EP4 knockdown alleviates glomerulosclerosis through Smad and MAPK pathways in mesangial cells

Abstract

Prostaglandin E2 has exhibited pleiotropic effects in the regulation of glomerulosclerosis progression through its four receptors. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of prostaglandin receptor EP4 on mesangial cell proliferation. In vivo, 5/6 nephrectomy was introduced into EP4 +/and wild-type (WT) mice. Clinical parameters were monitored post-surgery. At 8 weeks post-surgery, glomerular fibrosis-associated indicators were measured by immunohistochemical staining and trichrome staining. In vitro, mesangial cells in different groups (transfected with green fluorescent protein, AD-EF4 or AD-CRE) were exposed to transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 for 24 h to detect the level of downstream signaling. Corresponding signaling inhibitors were also used to validate the signaling effects. Following surgery, EP4 +/mice presented a higher survival rate and normal urine volume compared with the WT group, and serum creatinine level and 24 h urine protein were lower in the EP4+/-mice. Furthermore, associated profibrotic indicators were identified to have decreased at 8 weeks post-surgery along with less tubule-interstitial fibrosis. In vivo, the inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and P38 phosphorylation alleviated the accumulation of mesangial matrix, and these signals were enhanced when EP4 was overexpressed. EP4 enhancement aggravated imbalanced mesangial cell proliferation stimulated by TGF-β1 and GS of mice treated with 5/6 nephrectomy through the Smad and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.

Effect of selective inhibition or activation of PGE2 EP1 receptor on glomerulosclerosis

“…In previous years, with the culture of various EP gene knockout mice, the roles and mechanisms of action of prostaglandin receptors in respiratory, circulatory and urinary system diseases have been extensively investigated ( 21 , 25 – 28 ). In our previous study, EP1 −/− mice and WT mice MCs were subjected to primary culture in vitro , which verified that EP1 receptor gene deletion markedly suppressed the TGF-β1-induced MC proliferation and ECM accumulation ( 5 ), this suggested that the EP1 receptor may be closely associated with the occurrence of MC injury.…”