Hypoxia Reduces Mouse Urine Output via HIF1α-Mediated Upregulation of Renal AQP1.

Introduction: Patients with acute mountain sickness (AMS) due to hypoxia at high altitudes often exhibit abnormal water metabolism. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are major regulators of adaptive responses to hypoxia. As transcription factors, HIFs are involved in the regulation of erythropoiesis, iron metabolism, angiogenesis, energy metabolism, and cell survival by promoting the transcriptional expression of hundreds of target genes.

The crosstalk of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and p53 in acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.

Wnt/β-catenin is a signaling pathway associated with embryonic development, organ formation, cancer, and fibrosis. Its activation can repair kidney damage during acute kidney injury (AKI) and accelerate the occurrence of renal fibrosis after chronic kidney disease (CKD). Interestingly, p53 has also been found as a key modulator in AKI and CKD in recent years.

Pregnane X receptor activation alleviates renal fibrosis in mice via interacting with p53 and inhibiting the Wnt7a/β-catenin signaling.

Renal fibrosis is a common pathological feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with various etiologies, which seriously affects the structure and function of the kidney. Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily and plays a critical role in regulating the genes related to xenobiotic and endobiotic metabolism in mammals. Previous studies show that PXR is expressed in the kidney and has protective effect against acute kidney injury (AKI).

Neutral amino acid transporter SLC38A2 protects renal medulla from hyperosmolarity-induced ferroptosis.

Hyperosmolarity of the renal medulla is essential for urine concentration and water homeostasis. However, how renal medullary collecting duct (MCD) cells survive and function under harsh hyperosmotic stress remains unclear. Using RNA-Seq, we identified SLC38A2 as a novel osmoresponsive neutral amino acid transporter in MCD cells.

Nuclear receptors in renal health and disease.

As a major social and economic burden for the healthcare system, kidney diseases contribute to the constant increase of worldwide deaths. A deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms governing the etiology, development and progression of kidney diseases may help to identify potential therapeutic targets. As a superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors, nuclear receptors (NRs) are critical for the maintenance of normal renal function and their dysfunction is associated with a variety of kidney diseases.

A naturally occurring FXR agonist, alisol B 23-acetate, protects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The ligand-activated nuclear receptor, farnesoid X receptor (FXR), plays a pivotal role in regulating renal function. Activation of FXR by its specific agonists exerts renoprotective action in animals with acute kidney injury (AKI). In the present study, we aimed to identify naturally occurring agonists of FXR with potential as therapeutic agents in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Comment on "Nuclear receptor PXR targets AKR1B7 to protect mitochondrial metabolism and renal function in AKI".

The nuclear pregnane X receptor may not protect against ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury in mice.

Genetic association of the human GAP43 gene with schizophrenia in a Northeast Chinese Han population.

Background: GAP43, a membrane phosphoprotein with high expression level in the developing brains, plays an important role in higher integrative functions of the brain.

Materials And Methods: To explore the association of GAP43 with schizophrenia, 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were examined in a Northeast Chinese Han sample set consisting of 741 schizophrenia patients and 1330 healthy controls.

Results: The results showed that three SNPs were associated with schizophrenia (rs2028248, rs6790048, and rs2164930).

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) protects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in mice.

Cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (CAKI) has been recognized as one of the most serious side effects of cisplatin. Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a ligand-dependent nuclear receptor and serves as a master regulator of xenobiotic detoxification. Increasing evidence also suggests PXR has many other functions including the regulation of cell proliferation, inflammatory response, and glucose and lipid metabolism.

Inula japonica ameliorated bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via inhibiting soluble epoxide hydrolase.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive, irreversible, and fatal fibrotic lung disease with a high mortality and morbidity, and commonly nonresponsive to conventional therapy. Inula japonica Thunb. is a traditional Chinese medicine, known as "Xuan Fu Hua" in Chinese, and has been widely applied to relieve cough and dyspnea and eliminate retained phlegm with a long history.

Association of SOX11 Polymorphisms in distal 3'UTR with Susceptibility for Schizophrenia.

Background: Diverse and circumstantial evidence suggests that schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Genes contributing to neurodevelopment may be potential candidates for schizophrenia. The human SOX11 gene is a member of the developmentally essential SOX (Sry-related HMG box) transcription factor gene family and mapped to chromosome 2p, a potential candidate region for schizophrenia.