Lin28a attenuates TGF-β-induced renal fibrosis

Lin28a has diverse functions including regulation of cancer, reprogramming and regeneration, but whether it promotes injury or is a protective reaction to renal injury is unknown. We studied how Lin28a acts in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis following unilateral ureteral obstruction, in a mouse model. We further defined the role of Lin28a in transforming growth factor (TGF)-signaling pathways in renal fibrosis through in vitro study using human tubular epithelium-like HK-2 cells. In the mouse unilateral ureteral obstruction model, obstruction markedly decreased the expression of Lin28a, increased the expression of renal fibrotic markers such as type I collagen, alpha-SMA, vimentin and fibronectin. In TGF-beta-stimulated HK-2 cells, the expression of Lin28a was reduced and the expression of renal fibrotic markers such as type I collagen, alpha-SMA, vimentin and fibronectin was increased. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of Lin28a inhibited the expression of TGF-beta-stimulated type I collagen, alpha-SMA, vimentin and fibronectin. Lin28a inhibited TGF-beta-stimulated SMAD3 activity, via inhibition of SMAD3 phosphorylation, but not the MAPK pathway ERK, JNK or p38. Lin28a attenuates renal fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy, making its mechanism a possible therapeutic target for chronic kidney disease.