Bardoxolone methyl methyl-2-cyano-3, 12-dioxooleana-1, 9(11)dien-28-oate (CDDO-Me), an activator of the nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor2 pathway, is a potential therapeutic ...candidate for the treatment of kidney diseases. However, its effect against cellular senescence remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether CDDO-Me protects cells against cisplatin-induced cellular senescence using an in vitro model. The human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 was treated with cisplatin for 6 h, followed by treatment with or without CDDO-Me (0.1 or 0.2 μmol/L). Senescence markers were analyzed using western blotting and real-time PCR. Apoptosis was evaluated through TUNEL staining. Cisplatin induced changes in the levels of markers specific for proliferation, cell cycle, and senescence in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the culture medium increased markedly. These data suggested that cellular senescence-like alterations occurred in HK-2 cells exposed to cisplatin. CDDO-Me treatment reversed the cisplatin-mediated alterations in the levels of cellular senescence markers. The antioxidant enzymes,
HO1
,
NQO1
,
GPX1
, and
CAT
were upregulated by CDDO-Me treatment. Furthermore, CDDO-Me treatment induced apoptosis in cisplatin-exposed HK-2 cells. Pretreatment with Ac-DEVD-CHO, the caspase inhibitor, suppressed the reversal effect of CDDO-Me against cisplatin-induced cellular senescence-like alterations. This study showed that CDDO-Me attenuated cisplatin-induced premature senescence of HK-2 cells. This beneficial effect may be related to Nrf2 activation. Our findings also showed that CDDO-Me induced apoptosis in cisplatin-treated HK-2 cells, potentially protecting the kidneys from cellular senescence. CDDO-Me appears to be a candidate treatment for acute kidney injury.
Little is known about the effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) on the pancreatic exocrine gland. In the gland, secretagogues induce amylase release. That signal transduction is evoked mainly by ...an increase in intracellular Ca
levels and activation of protein kinase C (PKC). We previously demonstrated that myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS), a PKC substrate, is involved in pancreatic amylase release. Here, we studied the effects of GLP-1 on MARCKS phosphorylation and amylase release in rat pancreatic acini. GLP-1 induced amylase release and MARCKS phosphorylation in isolated pancreatic acini. Inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) suppressed those effects. Furthermore, a MARCKS-related peptide inhibited the GLP-1-induced amylase release. These findings suggest that GLP-1 induces amylase release through MARCKS phosphorylation via activation of PKA in isolated pancreatic acini.
The importance of uric acid, the final metabolite of purines excreted by the kidneys and intestines, was not previously recognized, except for its role in forming crystals in the joints and causing ...gout. However, recent evidence implies that uric acid is not a biologically inactive substance and may exert a wide range of effects, including antioxidant, neurostimulatory, proinflammatory, and innate immune activities. Notably, uric acid has two contradictory properties: antioxidant and oxidative ones. In this review, we present the concept of "dysuricemia", a condition in which deviation from the appropriate range of uric acid in the living body results in disease. This concept encompasses both hyperuricemia and hypouricemia. This review draws comparisons between the biologically biphasic positive and negative effects of uric acid and discusses the impact of such effects on various diseases.
The purpose of this study was to create novel urate under-excretion animal models using pyrazinamide and to evaluate whether dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs) have uricosuric effects ...in vivo.
Adult male ICR mice were treated with pyrazinamide, vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide: DMSO), or tap water. Thirty minutes later, pyrazinamide-treated mice were given benzbromarone, losartan, nilvadipine, nitrendipine, nifedipine or azelnidipine. Six hours after the second administration, urine (by urinary bladder puncture) and plasma were collected to measure uric acid and creatinine levels, and fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA) and creatinine clearance (Ccr) were calculated and evaluated. There was no significant difference in the levels of plasma uric acid, plasma creatinine, Ccr, urinary N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) and urinary NAG-creatinine ratio between water, DMSO, and pyrazinamide-treated mice. But the FEUA of pyrazinamide-treated mice was significantly lower than water mice. The FEUA was significantly higher in mice taking the dihydropyridine CCBs (nilvadipine, nitrendipine, nifedipine, and high-dose azelnidipine) than in pyrazinamide-treated mice. There was no significant difference in Ccr.
Thus, a novel animal model created with PZA administration was useful as a urate under-excretion animal model that was probably URAT1-mediated, and the uricosuric effects of dihydropyridine CCBs were confirmed in vivo.
