The inhibitory effect of quercetin on asymmetric dimethylarginine-induced apoptosis is mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway in glomerular endothelial cells

Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Jan 2;15(1):484-503. doi: 10.3390/ijms15010484.

Abstract

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is considered an independent mortality and cardiovascular risk factor in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, and contributes to the development of renal fibrosis. Quercetin (QC), a natural component of foods, protects against renal injury. Here, we explored the possible mechanisms that are responsible for ADMA-induced renal fibrosis and the protective effect of QC. We found that ADMA treatment activated the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor proteins phosphorylated protein kinase RNA-activated-like ER kinase (PERK) and inositol requiring-1α (IRE1), which correspondingly induced C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation in glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs). Following this, ADMA promoted ER stress-induced apoptosis and resulted in transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) expression in GEnCs. SP600125, an inhibitor of JNK, and CHOP siRNA protected against ADMA-induced cell apoptosis and TGF-β expression. QC prevented ADMA-induced PERK and IRE1 apoptotic ER stress pathway activation. Also, ADMA-induced GEnCs apoptosis and TGF-β expression was reduced by QC. Overexpression of CHOP blocked QC-mediated protection from apoptosis in ER stressed cells. Overall, these observations indicate that ADMA may induce GEnCs apoptosis and TGF-β expression by targeting the PERK-CHOP and IRE1-JNK pathway. In addition, drugs such as QC targeting ER stress may hold great promise for the development of novel therapies against ADMA-induced renal fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Arginine / toxicity
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / drug effects*
  • Endoribonucleases / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Quercetin / pharmacology*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Transcription Factor CHOP / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factor CHOP / genetics
  • Transcription Factor CHOP / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • eIF-2 Kinase / genetics
  • eIF-2 Kinase / metabolism

Substances

  • DDIT3 protein, human
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transcription Factor CHOP
  • N,N-dimethylarginine
  • Arginine
  • Quercetin
  • ERN1 protein, human
  • PERK kinase
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • eIF-2 Kinase
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Endoribonucleases