Overexpression of BMP‑7 reverses TGF‑β1‑induced epithelial‑mesenchymal transition by attenuating the Wnt3/β‑catenin and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathways in HK‑2 cells.

Tubular epithelial cells undergoing epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial event in the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF). Bone morphogenetic protein‑7 (BMP‑7) has been reported to exhibit anti‑fibrotic functions in various renal diseases. However, the function of BMP‑7 in regulating EMT and the progression of RIF remains largely unknown.

Erythropoietin Protects Erythrocytes Against Oxidative Stress-Induced Eryptosis In Vitro.

Background: Excessive eryptosis has been found in maintained hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis patients. Signaling of triggering eryptosis includes oxidative stress, increased cytosolic Ca2+-activity, and ceramide. Erythropoietin (EPO) possesses the property of an antioxidant.

Resveratrol ameliorates hyperglycemia-induced renal tubular oxidative stress damage via modulating the SIRT1/FOXO3a pathway.

Aims: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We aimed to investigate if resveratrol (RSV) could ameliorate hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress in renal tubules via modulating the SIRT1/FOXO3a pathway.

Methods: The effects of RSV on diabetes rats were assessed by periodic acid-Schiff, Masson staining, immunohistochemistry, and western blot analyses.

Adipose-derived stem cells ameliorate renal interstitial fibrosis through inhibition of EMT and inflammatory response via TGF-β1 signaling pathway.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been successfully used to treat acute kidney injury or acute renal failure. However, the effect of ADSCs on treating renal interstitial fibrosis remains unknown. Here, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of ADSCs on renal interstitial fibrosis induced by unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) and explored the potential mechanisms.

SIRT1 activator ameliorates the renal tubular injury induced by hyperglycemia in vivo and in vitro via inhibiting apoptosis.

We aimed to explore the role of SIRT1 in apoptosis in human kidney proximal tubule epithelial (HK-2) cells, and to determine whether resveratrol (RSV, a SIRT1 activator) could ameliorate apoptosis in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or in high glucose (HG, 30mM) - stimulated HK-2 cells. Rats were distributed randomly into three groups: 1) control group, 2) DM group, and 3) DM with RSV group (DM+RSV; rats treated with 30mg/kg/d of RSV for 16 weeks). The physical, biochemical, and morphological parameters were then examined.

Identification and isolation of kidney-derived stem cells from transgenic rats with diphtheria toxin-induced kidney damage.

Adult stem cells have been well characterized in numerous organs, with the exception of the kidneys. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify and isolate kidney-derived stem cells. A total of 12 Fischer 344 transgenic rats expressing the human diphtheria toxin receptor in podocyte cells of the kidney, were used in the present study.

Serum response factor induces endothelial-mesenchymal transition in glomerular endothelial cells to aggravate proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy.

We investigated the expression and function of serum response factor (SRF) in endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The expression of SRF, endothelial markers (VE-cadherin, CD31), and mesenchymal markers (α-SMA, FSP-1, fibronectin) was examined in GEnCs following high glucose or in renal cortex tissues of DN rats. SRF was upregulated by SRF plasmids and downregulated by CCG-1423 (a small molecule inhibitor of SRF) to investigate how SRF influenced EndMT in GEnCs of DN.

Nitro-oleic acid ameliorates oxygen and glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation triggered oxidative stress in renal tubular cells via activation of Nrf2 and suppression of NADPH oxidase.

Nitroalkene derivative of oleic acid (OA-NO), due to its ability to mediate revisable Michael addition, has been demonstrated to have various biological properties and become a therapeutic agent in various diseases. Though its antioxidant properties have been reported in different models of acute kidney injury (AKI), the mechanism by which OA-NO attenuates intracellular oxidative stress is not well investigated. Here, we elucidated the anti-oxidative mechanism of OA-NO in an in vitro model of renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Serum response factor provokes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in renal tubular epithelial cells of diabetic nephropathy.

We investigated the role of serum response factor (SRF) in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) in diabetic nephropathy (DN). The expression of SRF, epithelial markers (E-cadherin and ZO-1), and mesenchymal markers (fibronectin, collagen-1, α-SMA, FSP-1) was examined in human proximal renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells) or renal medulla tissues following high glucose. SRF was upregulated by SRF plasmids and downregulated by CCG-1423 (a small molecule inhibitor of SRF) to investigate how SRF influenced EMT in TECs of DN.

The role of long-term label-retaining cells in the regeneration of adult mouse kidney after ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background: Label-retaining cells (LRCs) have been recognized as rare stem and progenitor-like cells, but their complex biological features in renal repair at the cellular level have never been reported. This study was conducted to evaluate whether LRCs in kidney are indeed renal stem/progenitor cells and to delineate their potential role in kidney regeneration.

Methods: We utilized a long-term pulse chase of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled cells in C57BL/6J mice to identify renal LRCs.

Curcumin attenuates high glucose-induced podocyte apoptosis by regulating functional connections between caveolin-1 phosphorylation and ROS.

Aim: Caveolin-1 (cav-1) is a major multifunctional scaffolding protein of caveolae. Cav-1 is primarily expressed in mesangial cells, renal proximal tubule cells and podocytes in kidneys. Recent evidence shows that the functional connections between cav-1 and ROS play a key role in many diseases.

Critical role of serum response factor in podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition of diabetic nephropathy.

Purpose: To investigate the expression and function of serum response factor in podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition of diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: The expression of serum response factor, epithelial markers and mesenchymal markers was examined in podocytes or renal cortex tissues following high glucose. Serum response factor was upregulated by its plasmids and downregulated by CCG-1423 to investigate how it influenced podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition in diabetic nephropathy.

Nitro-oleic acid attenuates OGD/R-triggered apoptosis in renal tubular cells via inhibition of Bax mitochondrial translocation in a PPAR-γ-dependent manner.

Background: Nitroalkene derivatives of oleic acid (OA-NO2) serve as high-affinity ligand for PPAR-γ, which regulates apoptosis, oxidation and inflammation and plays a central role in ischemia-reperfusion injury. In the present study, we elucidated the protective mechanisms of OA-NO2 against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods: HK-2 cells were subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation followed by re-oxygenation (OGD/R) to mimic renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Curcumin ameliorates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of podocytes in vivo and in vitro via regulating caveolin-1.

Aims: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is recognized to play a key role in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Curcumin, the main active component of turmeric extracted from the roots of the Curcuma longa plant, has been reported for its anti-fibrotic effects in kidney fibrosis. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of curcumin in reversing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of podocytes in vivo and in vitro.

Berberine improves kidney function in diabetic mice via AMPK activation.

Diabetic nephropathy is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Effective therapies to prevent the development of this disease are required. Berberine (BBR) has several preventive effects on diabetes and its complications.

Connective tissue growth factor induces tubular epithelial to mesenchymal transition through the activation of canonical Wnt signaling in vitro.

Background: Overwhelming evidences suggest epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tubular epithelial cells contributes to renal fibrosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of EMT. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell behaviors are not clear.

Curcumin prevents diabetic nephropathy against inflammatory response via reversing caveolin-1 Tyr14 phosphorylation influenced TLR4 activation.

Inflammation is involved in the development and/or progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Curcumin has been reported for its anti-inflammation activity in DN. However, the mechanisms involved in the renoprotective effects of curcumin have not been clearly demonstrated.

TRB3, up-regulated in kidneys of rats with type1 diabetes, mediates extracellular matrix accumulation in vivo and in vitro.

Aims: Fibrosis is the final disorder of most chronic kidney disease including diabetic nephropathy (DN), but the mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study aims to determine whether TRB3 participates in fibrogenesis in DN.

Methods: Type1 diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ).

Cyclosporine A combined with medium/low dose prednisone in progressive IgA nephropathy.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of cyclosporine A (CsA) combined with medium/low dose prednisone in the treatment of progressive immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Ninety-six patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria were enrolled in a prospective controlled clinical study. They were assigned into two groups and initially given either 0.

TRB3 mediates renal tubular cell apoptosis associated with proteinuria.

Proteinuria may contribute to progressive renal damage by inducing tubulointerstitial inflammation, fibrosis and tubular cell apoptosis, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. TRB3 is a kinase-like molecule that can modify cellular survival and interfere with signal transduction pathways. We seek to determine the role of TRB3 in renal tubular cell apoptosis associated with proteinuria.

Mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate diabetic glomerular fibrosis in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting TGF-β signalling via secretion of bone morphogenetic protein 7.

Purpose: To investigate whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could inhibit transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signalling pathway by paracrine action.

Methods: Bone marrow-derived MSCs were transplanted to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats via tail vein. MSC-conditioned media were used with a model of mesangial cell fibrosis induced by high glucose in vitro.

Renal lymph circulation blockage alters the epithelial cell phenotype and tubular integrity: role of distinct regulation of BMP7 and TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway.

Aims: To investigate the effect of lymph circulation blockage on the alteration of renal epithelial cell phenotype and the tubular integrity, as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Wistar rats received left renal lymph ligation and right renal nephrectomy (KL group) or right renal nephrectomy without lymph ligation (KN group) and then were killed on day 14, day 28 and day 56. The urine, blood and kidney tissue were collected for the analysis of protein and gene expressions and morphological changes.

Efficacy and safety of Abelmoschus manihot for primary glomerular disease: a prospective, multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Abelmoschus manihot, a single medicament of traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to treat kidney disease. This is the first randomized controlled clinical trial to assess its efficacy and safety in patients with primary glomerular disease.

Study Design: Prospective, open-label, multicenter, randomized, controlled, clinical trial.

Mesenchymal stem cells transplantation ameliorates glomerular injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats via inhibiting oxidative stress.

Aims: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been demonstrated to be protective in diabetic nephropathy (DN) by reducing albuminuria and attenuating glomerular injury. However, the mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of MSCs on oxidative stress in DN.