Background/Aim: Klotho, an anti-aging gene, is expressed in the kidneys, and its renal expression is decreased in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The present study aimed to examine whether renal expression of Klotho is regulated by indoxyl sulfate, a uremic toxin, using rat kidneys and human proximal tubular cells (HK-2). Methods: The effect of indoxyl sulfate on renal expression of Klotho was examined using (1) Dahl salt-resistant normotensive rats (DN), (2) Dahl salt-resistant normotensive indoxyl sulfate-administered rats (DN+IS), (3) Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rats (DH), and (4) Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive indoxyl sulfate-administered rats (DH+IS). The effects of indoxyl sulfate, inhibitors of nuclear factor-ĸB (NF-ĸB) and an antioxidant on the expression of Klotho in HK-2 cells were examined. Results: DH+IS and DN+IS rats showed decreased expression of Klotho mRNA in the kidneys as compared with DH and DN rats, respectively. Indoxyl sulfate suppressed the expression of Klotho mRNA and protein in HK-2 cells, whereas an antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine, and NF-ĸB inhibitors, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and isohelenin, alleviated these effects. Conclusions: Indoxyl sulfate downregulates Klotho expression in kidneys through production of reactive oxygen species and activation of NF-ĸB in proximal tubular cells. Indoxyl sulfate may be involved in reduced renal expression of Klotho in CKD.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). (Pro)renin receptor (PRR) is activated in the kidney of CKD. The present study aimed to determine the role of indoxyl sulfate (IS), a uremic toxin, in PRR activation in rat aorta and human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). We examined the expression of PRR and renin/prorenin in rat aorta using immunohistochemistry. Both CKD rats and IS-administrated rats showed elevated expression of PRR and renin/prorenin in aorta compared with normal rats. IS upregulated the expression of PRR and prorenin in HASMCs. N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant, and diphenyleneiodonium, an inhibitor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, suppressed IS-induced expression of PRR and prorenin in HASMCs. Knock down of organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) with small interfering RNAs inhibited IS-induced expression of PRR and prorenin in HASMCs. Knock down of PRR inhibited cell proliferation and tissue factor expression induced by not only prorenin but also IS in HASMCs.ConclusionIS stimulates aortic expression of PRR and renin/prorenin through OAT3-mediated uptake, production of reactive oxygen species, and activation of AhR and NF-κB p65 in vascular smooth muscle cells. IS-induced activation of PRR promotes cell proliferation and tissue factor expression in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a pivotal role in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Angiotensin converting enzyme-related carboxypeptidase 2 (ACE2)/angiotensin (Ang)-(1–7)/Mas receptor axis counteracts the deleterious actions of Ang II. ACE2 exerts its actions by cleaving Ang II into Ang-(1–7) which activates Mas receptor. This study aimed to determine if the expression of Mas receptor is altered in the kidneys of CKD rats, and if indoxyl sulfate (IS), a uremic toxin, affects the expression of Mas receptor in rat kidneys and cultured human proximal tubular cells (HK-2 cells). The expression of Mas receptor was examined in the kidneys of CKD and AST-120-treated CKD rats using immunohistochemistry. Further, the effects of IS on Mas receptor expression in the kidneys of normotensive and hypertensive rats were examined. The effects of IS on the expression of Mas receptor and phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in HK-2 cells were examined using immunoblotting. CKD rats showed reduced renal expression of Mas receptor, while AST-120 restored its expression. Administration of IS downregulated Mas receptor expression in the kidneys of normotensive and hypertensive rats. IS downregulated Mas receptor expression in HK-2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Knockdown of organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) inhibited IS-induced downregulation of Mas receptor and phosphorylated eNOS. N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant, also inhibited IS-induced downregulation of Mas receptor and phosphorylated eNOS. Ang-(1–7) attenuated IS-induced transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression.ConclusionMas receptor expression is reduced in the kidneys of CKD rats. IS downregulates renal expression of Mas receptor via OAT3/AhR/Stat3 pathway in proximal tubular cells. IS-induced downregulation of Mas receptor might be involved in upregulation of TGF-β1 in proximal tubular cells.

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Background: Erythropoietin (EPO) is used to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). A wide variation in individual response to EPO, however, is often observed, causing EPO resistance. EPO exhibits not only hematopoietic but also extra-hematopoietic functions such as endothelial effects. Indoxyl sulfate, a uremic toxin, is involved in endothelial dysfunction, and consequently, the pathogenesis of CKD-associated cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of indoxyl sulfate on the extra-hematopoietic functions of EPO in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods and Results:HUVECs were incubated with or without indoxyl sulfate or an Akt inhibitor, and then stimulated with or without EPO. Indoxyl sulfate suppressed EPO-induced survival/proliferation, anti-apoptosis function, phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and the expression of thrombospondin-1, an erythroid-stimulating factor, in HUVECs. Although EPO induced phosphorylation of both Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) in HUVECs, indoxyl sulfate suppressed phosphorylation of Akt but not ERK. An Akt kinase inhibitor or Akt small interfering RNA suppressed all the EPO-induced cellular effects in HUVECs. As a site of action of indoxyl sulfate on EPO signaling, indoxyl sulfate attenuated EPO-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of EPO receptor (EPOR) in HUVECs. Conclusions:Indoxyl sulfate negatively regulates the EPOR-Akt pathway in endothelial cells, and might contribute to EPO resistance and endothelial dysfunction in patients with CKD. (Circ J 2013; 77: 1326 -1336