller, had fewer actin/Myh9 fibers, and decreased viability. Ahr-RNAi decreased mRNA expression of podocyte-specific proteins and inhibited Cyp1a1 induction by IS-exposure. Combinations of Ahr-RNAi and IS-exposure further decreased Myh9 expression. In immortalized human podocytes, IS treatment caused cell injury, decreased mRNA expression of podocyte-specific proteins, integrins, collagens, cytoskeletal proteins, and bone morphogenetic proteins, and increased cytokine and chemokine expression. Thus, chronic IS-exposure causes glomerular damage by activating Ahr, altering podocyte function, differentiation, and morphology, and inducing a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Podocyte cells treated with Indoxyl sulfate, a uremic toxin and aryl-hydrocarbon receptor ligand, mediates progressive glomerular disease by damaging podocytes Human podocyte cell line treated with or without 3-Indoxyl sulfate (1mM/0.1%DMSO) in three replications

Dataset Information

Inhibition of Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 2 in murine podocytes

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure