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Inhibiting centrosome clustering reduces cystogenesis and improves kidney function in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
Tao Cheng, Aruljothi Mariappan, Ewa Langner, Kyuhwan Shim, Jay Gopalakrishnan, Moe R. Mahjoub
Tao Cheng, Aruljothi Mariappan, Ewa Langner, Kyuhwan Shim, Jay Gopalakrishnan, Moe R. Mahjoub
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Research Article Cell biology Nephrology

Inhibiting centrosome clustering reduces cystogenesis and improves kidney function in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

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Abstract

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a monogenic disorder accounting for approximately 5% of patients with renal failure, yet therapeutics for the treatment of ADPKD remain limited. ADPKD tissues display abnormalities in the biogenesis of the centrosome, a defect that can cause genome instability, aberrant ciliary signaling, and secretion of pro-inflammatory factors. Cystic cells form excess centrosomes via a process termed centrosome amplification (CA), which causes abnormal multipolar spindle configurations, mitotic catastrophe, and reduced cell viability. However, cells with CA can suppress multipolarity via “centrosome clustering,” a key mechanism by which cells circumvent apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate that inhibiting centrosome clustering can counteract the proliferation of renal cystic cells with high incidences of CA. Using ADPKD human cells and mouse models, we show that preventing centrosome clustering with 2 inhibitors, CCB02 and PJ34, blocks cyst initiation and growth in vitro and in vivo. Inhibiting centrosome clustering activates a p53-mediated surveillance mechanism leading to apoptosis, reduced cyst expansion, decreased interstitial fibrosis, and improved kidney function. Transcriptional analysis of kidneys from treated mice identified pro-inflammatory signaling pathways implicated in CA-mediated cystogenesis and fibrosis. Our results demonstrate that centrosome clustering is a cyst-selective target for the improvement of renal morphology and function in ADPKD.

Authors

Tao Cheng, Aruljothi Mariappan, Ewa Langner, Kyuhwan Shim, Jay Gopalakrishnan, Moe R. Mahjoub

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Figure 4

Inhibition of centrosome clustering attenuates disease progression during rapid stages of cytogenesis in vivo.

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Inhibition of centrosome clustering attenuates disease progression durin...
(A) Schematic representation of CCB02 and PJ34 treatment scheme and washout in Pkd1RC/RC mice. (B) Quantification of relative weight change during the treatment timeline. (C) Immunofluorescence staining of kidney sections from Pkd1RC/RC mice at 11 months with antibodies to highlight centrosomes (γ-tubulin), spindle microtubules (α-tubulin), and DNA (DAPI). Scale bar = 10 μm. (D) Quantification of the percentage of spindle configurations at metaphase. n = 201 cells (vehicle group), 134 (CCB02 group), and 117 (PJ34 group). (E and F) Images of whole kidneys and H&E-stained sections of Pkd1RC/RC mice at 11 months of age after treatment with CCB02 or PJ34 and postwashout (14 months). Scale bar = 2 mm (whole kidneys) and scale bar = 1 mm (H&E-stained sections). (G) Evaluation of kidney weight expressed as percentage of body weight. (H) Quantification of cyst number and (I) fractional cyst area per kidney section in treated and untreated mice. (J) Analysis of relative blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and (K) serum creatinine levels at 11 months and postwashout (14 months). (L) Immunofluorescence staining (top) with α–smooth muscle actin (SMA; myofibroblasts) and DNA (DAPI) and trichrome staining (bottom) of kidney sections following the indicated treatment regimen. Scale bar = 100 μm (SMA) and scale bar = 500 μm (trichrome). (M) Quantification of the fraction of α-SMA–positive area. n = 10 mice each for vehicle, CCB02, and PJ34; n = 4 animals for CCB02 washout group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 (1-way ANOVA).

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