Journal
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
Volume 14, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1142240
Keywords
targeted therapy; neuropeptide; substance P; NK-1R; renal inflammation; macrophages; renal fibrosis; chronic kidney disease
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The study reveals that neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) promotes renal inflammation and fibrosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD), suggesting that NK-1R could be a potential therapeutic target for CKD patients.
BackgroundRenal fibrosis is the final common pathway of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is clinically irreversible and without effective therapy. Renal tubules are vulnerable to various insults, and tubular injury is involving in the initiation and evolution of renal inflammation and fibrosis. Neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) functions by interacting with proinflammatory neuropeptide substance P (SP), exerting crucial roles in various neurological and non-neurological diseases. However, its roles in renal inflammation and fibrosis are still unknown. MethodsWe collected renal biopsy specimens and serum samples of individuals with or without CKD. Additionally, knockout mice lacking NK-1R expression, SP addition and NK-1R pharmacological antagonist treatment in the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model, and NK-1R-overexpressed HK-2 cells were employed. ResultsRenal SP/NK-1R and serum SP were increased in patients with CKD and mice experiencing UUO and correlated with renal fibrosis and function. SP addition enhanced UUO-induced progressive inflammatory responses and renal fibrosis, whereas genetically or pharmacologically targeting NK-1R attenuated these effects. Mechanistically, TFAP4 promoted NK-1R transcription by binding to its promoter, which was abolished by mutation of the binding site between TFAP4 and NK-1R promoter. Furthermore, SP acted through the NK-1R to activate the JNK/p38 pathways to modulate cell fate of tubular epithelial cells including growth arrest, apoptosis, and expression of profibrogenic genes. ConclusionOur data reveals that SP/NK-1R signaling promotes renal inflammatory responses and fibrosis, suggesting NK-1R could be a potential therapeutic target for the patients with CKD.
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