Endothelial FGFR1 (Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1) Deficiency Contributes Differential Fibrogenic Effects in Kidney and Heart of Diabetic Mice

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has been shown to contribute to organ fibrogenesis. We have reported that N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl- lysyl-proline (AcSDKP) restored levels of diabetes mellitus-suppressed FGFR1 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 1), the endothelial receptor essential for combating EndMT. However, the molecular regulation and biological/pathological significance of the AcSDKP-FGFR1 relationship has not been elucidated yet. Here, we demonstrated that endothelial FGFR1 deficiency led to AcSDKP-resistant EndMT and severe fibrosis associated with EndMT-stimulated fibrogenic programming in neighboring cells. Diabetes mellitus induced severe kidney fibrosis in endothelial FGFR1-deficient mice (FGFR1(fl/fl); VE-cadherin-Cre: FGFR1(EKO)) but not in control mice (FGFR1(fl/fl)); AcSDKP completely or partially suppressed kidney fibrosis in control or FGFR1(EKO) mice. Severe fibrosis was also induced in hearts of diabetic FGFR1(EKO) mice; however, AcSDKP had no effect on heart fibrosis in FGFR1(EKO) mice. AcSDKP also had no effect on EndMT in either kidney or heart but partially suppressed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in kidneys of diabetic FGFR1(EKO) mice. The medium from FGFR1-deficient endothelial cells stimulated TGF beta (transforming growth factor beta)/Smad-dependent epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cultured human proximal tubule epithelial cell line, AcSDKP inhibited such epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. These data demonstrated that endothelial FGFR1 is essential as an antifibrotic core molecule as the target of AcSDKP.