Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a kidney disease characterized by hypertriglyceridemia, massive proteinuria, hypo-albuminemia and peripheral edema. Sinkihwan-gamibang (SKHGMB) was recorded in a traditional Chinese medical book named "Bangyakhappyeon ()" and its three prescriptions Sinkihwan, Geumgwe-sinkihwan, and Jesaeng-sinkihwan belong to Gamibang. This study confirmed the effect of SKHGMB on renal dysfunction in an NS model induced by puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN). The experimental NS model was induced in male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats through injection of PAN (50 mg·kg^-1)via the femoral vein. SKHGMB not only reduced the size of the kidneys increased due to PAN-induced NS, but also decreased proteinuria and ascites. In addition, SKHGMB significantly ameliorated creatinine clearance, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen. SKHGMB relieved glomeruli dilation and tubules fibrosis in the glomeruli of the NS model. SKHGMB inhibited the protein and mRNA levels of the NLRP3 inflammasome including NLRP3, ASC, and pro-caspase-1 in NS rats. SKHGMB reduced the protein and mRNA levels of fibrosis regulators in NS rats. The results indicated that SKHGMB exerts protective effects against renal dysfunction by inhibiting of renal inflammation and fibrosis in NS rats.
Animals ; Kidney ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome/drug therapy* ; Proteinuria/metabolism* ; Puromycin Aminonucleoside/toxicity* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are promising in regenerative medicine. However, the pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) may form clumps of cancerous tissue, which is a major safety concern in PSCs therapies. Rapamycin is a safe and widely used immunosuppressive pharmaceutical that acts through heterodimerization of the FKBP12 and FRB fragment. Here, we aimed to insert a rapamycin inducible caspase 9 (riC9) gene in a safe harbor AAVS1 site to safeguard hiPSCs therapy by drug induced homodimerization. The donor vector containing an EF1α promoter, a FRB-FKBP-Caspase 9 (CARD domain) fusion protein and a puromycin resistant gene was constructed and co-transfected with sgRNA/Cas9 vector into hiPSCs. After one to two weeks screening with puromycin, single clones were collected for genotype and phenotype analysis. Finally, rapamycin was used to induce the homodimerization of caspase 9 to activate the apoptosis of the engineered cells. After transfection of hiPSCs followed by puromycin screening, five cell clones were collected. Genome amplification and sequencing showed that the donor DNA has been precisely knocked out at the endogenous AAVS1 site. The engineered hiPSCs showed normal pluripotency and proliferative capacity. Rapamycin induced caspase 9 activation, which led to the apoptosis of all engineered hiPSCs and its differentiated cells with different sensitivity to drugs. In conclusion, we generated a rapamycin-controllable hiPSCs survival by homodimerization of caspase 9 to turn on cell apoptosis. It provides a new strategy to guarantee the safety of the hiPSCs therapy.
Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Sirolimus/metabolism* ; Caspase 9/metabolism* ; RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Cell Differentiation ; Puromycin/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Astragalus-Angelica Mixture (AAM) on osteopontin (OPN) expression in rats with chronic nephrosclerosis.

METHODSChronic nephrosclerosis model rats induced by repeated intraperitoneal injection of puromycin were randomly divided into the model group, AAM group and Irbesartan (an antagonist of angiotensin) group. The experimental course lasted 12 weeks. Blood and urine samples were examined by biochemical method. Kidney tissue was taken for pathological stain and immunohistochemical method and was applied to examine OPN expression, mononuclear macrophage, laminin in extracellular matrix and decorin expressions.

RESULTSAAM showed the effects of decreasing urinary protein and improving renal function similar to that of Irbesartan. It also could alleviate the pathological damage of kidney tissue, especially in decreasing renal tubular mesenchymal damage index. The accumulation of decorin and laminin in the mesenchymal extracellular matrix significantly decreased. Renal tubular OPN expression and mesenchymal infiltration of mononuclear macrophage decreased significantly and in a positive correlated manner (r = 0.885, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAAM has similar renal protective action to that of Irbesartan, this action may be related to the inhibition of up-regulated OPN expression.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nephrosclerosis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Osteopontin ; Phytotherapy ; Puromycin ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sialoglycoproteins ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate RANK-RANKL expression in the kidneys of a rat model of puromycin aminonucleoside nephropathy (PAN).

METHODSThirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into PAN model group and normal control group. PAN was induced by a single intravenous injection of 100 mg/kg puromycin aminonucleoside. Serum creatinine and 24-hour urinary protein were measured on days 3, 7, and 14 after the injection, and renal pathologies were assessed with optical and immune transmission electron microscopy. The expression of RANK and RANKL in the kidneys was examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting.

RESULTSThe PAN model rats showed massive proteinuria and elevated serum creatinine on day 3, which peaked on day 7. RANK-RANKL protein and mRNA expressions in PAN model group was higher than those in the control group. In the PAN rats, RANK was expressed mainly on the top cell membrane and in the cytoplasm of renal podocytes with a significantly increased expression level compared with that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe PAN rat model shows aberrant RANK and RANKL expressions in the podocytes, indicating their contribution to podocyte injury in PAN.

Animals ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proteinuria ; pathology ; Puromycin Aminonucleoside ; adverse effects ; RANK Ligand ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; metabolism

Puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) -induced nephrosis is a well-described model of human idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, but the mechanism of PAN's effect is not completely understood. To investigate whether proteinuria in the PAN model is associated with an alteration of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression within the glomeruli, and whether cyclosporin A (CsA) has an effect on proteinuria and ZO-1 expression in this model, eighteen Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were assigned into three groups. Twelve rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of PAN (15 mg/100 g). The other six rats received an equal volume of saline (normal control group; control). CsA solution was administered intraperitoneally once a day for 20 days after the PAN injection (n=6, PAN+CsA). The remaining six rats received PAN, but they didn't receive CsA (n=6, PAN). Compared to control rats (35.1 +/- 5.4 mg/day), the 24-hour urinary protein excretion on day 18 was significantly higher in the PAN rats (1021.9 +/- 128.9 mg/day, p< 0.01), and the CsA treatment partly reversed the increase in proteinuria in the PAN rats (556.4 +/- 102.3 mg/day, p< 0.05). Glomerular ZO-1 protein expressions were significantly increased in the PAN rats as compared to the control group on day 20 (176%, p< 0.01). CsA treatment for 20 days in the PAN rats inhibited the increase in ZO-1 protein expression by 71.1% (p< 0.05). CsA treatment significantly diminished the glomerular ZO-1 expression in the PAN rats as assessed by immunohistochemistry. CsA treatment significantly reduced proteinuria and the diminished glomerular ZO-1 expression in a PAN nephrosis rat model. These findings suggest the potential role of the slit diaphragm associated proteins in the development of the nephrotic syndrome, and CsA decreased the proteinuria probably by a direct action on the expression of these proteins in podocytes. Further investigations are needed to clarify the role of slit diaphragm associated proteins in the development of PAN nephrosis.
Animals ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; Cyclosporine/*pharmacology ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*pharmacology ; Kidney Glomerulus/*drug effects/metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/*metabolism ; Nephrosis/chemically induced/*drug therapy/*metabolism ; Phosphoproteins/*metabolism ; Puromycin Aminonucleoside ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Huoxue Lishui Recipe (WHLR) containing serum on the expression of cathepsin L (CatL) in puromycin aminonucleoside-induced injury of mouse glomerular podocytes.

METHODSMouse podocyte cells (MPCs) in vitro cultured were divided into the normal control group, the model group, the dexamethasone (DEX) group, 10% WHLR containing serum group, 20% WHLR containing serum group, the vehicle serum control group. MPCs in the normal control group were cultured at 37 degrees C culture solution for 24 h. 45 mg/L puromycin was acted on MPCs in the model group for 24 h. On the basis of puromycin intervention, 1 limol/L DEX was co-incubated in MPCs of the DEX group for 24 h; 10% or 20% WHLR containing serum was co-incubated in MPCs of the 10% WHLR containing serum group and 20% WHLR containing serum group for 24 h. The vehicle serum control group was also set up by incubating with WHLR containing serum alone for 24 h. The expression of CatL and its substrate Synaptopodin in podocytes were detected by cell immunofluorescence staining. FITC-conjugated phalloidin was used to stain F-actin. A cortical F-actin score index (CFS index) was designed to quantify the degree of cytoskeletal reorganization in cultured podocytes.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the expression of synaptopodin significantly decreased and the expression of CatL significantly-increased in the model group. F-actin arranged in disorder, gradually forming pericellular F-actin ring. CFS index was obviously elevated (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the epression of synaptopodin increased, the expression of CatL decreased, and CFS index also decreased in the DEX group, 10% WHLR containing serum group, and 20% WHLR containing serum group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the DEX group, the expression of synaptopodin decreased in 10% WHLR containing serum group, CFS index also decreased in 20% WHLR containing serum group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWHLR could up-regulate the expression of synaptopodin, down-regulate the expression of CatL, and alleviate cytoskeletal reorganization of F-actin. It was helpful to stabilize the cytoskeleton of F-actin and improve the merging of podocytes.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cathepsin L ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; cytology ; Mice ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; pathology ; Puromycin Aminonucleoside ; adverse effects ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sex chromosomes and the expression of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) on activated human unfertilized oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) with calcium ionophore A23187 and puromycin.

METHODSAll 95 discarded oocyes that showed no evidence of fertilization at 16-18 h after in vitro maturation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles (IVM-ICSI)/conventional ICSI were exposed to calcium ionophore A23187 (5 micromol/L) for 5 min and then were incubated with puromycin (10 microg/mL) for 4 h. After activation, the oocytes were cultured in vitro for 3-5 days. The sex chromosome analysis was performed by dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization. The expression of IGF-II on the activated embryos, normal embryos, and parthenotes was examined.

RESULTSThe combination of calcium ionophore A23187 with puromycin could activate the unfertilized oocytes 22 h after ICSI. The activated rate, cleavage rate, and quality of activated embryos of the IVM-ICSI group were similar to those of ICSI group, respectively. Sex chromosome analysis indicated that 8 male and 5 female embryos had been derived from two pronucleus and a second polar body. The expression of IGF-II on activated embryos and normal embryos was high and similar, which was much stronger than that of parthenotes.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of calcium ionophore A23187 with puromycin could effectively activate unfertilized oocytes 22 h after ICSI. Moreover, the unfertilized oocytes activated by calcium ionophore A23187 and puromycin had normal sex chromosomes and expression of IGF-II like the normal embryos. These suggest that oocyte activation may be considered as a remedial measure in the presence of total or nearly total fertilization failure in ICSI.

Calcimycin ; pharmacology ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; metabolism ; Ionophores ; pharmacology ; Oocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Puromycin ; pharmacology ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the differential expression characteristics of microRNAs (miRNAs) in renal tissues in puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephritic model, and its relationship with key structural molecules of slid diaphragm (SD) nephrin and podocin and expression of skeleton protein synaptopodin; and to explore the in vivo mechanisms of Leizhi capsule (LZC) for ameliorating the expressions of nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin and reducing proteins by regulating the modal rat renal tissues miRNAs.

METHODFifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: the control group (A), the model group (B), the LZC-treated group (C), the multi-glycoside of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW)-treated group (D) and the valsartan-treated group (E). Apart from group A, all of rats in the remaining groups are injected with PAN (100 mg x kg(-1)) through jugular veins to establish the PAN nephropathy model. On the 2nd day after PAN nephropathy model was established, group C was orally administered with LZC (5 mL x kg(-1) x d(-1)) in group C, group DGTW (10 mL x kg(-1) x d(-1)), and E group valsartan (7.5 mL x kg(-1) x d(-1)), while groups A and B were intervened with physiological saline, for 10 days. Body weight and 24 h urinary protein ration (Upro) in all rats were measured at day 0, 3, and 9. All rats were sacrificed at day 11 after the establishment of the model, and their blood and renal tissues were collected to observe such blood biochemical indicators including albumin (Alb), serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and glomerular ultrastructure (podocyte foot process form) and expressions of dicer enzyme, nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin in renal tissues. Meanwhile, the differential expressional characteristics of miRNAs in renal cortex were analyzed by biochip assay. Additionally, the differential expressional volumes of rno-miR-23a, rno-miR-300-3p, rno-miR-24 and rno-miR-30c were measured by real-time PCR.

RESULTProteinuria, renal dysfunction, hypoproteinemia and podocyte foot process fusion were investigated in model rats induced by PAN. In renal tissues of PAN nephropathy model rats, dicer enzyme affected the expressions of nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin in podocytes, up-regulated the expressions of rno-miR-23a and rno-miR-300-3p, and down-regulated the expressions of rno-miR-24 and rno-miR-30c. The miRNAs with differential expressions included rno-miR-24, rno-miR-30c, rno-miR-23a and rno-miR-300-3p. LZC could improve the general state, proteinuria, serum BUN and podocyte foot process fusion of PAN nephropathy model rats, reduced the expressions of dicer enzyme, increased the expressions of nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin in podocytes, weakened the up-regulated rno-miR-23a and rno-miR-300-3p, and strengthened the down-regulated rno-miR-24 and rno-miR-30c in renal tissues.

