Inhibition of necroptosis attenuates kidney inflammation and interstitial fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction

X Xiao, C Du, Z Yan, Y Shi, H Duan… - American journal of …, 2017 - karger.com
X Xiao, C Du, Z Yan, Y Shi, H Duan, Y Ren
American journal of nephrology, 2017karger.com
Background: Inflammation plays a crucial role in renal interstitial fibrosis, the pathway of
chronic kidney diseases. Necroptosis is a novel form of regulated cell death, which plays a
potential role in inflammation and renal diseases. The small molecule necrostatin-1 (Nec-1)
is a specific inhibitor of necroptosis. This study was aimed at determining the role of
necroptosis, RIP1/RIP3/mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) signaling pathway, in
renal inflammation and interstitial fibrosis related to primitive tubulointerstitial injury. It was …
Background
Inflammation plays a crucial role in renal interstitial fibrosis, the pathway of chronic kidney diseases. Necroptosis is a novel form of regulated cell death, which plays a potential role in inflammation and renal diseases. The small molecule necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) is a specific inhibitor of necroptosis. This study was aimed at determining the role of necroptosis, RIP1/RIP3/mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) signaling pathway, in renal inflammation and interstitial fibrosis related to primitive tubulointerstitial injury. It was also aimed at evaluating the effect of Nec-1 in renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).
Methods
Renal histology, immunohistochemistry, western blot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed using UUO C57BL/6J mice model. Moreover, we tested whether Nec-1 was renal-protective in the interstitial fibrosis kidney. Mice were exposed to UUO and injected intraperitoneal with Nec-1 or vehicle.
Results
The levels of RIP1/RIP3/MLKL protein and mRNA were increased in the obstructed kidneys 7 days after UUO; this was accompanied by changes in renal pathological lesions. Renal histological examination showed lesser renal damage in Nec-1-treated UUO mice. Renal inflammation, assessed by tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 was markedly attenuated by Nec-1. Furthermore, Nec-1 treatment also significantly reduced TGF-β and α-smooth muscle actin, indicating lesser renal interstitial fibrosis.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that the participation of necroptosis in UUO is partly demonstrated. And necroptosis inhibition may have a potential role in the treatment of diseases with increased inflammatory response and interstitial fibrosis in renal.
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