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  • p53/microRNA-214/ULK1 axis impairs renal tubular autophagy in diabetic kidney disease.

p53/microRNA-214/ULK1 axis impairs renal tubular autophagy in diabetic kidney disease.

The Journal of clinical investigation (2020-08-18)
Zhengwei Ma, Lin Li, Man J Livingston, Dongshan Zhang, Qingsheng Mi, Ming Zhang, Han-Fei Ding, Yuqing Huo, Changlin Mei, Zheng Dong
ABSTRACT

Dysregulation of autophagy in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has been reported, but the underlying mechanism and its pathogenic role remain elusive. We show that autophagy was inhibited in DKD models and in human diabetic kidneys. Ablation of autophagy-related gene 7 (Atg7) from kidney proximal tubules led to autophagy deficiency and worse renal hypertrophy, tubular damage, inflammation, fibrosis, and albuminuria in diabetic mice, indicating a protective role of autophagy in DKD. Autophagy impairment in DKD was associated with the downregulation of unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase 1 (ULK1), which was mediated by the upregulation of microRNA-214 (miR-214) in diabetic kidney cells and tissues. Ablation of miR-214 from kidney proximal tubules prevented a decrease in ULK1 expression and autophagy impairment in diabetic kidneys, resulting in less renal hypertrophy and albuminuria. Furthermore, blockade of p53 attenuated miR-214 induction in DKD, leading to higher levels of ULK1 and autophagy, accompanied by an amelioration of DKD. Compared with nondiabetic samples, renal biopsies from patients with diabetes showed induction of p53 and miR-214, associated with downregulation of ULK1 and autophagy. We found a positive correlation between p53/miR-214 and renal fibrosis, but a negative correlation between ULK1/LC3 and renal fibrosis in patients with diabetes. Together, these results identify the p53/miR-214/ULK1 axis in autophagy impairment in diabetic kidneys, pinpointing possible therapeutic targets for DKD.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Cyclophilin B antibody produced in rabbit, ~1.0 mg/mL, affinity isolated antibody
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-ATG7 antibody produced in rabbit, affinity isolated antibody, buffered aqueous solution
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Atg1/ULK1 antibody produced in rabbit, ~1 mg/mL, affinity isolated antibody, buffered aqueous solution
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-phospho AMBRA1 Antibody (Ser52), from rabbit, purified by affinity chromatography
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-FIP200 Antibody, serum, from rabbit