Bone marrow-derived cPLA2α contributes to renal fibrosis progression.

The group IVA calcium-dependent cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2α) enzyme directs a complex "eicosanoid storm" that accompanies the tissue response to injury. cPLA2α and its downstream eicosanoid mediators are also implicated in the pathogenesis of fibrosis in many organs, including the kidney. We aimed to determine the role of cPLA2α in bone marrow-derived cells in a murine model of renal fibrosis, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).

Label-free fluorescence lifetime and second harmonic generation imaging microscopy improves quantification of experimental renal fibrosis.

All forms of progressive renal diseases develop a final pathway of tubulointerstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis. Renal fibrosis is usually quantified using histological staining, a process that is time-consuming and pathologist dependent. Here we develop a fast and operator-independent method to measure fibrosis utilizing the murine unilateral ureteral obstruction model which manifests a time-dependent fibrotic increase in obstructed kidneys while the contralateral kidneys are used as controls.

Cytosolic phospholipase Aα increases proliferation and de-differentiation of human renal tubular epithelial cells.

The group IVA calcium-dependent cytosolic phospholipase A (cPLAα) enzyme controls the release of arachidonic acid from membrane bound phospholipids and is the rate-limiting step in production of eicosanoids. A variety of different kidney injuries activate cPLAα, therefore we hypothesized that cPLAα activity would regulate pathologic processes in HK-2 cells, a human renal tubular epithelial cell line, by regulating cell phenotype and proliferation. In two lentiviral cPLAα-silenced knockdowns, we observed decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis compared to control HK-2 cells.

Activation of the retinoid X receptor modulates angiotensin II-induced smooth muscle gene expression and inflammation in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The retinoid X receptor (RXR) partners with numerous nuclear receptors, such as the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) family, liver X receptors (LXRs), and farnesoid X receptor (FXR). Although each heterodimer can be activated by specific ligands, a subset of these receptors, defined as permissive nuclear receptors, can also be activated by RXR agonists known as rexinoids. Many individual RXR heterodimers have beneficial effects in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs).