Hederagenin inhibits high glucose-induced fibrosis in human renal cells by suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation through reducing cathepsin B expression. 2023

Guohua Yang, and Wang Yang, and Hairong Jiang, and Qing Yi, and Wei Ma
Department of Endocrinology, Pingxiang Chinese Medicine Hospital, Pingxiang, China.

Diabetic nephropathy is a major complication of diabetes mellitus and is related to dysfunction of renal cells. Hederagenin is a triterpenoid saponin from some Chinese herbs with anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities. However, its role in diabetic nephropathy progression is still obscure. This study aimed to explore the effects of hederagenin on renal cell dysfunction in vitro. Human renal mesangial cells (HRMCs) and human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HRPTEpiCs) were cultured under high glucose (HG) conditions to mimic diabetic nephropathy-like injury. Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8. mRNA and protein levels were determined by qRT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. The secretion levels of fibrosis-related biomarkers were analyzed by ELISA. Results showed that hederagenin reduced HG-induced proliferation increase in HRMCs and HRPTEpiCs. Hederagenin attenuated HG-induced increase in mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, and IL-1β. Hederagenin also suppressed HG-induced increase in mRNA and secretion levels of FN, Col. IV, PAI-1, and TGF-β1. NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 attenuated HG-induced fibrosis of renal cells, and its activator nigericin reversed the suppressive effect of hederagenin on HG-induced fibrosis. Bioinformatics analysis predicted cathepsin B (CTSB) as a target of hederagenin to modulate NOD-like receptor (NLR) pathway. Hederagenin decreased CTSB level, and CTSB overexpression reversed the suppressive effect of hederagenin on HG-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and fibrosis in HRMCs and HRPTEpiCs. In conclusion, hederagenin attenuates HG-induced fibrosis of renal cells by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via reducing CTSB expression, indicating a therapeutic potential of hederagenin in diabetic nephropathy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002401 Cathepsin B A lysosomal cysteine proteinase with a specificity similar to that of PAPAIN. The enzyme is present in a variety of tissues and is important in many physiological and pathological processes. In pathology, cathepsin B has been found to be involved in DEMYELINATION; EMPHYSEMA; RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, and NEOPLASM INVASIVENESS. Cathepsin B-Like Proteinase,Cathepsin B1,Cathepsin B Like Proteinase,Proteinase, Cathepsin B-Like
D003928 Diabetic Nephropathies KIDNEY injuries associated with diabetes mellitus and affecting KIDNEY GLOMERULUS; ARTERIOLES; KIDNEY TUBULES; and the interstitium. Clinical signs include persistent PROTEINURIA, from microalbuminuria progressing to ALBUMINURIA of greater than 300 mg/24 h, leading to reduced GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE and END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE. Diabetic Glomerulosclerosis,Glomerulosclerosis, Diabetic,Diabetic Kidney Disease,Diabetic Nephropathy,Intracapillary Glomerulosclerosis,Kimmelstiel-Wilson Disease,Kimmelstiel-Wilson Syndrome,Nodular Glomerulosclerosis,Diabetic Kidney Diseases,Glomerulosclerosis, Nodular,Kidney Disease, Diabetic,Kidney Diseases, Diabetic,Kimmelstiel Wilson Disease,Kimmelstiel Wilson Syndrome,Nephropathies, Diabetic,Nephropathy, Diabetic,Syndrome, Kimmelstiel-Wilson
D005355 Fibrosis Any pathological condition where fibrous connective tissue invades any organ, usually as a consequence of inflammation or other injury. Cirrhosis,Fibroses
D005947 Glucose A primary source of energy for living organisms. It is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other parts of plants in its free state. It is used therapeutically in fluid and nutrient replacement. Dextrose,Anhydrous Dextrose,D-Glucose,Glucose Monohydrate,Glucose, (DL)-Isomer,Glucose, (alpha-D)-Isomer,Glucose, (beta-D)-Isomer,D Glucose,Dextrose, Anhydrous,Monohydrate, Glucose
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000071199 NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein An NLR protein that contains an N-terminal PYRIN DOMAIN and ATP-binding site and 9 C-terminal LEUCINE-rich repeats; it is expressed primarily by MACROPHAGES. It is a core component of the INFLAMMASOME and directs its assembly in response to pathogen infection and damage-associated stimuli. Mutations in the NLRP3 gene are associated with FAMILIAL COLD AUTOINFLAMMATORY SYNDROME. Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome 1 Protein,NACHT, LRR and PYD Domains-Containing Protein 3,NLRP3 Protein,NACHT, LRR and PYD Domains Containing Protein 3,NLR Family, Pyrin Domain Containing 3 Protein
D012333 RNA, Messenger RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm. Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D058847 Inflammasomes Multiprotein complexes that mediate the activation of CASPASE-1. Dysregulation of inflammasomes has also been linked to a number of autoinflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Inflammasome,Pyroptosome,Pyroptosomes

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