To investigate substances related to insulin secretion, we reported a convenient experimental method to reproduce insulin secretion from isolated rat pancreas preparations using an organ bath. While ...the method has experimental utility for investigating insulin secretion, optimization of the experimental design is still needed. The level of insulin outflow in the control decreased over time in our previous study. Decreasing serum 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) levels is also known to be shown in patients with worsening glycemic control. There is one in vitro report demonstrated that 1,5-AG induced insulin release. It appears that discussion needs to be deepened further on it. In this study, we investigated the effect of 1,5-AG on insulin secretion through to optimize the condition of endocrine function using the ex vivo organ bath technique. The level of insulin outflow in the control and 1,5-AG groups decreased over time in the organ bath experiment. To analyze the effect of trypsin on reduced insulin secretion, pancreas preparation was treated with soybean trypsin inhibitor (TI). Insulin outflow levels of the TI group were significantly higher than the control group. An enzyme indicator of tissue damage tended to be lower in the TI group. There was no significant enhancement of insulin secretion by 1,5-AG. The present study demonstrated the utility of TI application for the organ bath technique. This finding supported the development of an organ bath technique for the assessment of the effects of novel therapeutics on insulin secretion.
Background/Aim: We developed an experimental method to reproduce insulin secretion from isolated rat pancreas preparations using an organ bath system. However, secretion of trypsin, another ...pancreatic enzyme, interferes with insulin production in such systems. We aimed to ascertain the minimum trypsin inhibitor (TI), dose for obtaining a sustained, stable rate of insulin secretion. Materials and Methods: The action of TI (1-10 μg/ml) on pancreatic preparations of male Wistar-Imamichi rats in organ bath experiments was assessed by measuring insulin, amylase, and trypsin activity. Results: The level of insulin outflow remained steady in the TI-treated samples, in contrast to that in the untreated control, where insulin secretion decreased over time. The level of amylase outflow did not change significantly. Trypsin activity was significantly lower in the TI-treated samples than in the control. Conclusion: Even low concentrations of TI can maintain insulin secretion by inhibiting trypsin activity in organ bath experiments.
Although the two anti-diabetic drugs, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP1RAs), have distinct effects on the dynamics of circulating ...incretins, little is known of the difference in their consequences on morphology and function of pancreatic islets. We examined these in a mouse model of β cell injury/regeneration. The model mice were generated so as to express diphtheria toxin (DT) receptor and a fluorescent protein (Tomato) specifically in β cells. The mice were treated with a DPP4i (MK-0626) and a GLP1RA (liraglutide), singly or doubly, and the morphology and function of the islets were compared. Prior administration of MK-0626 and/or liraglutide similarly protected β cells from DT-induced cell death, indicating that enhanced GLP-1 signaling can account for the cytoprotection. However, 2-week intervention of MK-0626 and/or liraglutide in DT-injected mice resulted in different islet morphology and function: β cell proliferation and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) were increased by MK-0626 but not by liraglutide; α cell mass was decreased by liraglutide but not by MK-0626. Although liraglutide administration nullified MK-0626-induced β cell proliferation, their co-administration resulted in increased GSIS, decreased α cell mass, and improved glucose tolerance. The pro-proliferative effect of MK-0626 was lost by co-administration of the GLP-1 receptor antagonist exendin-(9-39), indicating that GLP-1 signaling is required for this effect. Comparison of the effects of DPP4is and/or GLP1RAs treatment in a single mouse model shows that the two anti-diabetic drugs have distinct consequences on islet morphology and function.
Diabetes mellitus is a lifestyle-related disease that is characterized by inappropriate or diminished insulin secretion. Ex vivo pharmacological studies of hypoglycemic agents are often conducted ...using perfused pancreatic preparations. Pancreas preparations for organ bath experiments do not require cannulation and are therefore less complex than isolated perfused pancreas preparations. However, previous research has generated almost no data on insulin secretion from pancreas preparations using organ bath preparations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the applicability of isolated rat pancreas preparations using the organ bath technique in the quantitative analysis of insulin secretion from β-cells. We found that insulin secretion significantly declined during incubation in the organ bath, whereas it was maintained in the presence of 1 µM GLP-1. Conversely, amylase secretion exhibited a modest increase during incubation and was not altered in the presence of GLP-1. These results demonstrate that the pancreatic organ bath preparation is a sensitive and reproducible method for the ex vivo assessment of the pharmacological properties of hypoglycemic agents.
