Fyn deficiency inhibits oxidative stress by decreasing c-Cbl-mediated ubiquitination of Sirt1 to attenuate diabetic renal fibrosis

Objective: Oxidative stress (OS) is the main cause leading to diabetic renal fibrosis. Recently, Fyn was paid much attention on OS and emerged as a pivotal player in acute kidney injury, while whether Fyn regulates oxidative stress in chronic diabetes nephropathy (DN) has not been clarified yet. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of Fyn in DN and elucidated its regulatory mechanism. Methods: The db/db mice and littermate control C57BKS/J mice were injected by tail vein with Fyn interfering adenovirus or Fyn overexpressing adenovirus to investigate the role of Fyn in vivo. Primary glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) were used for in vitro studies. Results: Fyn was up-regulated in high glucose (HG)-induced GMCs and kidneys of diabetic mice. Additionally, Fyn knockdown reduced the level of OS in HG-induced GMCs and kidneys of diabetic mice, thereby ameliorating diabetic renal fibrosis. While overexpression of Fyn significantly increased the level of OS in GMCs and kidney tissues, resulting in renal damage. Moreover, Fyn deficiency exerted antioxidant effects by activating the Sirt1/ Foxo3a pathway. Mechanistically, Fyn facilitated the combination of c-Cbl and Sirt1 by phosphorylating c-Cbl at Tyr731, which triggered K48-linked polyubiquitination of Sirt1 at Lys377 and Lys513 by c-Cbl and promoted Sirt1 degradation, impairing the antioxidant effects of Foxo3a. Conclusions: Fyn deficiency promoted Foxo3a nuclear transcription via reducing the ubiquitination of Sirt1 by cCbl, thereby alleviating renal oxidative damage in diabetic mice. These results identified Fyn as a potential therapeutic target against DN.

Automated summary

This study investigated the role of Fyn in diabetic nephropathy and its regulatory mechanism. The results showed that Fyn was up-regulated under high glucose conditions and its knockdown reduced oxidative stress, improving diabetic renal fibrosis. On the other hand, Fyn overexpression increased oxidative stress and led to renal damage. Mechanistically, Fyn facilitated the degradation of Sirt1 by promoting its ubiquitination, impairing the antioxidant effects of Foxo3a.