Aim: Investigation whether androgen/androgen receptor (AR) might regulate megalin expression and/or functionality and thus affecting Gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity (GIN).
Main Methods: Male Wistar rats were treated with gentamicin with/out AR ligands (testosterone as agonist and flutamide as antagonist). Megalin expression in the kidney tissues was determined by real-time RT-PCR and western blot. Besides, megalin functionality was assessed using immunofluorescence imaging of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated bovine serum albumin (BSA) (FITC-BSA). The effects of different treatments on the kidney were assessed at the structural level by histopathological evaluation and the biochemical level by colorimetric assay of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr) and urinary albumin/creatinine (A/C) ratio, besides, kidney expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) by immunoblotting.
Key Findings: Our results revealed that treatment with testosterone either alone or combined with gentamicin increased megalin expression at mRNA and protein levels as well as at the functional level. These effects were paralleled by increased GIN as manifested by increased SCr, BUN, A/C ratio, renal expression of NGAL or histopathological changes. On the other hand, treatment with flutamide ameliorated GIN and megalin expression and functionality. Computational analysis of megalin promotor revealed the presence of multiple response elements that mediate androgen response.
Significance: Androgen/AR regulates megalin expression at the transcriptional level and consequently GIN. This may explain the sexual dimorphism in GIN and might represent a druggable target for treatment or prevention of GIN.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117628 | DOI Listing |
J Cell Physiol
January 2025
Division of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Megalin is a multiple-ligand receptor that contributes to protein reabsorption in the kidney. Recently, megalin was found to act as a novel endocytic receptor for prorenin. Internalization depended on the (pro)renin receptor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Sci (Weinh)
December 2024
Department of Neurology in Affiliated Zhongda Hospital and Jiangsu Provincial Medical Key Discipline, School of Medicine, Institute of Neuropsychiatry, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease in Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
Vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) is a potential biomarker of major depressive disorder (MDD). This study demonstrates for the first time that VDBP is highly expressed in core emotion-related brain regions of mice susceptible to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Specifically, the overexpression of microglia (MG)-derived VDBP in the prelimbic leads to depression-like behavior and aggravates CUMS-induced depressive phenotypes in mice, whereas conditional knockout of MG-derived VDBP can reverse both neuronal damage and depression-like behaviors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLab Chip
December 2024
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Korea.
Colistin is essential for treating multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections but has significant nephrotoxic side effects. Traditional approaches for studying colistin's nephrotoxicity are challenged by the rapid metabolism of its prodrug, colistin methanesulfonate and the difficulty of obtaining adequate plasma from critically ill patients. To address these challenges, we developed the Spheroid Nephrotoxicity Assessing Platform (SNAP), a microfluidic device that efficiently detects colistin-induced toxicity in renal proximal tubular epithelial cell (RPTEC) spheroids within 48 hours using just 200 μL of patient plasma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Am Soc Nephrol
November 2024
Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas.
Megalin is an endocytic receptor in the proximal tubules that reabsorbs filtered proteins in the kidneys. Recycling of megalin after endocytosis and its expression on the apical plasma membrane of the proximal tubule are critical for its function. The expression of megalin in the kidney undergoes dynamic changes under physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLife Sci
December 2024
Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China. Electronic address:
Aims: Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) family proteins involve in various cellular processes via regulating the cell cycle; however, their expression during osteogenic differentiation and postmenopausal osteoporosis remains poorly understood.
Main Methods: Using bioinformatics, we screened for CDK14 bound to Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) and explored its expression in vitro with time-gradient model and in a mouse model of postmenopausal osteoporosis, building on prior research. Subsequently, we investigated its effect on osteoblast proliferation, cell cycle dynamics, and osteogenic differentiation by administering CDK14 siRNA and the covalent inhibitor FMF-04-159-2.
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