Abstract Background and Aims Proteinuria induces proximal tubule (PT) injury, oxidative stress, lysosomal dysfunction, and inflammation, which contribute to the progression of CKD. Cellular ...senescence and the associated secretory phenotype, where cells secrete proinflammatory and profibrotic mediators, have been linked to renal interstitial inflammation and fibrosis. Premature senescence is induced by excessive proliferation, oxidative stress, or DNA injury. In kidneys, hyperglycemia or hypertension have been reported to elicit this response. However, the direct association between proteinuria-induced PT protein overload and cellular senescence is unknown. We aimed to clarify the effect of protein overload on cellular proliferation and senescence in proteinuric mice with or without knockout (KO) of the receptors responsible for protein endocytosis, megalin and cubilin. Method Podocin-KO (proteinuric mouse model) and megalin-cubilin-podocin triple-KO mice were used in study. Kidneys from these mice were analyzed using immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining and the mice were injected with EdU to investigate renal proliferation. mRNA expression of different markers in renal cortex were evaluated with quantitative rt-PCR. To investigate albumin induced cellular proliferation and senescence, immortalized proximal tubular cells (RPTEC/TERT1, ATCC) were treated with human serum albumin (HSA; Sigma), fatty acid-free HSA (Sigma), and transferrin (Sigma). Western blotting (WB) and quantitative rt-PCR, of different markers were conducted and staining for senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) was performed. Results PCNA, a proliferation marker, was detected at a higher level in PTs of podocin-KO mice compared to wild-type (WT) mice, and triple-KO mice. Furthermore, we evaluated EdU DNA incorporation, in mosaic megalin and cubilin-expressing triple-KO mice. Coimmunostaining of megalin (Fig. 1-a) or cubilin (Fig. 1-b) with incorporated EdU revealed that most of the EdU-positive nuclei was observed in megalin or cubilin-positive tubules (white arrowheads). A few EdU positive nuclei was detected in megalin or cubilin-negative tubules or the interstitium (yellow arrowheads). The mRNA expression of PDGF- β, a growth factor, was more upregulated in the cortex of podocin-KO mice than in triple-KO mice. These data indicate that protein uptake via endocytic receptors induces secretion of PDGF-β from PT cells, acting in a paracrine manner potentially inducing proliferation. Additionally, immunofluorescent staining revealed that senescence markers, p21 and γ-H2AX, were detected in PTs of podocin-KO mice at a higher level than in triple-KO mice. The mRNA expression of TGF-β (profibrotic) and MCP-1 (proinflammatory) were higher in podocin-KO, than in triple-KO mice in accordance with more senescent cells in podocin KO mice. Upregulation of p21, p16, and γ-H2AX as well as positive staining for SA-β-gal in RPTEC/TERT1 cells, were only detected in HSA (containing free fatty acids)-treated cells in a dose dependent manner and not in cells treated with HSA depleted for free fatty acids or transferrin. Our results show that excessive protein reabsorption generates senescent cells in proximal tubules potentially through increased proliferation elicited by paracrine signaling. The increase in senescent cells was associated to profibrotic and proinflammatory signaling in line with a senescent secretory phenotype. Our studies in PRTEC/TERT1 confirmed our animal experiments and showed that senescence was induced only by fatty acid bound albumin. Conclusion The present study showed that proteinuria directly induced cellular senescence in PTECs via megalin/cubilin endocytosis of filtered protein. Fatty acid bound-albumin is suggested to cause the cellular senescence.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a lifestyle‐related disease whose prevalence continues to increase worldwide. It is attributed to decreased or ineffective insulin secretion and induces hyperglycemia. The ...hyperglycemic state of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus causes various quality‐of‐life‐related complications, which have become key health problems globally. However, a transformative therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus has not yet been established, and new pharmacotherapeutics that induce insulin secretion are yet to be developed. To easily identify substances that induce endocrine secretions in the pancreas, we developed a simple, rapid, and easy experimental method to reproduce insulin secretion from isolated rat pancreas preparations using an organ bath system. Levels of insulin and amylase that were released into the organ bath were measured. In our previous work, we found that insulin secretion decreased, and amylase secretion increased, over time in non‐treated groups. In the current study, insulin secretion increased in the group treated with glucagon‐like peptide‐1, a gastrointestinal hormone that induces insulin secretion. In contrast, there was no effect on amylase secretion. Trypsin activity and lactate dehydrogenase, an enzyme marker for tissue damage, were detected in the medium. To assess the effect of trypsin inhibition on insulin secretion using the organ bath technique, 1, 3, and 10 µg/mL trypsin inhibitor (TI) was added to the medium. Red mercurochrome dye was found to permeate the tissue samples, indicating that TI could also permeate the pancreas preparations. Pancreatic damage with or without TI was assessed by staining with hematoxylin and eosin and trypan blue. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed no significant differences in tissue structure with and without TI. However, acinar cell degeneration in the non‐treated group was slightly higher than that in the group treated with 10 µg/mL TI. Trypan blue staining revealed no apparent difference between the non‐treated group and group treated with 3 µg/mL or 10 µg/mL TI. In all TI‐treated pancreatic preparations, trypsin activity was significantly lower than that in non‐treated preparations, and the reduction in insulin secretion over time was almost completely abolished. These results suggest that the use of a pancreatic organ bath is a sensitive and reproducible method for ex vivo assessment of pancreatic function and that TI could maintain insulin secretion by inhibiting trypsin activity in organ bath experiments.