CONCLUSIONPAN in vivo impacts the expressions of miRNAs in renal tissues, intervenes the expressions of nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin in podocytes, damages podocyte structures and functions and generates proteinuria by means of differential expression of dicer enayme/miRNAs. LZC can reduce proteinuria in PAN nephropathy model rats. Its mechanism may intervene dicer enayme/miRNAs differential expression, regulate nephrin, podocin and synaptopodin in podocytes and improve podocyte structures and functions.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Puromycin Aminonucleoside ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

This study was aimed to construct eukaryotic expression vectors carrying the small hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting TRPC6 gene and investigate the effect of TRPC6 knockdown on puromucin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced podocyte injury. Two DNA sequences containing the small hairpin structure targeting TRPC6 were designed, synthesized and then inserted into the green fluorescence protein (GFP)-contained plasmids (pGC) to establish the plasmids pGCsi-TRPC6A and pGCsi-TRPC6B. Plasmids expressing scrambled shRNA were used as negative control and named pGCsi-NC. These plasmids were transfected into a conditionally immortalized murine podocyte cell line by using liposome. Flow cytometry was used to examine the transfection efficiency. TRPC6 mRNA and protein expression levels were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Cultured podocytes were divided into four groups: control group, PAN treatment group, PAN+TRPC6 shRNA transfected group and PAN+scrambled shRNA transfected group. The paracelluar permeability to BSA was evaluated by Millicell-PCF Inserts and cell viability was measured by the trypan blue assay. Immunofluorescent assay was used to observe the distribution of α-actinin-4 and α-tubulin. The results showed that the transfection efficiency of the shRNA expression vector was about 45%. Expression levels of TRPC6 mRNA and protein were downregulated after transfection with pGCsi-TRPC6A and pGCsi-TRPC6B. Knocking down TRPC6 gene could effectively reverse the PAN-induced increase in the paracelluar permeability to BSA. The distribution of α-actinin-4 and α-tubulin was disrupted after treatment with PAN, which was reversed by knocking down TRPC6 gene. It was concluded that knocking down TRPC6 gene could effectively prevent podocytes from the permeability increase induced by PAN, which may be related to the regulation of podocyte cytoskeleton.
Animals ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; physiology ; Puromycin Aminonucleoside ; pharmacology ; TRPC Cation Channels ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation on repair of glomerular podocytes and on the Nephrin expression in rats with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) -induced nephrosis.

METHODSForty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=15 each): a nephrosis model group that received a single intraperitoneal injection of PAN (0.15 mg/g); a BMSC transplantation group that received a single intraperitoneal injection of PAN (0.15 mg/g) followed by BMSC transfusion; a control group that received a single intraperitoneal injection of normal saline. Ten days after injection, the rats were sacrificed. The 24 hrs urinary protein content and serum albumin and cholesterol levels were measured 24 hrs before sacrifice. Changes of glomerular podocytes were observed under an electron microscope. Brdu labeled positive cells in kidneys were measured by immunohistochemical technology. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to assess the expression of mRNA and protein of Nephrin.

RESULTSIn the nephrosis model group, urinary protein and blood cholesterol contents increased, plasma albumin content decreased compared with those in the control group. Extensive fusion of podocyte foot processes was observed in the nephrosis model group. The BMSC transplantation group had decreased urinary protein and blood cholesterol contents and increased plasma albumin content compared with the nephrosis model group. Fusion of podocyte foot processes was also improved. Brdu labeled positive cells were seen in kidneys in the BMSC transplantation group, but not in the nephrosis model and the control groups. Nephrin mRNA and protein expression decreased significantly in the nephrosis model group compared with that in the control group. The BMSC transplantation group had increased Nephrin mRNA and protein expression compared with the nephrosis model group.

CONCLUSIONSBMSCs can repair glomerular podocytes in PAN-induced nephrosis rats, and the changes of Nephrin expression may be involved in the process.

Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; metabolism ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; chemically induced ; pathology ; therapy ; Podocytes ; pathology ; Puromycin Aminonucleoside ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction